Why did you want to get qualified in UX?
I previously worked as a web designer in the travel industry for over five years. I think I have a good eye for design and that’s my passion. I designed wireframes, creative assets, and built pages using HTML and CSS.
The search engine is one of the most important components on a travel website.
In a rebrand, one of the designers redesigned the search box. But as soon as it went live, we noticed that there was a drop off rate in searches and revenue.
So I wanted to investigate why this happened.
When I started looking into it, I realised that it is a UX designer’s role to solve problems like these.
To jump from UI to UX, I knew that I needed a qualification.
How is UX different to other areas of design?
In previous roles, I just went with what I thought was best design-wise. I wasn’t considering users as a whole.
But learning about UX obviously gave me a new mindset. I’m not designing for myself, but for users. I wanted to learn more about that as a core principle.
Why did you choose the Professional Diploma in UX Design?
I looked for courses and bootcamps online. But I felt I needed something more solid. Nowhere else offered a Professional Diploma.
And this course helped me to make a case study for my portfolio, which was a huge bonus.
Also, I previously studied at Glasgow Caledonian University for my BSc in Information Systems Development. This gave me more confidence to enrol into the Professional Diploma course, which is also connected to this university. It just made sense.
How did you find the course content?
Prototyping came quite easy for me because I already knew how to do that from my UI/web design background.
I found user research really interesting. It introduces research methods techniques like card sorting, user testing, and interviews. A key learning was that it’s not always about what users say, but what they do as well.
What was your favourite thing about the course?
I liked how the course had a flexible timeline. I was commuting two hours each way to work when I was doing the course. It was hard to find the time sometimes.
You can do the diploma when it suits you. You’re not forced into a strict deadline. That was really good.
How was the support during your studies?
The level of support was really good. If I had any questions, I’d just message the course manager who was more than happy to help. The replies were instant.
Can you describe how you got your current UX role?
In my previous roles, I was working in a small team of designers. However, I felt that I wanted to grow and learn more from a larger team.
So after completing the diploma, I applied to the The Hut Group (THG) before the pandemic started. I wasn’t too sure about moving from London to Manchester.
However, looking back, I feel that the decision I made was right. The travel industry has been really badly hit.
Companies like THG are excelling in this climate. We’re so busy!
What’s your job title at THG?
I’m a UX designer at THG. It’s a massive company. I started as a UI/UX designer, but they’ve changed my title.
THG is always evolving and keeping up with the latest trends!
Can you describe your current job?
I’m currently working in THG Ingenuity space. We work with big and small brands in beauty, fashion, health, FMCG, and more.
No two days are alike. It’s very fast-paced. Day-to-day, I conduct user research to identify user pain points. After that we create wireframes, and present them to the client for feedback.
There’s a lot to it! Some clients are quite new to UX, so you have to educate them about its value.
I love speaking to different people around the world, and solving their problems. Recently, I helped Coca-Cola launch its first ever online store for customers in the UK.
The joy of working for companies like THG is that you get to speak to so many people in different areas. You can always tap into these people, and ask them for advice.
What was it like moving from UI design to UX design?
There’s always a battle between UI and UX in my head. When I’m designing now, I always think: am I focusing on the user?
But you can only create a better solution when you combine UI and UX principles together.
What’s your favourite thing about UX?
Making small changes that can make a bigger impact. Like removing a single contact box from your online forms can double your conversions. These small changes can increase user satisfaction and sales.
What advice would you give someone considering doing the course?
Complete the course as soon as possible. And practice the user research methods. This will help you to build a portfolio.
In my interview at THG, I was able to use the case study to explain my UX process. It’s always about the process.
The diploma course stands out because it proves that you’ve got the knowledge. And know how to implement it into a real situation.
Would you recommend the course to others?
I’d one hundred percent recommend it. I always get messages on LinkedIn from friends or strangers asking about it.
Anyone who has a passion for solving problems and designing solutions should do it. You could be in any field. It doesn’t have to be a design background – that’s the beauty of it.
I’ve worked with people with backgrounds like psychology, English literature, science, sales, etc. It could be anything!
