Launching a product design career in London with UX. Meet Andrea.
How does a psychology graduate end up landing one of the hottest job titles in a completely different industry? For Andrea Amato, it feels like she was on a path to a career in UX Design before she even knew it existed. Although she had already established a career for herself as a researcher, she describes her encounter with UX Design as the moment when things fell into place. This is how it happened.
My previous job bridged into product development, which is how I first got exposure to UX Design, and the more I learned about it, the more I wanted to transition into the role of a UX Designer. For the first time in my life, I felt that I had found something which could be my career and which also met other personal interests. It’s a very broad discipline, and I recognised that it was a field I could grow in while also doing what I enjoy.
Initially, I was a bit intimidated by the fact that UX Design was somewhat new to me, but the Professional Diploma in UX Design was just the right intensity and duration to give me the confidence and get me going. I didn’t have a background in design but that turned out not to be an issue. In my case, I found that I could apply my own particular interests in order to specialise.
That’s the thing about UX Design; it’s really inclusive. Even if you have no experience, studying UX can help you take the skills you already have to new heights, especially if you’re not sure where your education can lead to, job-wise. It’s refreshing to see that you don’t need to follow one specific path to get into the industry. Employers aren’t looking for one specific background, which makes UX feasible and accessible for anyone looking to upskill or reposition themselves professionally.
I’d already heard very good things about ICE Malta, and after looking into my options, I realised that the course on offer was just what I needed at the time because I knew that at the end of the programme, I’d be ready to look for a job. I wasn’t keen on another university degree that would take a lot of time and branch into topics I didn’t really want to focus on. Instead, this short, part-time diploma, which is still university-accredited and also supported by the biggest names in the field, hit all the right notes. It would provide me with what I needed to take on the job market within a manageable timeframe.
The fact that the delivery was online obviously made it much easier. I was still working full-time so that flexibility was a big plus. I could follow lessons from the comfort of my own home after a day at the office, knowing that I could enjoy the rest of my evening as soon as the lesson was done. I could also catch up on a lesson that I might have missed thanks to the playback option.
I knew I wanted a practical course that would give me the skills I didn’t have at the time and the portfolio that would make all the difference, and ICE Malta delivered on that promise. The course delivers something tangible that is directly relevant to a job setting. I was really eager to leave the course with an industry-ready portfolio, and the entire course was built precisely around this goal. We didn’t have assignments that tested our knowledge in a vacuum. Rather, every project contributed to a case study you would actually use and helped you build your portfolio. That’s very motivating because you know that you are going to benefit directly from the effort you put in.
James was brilliant. The fact that he is an industry expert who’s had practical experience working with big brands meant that he always gave us plenty of relevant, work-based examples and insights. He would always answer questions by referring to an industry setting so that we always got a sense of how the theory could be applied and how real-life challenges could be tackled.
Thanks! Yes, I’m very excited to be moving to London to start my new role with the King’s Online team. Since I’d always wanted to live abroad, choosing a career in UX Design was also a good move because it comes with better growth opportunities. There’s a good demand for UX, given the digitisation of just about everything and the need for a human-centred approach to our everyday use of tech.
For sure. When I chose to study UX Design, I was already thinking ahead in terms of my career progression, knowing that the diploma would give me what the job market was looking for and future-proof my career. The course certainly played a considerable role in getting me where I am today because it helps you build a comprehensive case study and portfolio, which is what you need to stand out when applying for a UX job.
In a way, it all came back full circle, since my background in psychology helped me bring my own special contribution to the field. It’s great to know that I got my current job with King’s College because of the way UX skills helped me apply my scientific knowledge to a discipline that is becoming increasingly more in demand.
Now that I’ve landed this job, my goal is to soak up as much of this experience as possible. You know how people say you need to eventually climb up a career ladder? In my case, I’ve found the ladder I want to climb. I just want to grow and learn, and then specialise further. This is a good place to be.
I knew I wanted a practical course that would give me the skills and the portfolio that would make all the difference, and ICE Malta delivered on that promise.
ANDREA AMATOProduct Designer