How I became a UI/UX designer without any experience in Melbourne
Ever wondered if it’s possible to break into the tech industry without a formal design background in Australia? Well, I did just that. After six years in the tech world, I’m sharing how I transitioned from a completely different field to becoming a UI/UX designer in Melbourne.
Why did I decide to write this blog after surviving and thriving in the tech industry for 6ish years?
Honestly, I’m not sure. Maybe it’s because I didn’t want to point out where I came from, or maybe I just wanted to pretend I had the experience. Perhaps it’s the imposter syndrome talking — I’ve always felt like I’m not enough. For whatever reason, I’ve decided to start documenting my learnings from the past few years, and this is where it all begins.
What did I do before UX?
Back in 2018, I was pursuing my Master of Art Curatorship at the University of Melbourne. My dream job was to work at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Many of my classmates with fine arts backgrounds successfully secured internships at NGV (I think through an unpaid university program, though I could be wrong) and later worked at the gallery. I felt hopeless — my skills in the art field weren’t as strong as theirs, so I didn’t think I stood a chance. There is no way I can get in.
That’s when I decided to change my direction.
After tons of exploration (kind of like what you’re doing now), I set my sights on becoming a User Experience Designer for 3 main reasons:
- It’s not about visual design or coding — it’s about understanding user needs and pain points and creating an ideal digital experience. I’m naturally empathetic and love helping others, so this career aligns perfectly with my personality.
- It’s in the tech industry — there are more opportunities here compared to traditional industries.
- Many people have shared their stories of transitioning into UX from different fields, proving it’s possible to succeed without a formal education. I thought, “Why can’t I do it too?”
How did I learn UX design?
In this age of abundance, there were plenty of options available to me
- Corhort Online courses: springboard, design lab
- Self paced online course: Udemy, youTube, courses created by youTubers
- Offline courses (in Melbourne): General Assembly, Academy Xi
To be honest, I tried them all. Here’s my honest take:
- Springboard and Design Lab didn’t work that well for me because they were US-based, and their time zones weren’t ideal. Additionally, they didn’t have a solid understanding of the Australian job market.
- Self-paced online courses require a lot of discipline, and studying alone wasn’t the best experience for me.
- General Assembly and Academy Xi: Although it’s the most expensive option, I felt it was worth it if it helped me land a job.
General Assembly OR Academy Xi?
After doing my research, I was leaning towards General Assembly (GA) because it’s a globally established brand with lots of success stories. Academy Xi, on the other hand, was new to Melbourne at the time, though it had offices in Sydney and Singapore.
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I had consultations with both, and they gave me tours of their offices/classrooms. The service and level of interaction I experienced at each were very different, which ultimately led me to choose Academy Xi.
Here’s why:
(I was doing my last semester at Uni and still needed to attend a few tutorials. I have explained the same situation to both)
- GA: “Well, this is your choice. It would be beneficial if you could attend all the classes, but if you couldn’t, that’s okay too.”
- Academy Xi: “I’ve checked the class schedule, and there’s a class you shouldn’t miss, but for the other, we can have the instructor walk you through it during the lunch break. We’re here to support you along the way.”
Academy Xi gave me the impression that they genuinely cared about my learning (probably because they needed more students — my cohort was a small cohort with only 10 people). On the other hand, GA had larger classes and may not have been as hands-on.
Learning experience at Xi
(Note: The curriculum at Academy Xi has evolved since I completed the course, so my experience may not reflect the current offering.)
I had a fantastic experience. Learning a new domain with like-minded people was incredibly fun. The 10-week program was immersive, and everyone was friendly and focused on achieving the same goal.
The live project was crucial for building a portfolio and demonstrating the ability to handle real-world requests. How do you turn a brief into deliverables? How do you present your work to clients and incorporate their feedback? These are core skills for any job.
The career support offered varied for each individual. What works for one person may not work for another. There are tons of great resources online to help with interview prep (and I’d love to share my collection with you). Ultimately, job hunting depends on luck and the job market at the time.
One month after graduating from Academy Xi, I went through numerous interviews and successfully landed my first UX role.
Xi has been evolving in the past few years
During the COVID period, I joined Academy Xi’s Designer-in-Residence program and mentored several students going through the course. Now, their program includes 8 weeks of self-paced learning with 2 client projects, all done in a fully remote environment.
Interestingly, a recent design grad at my company also came from Academy Xi and had a great experience there.
Keep in mind, no course will magically transform your career. Think of it as an accelerator — it won’t change your life unless you believe in it and put in the effort.
Get $100 off your next course
Before I wrap up, I’d like to share a little secret: You can get $100 discount your next Academy Xi course (by using the referral form).
Click the link below, and entered my name and email address as shown in the image below, and you’re all set!
