My journey to becoming a UX Designer so far…..

Why the change?

My fascination with Product Design grew as I understood more about the field and the power it holds. It involves turning ideas and problems into solutions, and using those solutions to help businesses grow. I found myself wanting to enter this world where I could blend my experience with fresh challenges. The transition wasn't immediate, but as I explored this new path, I found the creative process in design both familiar and inspiring.

How It Started...

Before starting my career as a pastry chef, I planned to work in tech. During my secondary school days, my favourite pastime was designing websites and LiveJournal layouts in Photoshop, then coding them using HTML and CSS for others to use on their websites and blogs. I began my Computer Science degree at King's College London but also wanted to explore a career as a pastry chef. Ultimately, I chose to become a pastry chef, withdrawing from my degree to get a Patisserie Diploma at Le Cordon Bleu.

The trigger to change

After a decade as a pastry chef, I recently picked up coding as a hobby. I enrolled in Angela Yu’s Web Development course, recalling how much I loved designing websites in the past. Around this time, a friend who recently transitioned into tech invited me to join a hackathon to build a solution to help businesses reach their net-zero carbon emissions target (Carbon Alt-Del). While working on the project, doing research, designing the solution, and using Figma for the first time, I found myself completely immersed in the design process. The same experience occurred during my second hackathon (Study Perks), and this was when I began seriously considering a career change to focus on design full-time.

The journey

I felt my coding skills limited my designs, so I first aimed to become a Front-end Developer, learning HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React. During my front-end studies, I realised that what I enjoyed most was UI/UX Design. I became passionate about learning everything related to UI/UX, completed a UI/UX bootcamp, and gained certifications in Human-Centred Design and Agile Methods for UX Design (and much more). Balancing full-time work with studying and doing projects to apply what I learned was the hardest part.

Challenges to overcome

The biggest hurdle in changing careers is lacking experience in the field, especially in such a competitive one. Fortunately, I have over 10 years of work experience to hone my soft skills. I have worked in various places and teams, progressing from the lowest position to my current role as Head Pastry Chef, where I also manage the kitchen.

Being a pastry chef has many similarities to UX Design. You need to understand the customers and their wants, and you must be able to articulate your ideas, whether they are for a dessert or a design decision. Designing a dessert involves considering the placement of all elements, whitespace, textures, and flavours, similar to designing a webpage or mobile application. You have to think about the person experiencing it, whether it fits with the company's image, what's in season, and current trends. I'm excited to bring my experience as a pastry chef into my next career as a UX Designer.

Remaining Positive and Motivated

Though it can be demotivating to receive constant rejection emails, rather than dwell on things outside my control, I focus on what I can control: upskilling myself, working on projects, and networking. When it becomes overwhelming, I’ve learned to take breaks and not punish myself for not studying or being productive.

What’s Next?

I'm now at a stage where I feel confident in starting a career as a UX Designer. While continuing to expand my knowledge in UX Design, I'm working on personal projects and doing freelance work for clients to gain experience. Please contact me below to collaborate on your next web design project.