The risk that paid off: How a single course led to an iGaming UX Design career. Meet Zak.
Zak Galea Mulè‘s decision to become a UX designer is nothing short of a UX lovestory. After he discovered the discipline, he swapped out a 3-year degree for the Professional Diploma in UX Design and interned as a UX designer with Betsson Group before completing the course and switching full-time. This is how it happened.
I was studying Multimedia Software Development and during my first year, I discovered and fell in love with UX design. I liked it and I was good at it; in fact, it had been a long time since I was getting straight As—nothing says love like straight As, right? By second year, the UX focus we were getting was more on a coding level, which I didn’t mind, but I wasn’t getting the full picture, and I began to realise that my studies weren’t taking me where I wanted to go.
I even checked with the UX design tutor to see whether there would be more UX-related material in the course, and I was disappointed to see there wouldn’t be. On the other hand, quitting the course to study UX design at MCAST would have meant another three years of studies. So I was stuck; I was having doubts about my course and at the same time, I didn’t want to have to completely start over and delay my studies further. And that’s where ICE Malta came in.
Around this time, I was working in IT Service Desk at Betsson Group, and a colleague I had discussed my predicament with recommended I check out ICE Malta. It just so happened that the first thing I saw on the homepage was precisely the UX design course! I hadn’t even known about ICE Malta at the time but I soon realised that the school had a very good reputation. Plus, the Professional Diploma in UX Design wasn’t three years long. Lessons would be spaced out over ten weeks and followed by a flexible period of time in which you’d have to complete your assignments and sit for your exam.
I still had the difficult task of explaining to my mother that I wanted to drop out of a course to start a new one. At first, she wasn’t keen on my quitting, of course, but she could see that I was really passionate about the subject and that I would still be furthering my studies, and she’d already heard good things about ICE Malta. So she came round, and I applied. And of course, I didn’t just drop out of a degree for nothing. I had done my research and I knew I’d be getting what I needed from the diploma.
This was the biggest risk of my life but it worked out so well. I mean, I quit a degree I had already invested in but it paid off big time since I ended up with a shorter course that landed me the job I was looking for. And with the Get Qualified Scheme, I can even look forward to getting most of my course fees refunded. This makes a difference, especially if you’re still a student.
While I was studying with ICE Malta, the position for a UX designer with Betsson Group became internally available, so the timing was great. The fact that I was doing the diploma in particular helped me land the internship, especially since my boss already had a good impression of ICE Malta. Now I’m a full-time UX designer and I couldn’t be happier.
It’s that sense of satisfaction, that sense of feeling like you’ve found the right job for yourself… A month into my new job, I was tasked with redesigning the welcome emails we send to our new subscribers to give these emails a much-needed makeover. When I presented my ideas to the stakeholders, they loved it, and I remember how that sense of pride made me think, “Yep, this is the job for me.” More recently, I’ve been working on a massive project as well, and I’m really looking forward to it launching.
There are plenty of things I love about UX. Because you have to find solutions to challenges and problems, you can have fun being a bit creative in your approach. I love how with a UX Design career, everyday is something new. There’s no repetition. You’re involved at the brainstorming stage, which is really exciting. I feel really passionate about what I do, and it’s so satisfying to see the different stakeholders involved in a project appreciating my work. I really found my niche.
I often get asked what UX design is actually all about. My go-to answer is this: imagine graphic design and web design had a baby–that’s UX! It’s pretty cool to be able to say to people that I design websites and apps. Studying UX design can also lead you towards jobs that tend to come with the possibility of remote working. And there’s such high demand for people with UX skills that the role often benefits from these added perks. It opens up doors for you, so even working abroad is an option.
You need to be open-minded and a team player. This is a very collaborative job so you’re going to be working closely with others and getting feedback from different directions along the way. The developer might have a particular requirement or the stakeholder wants to see something in particular, so you need to be flexible and ready to take their needs on board to make the whole thing work. UX isn’t about what you think is good; it’s what works for the user. The user is always right, in a way. It’s like a series of challenges or problems that you need to tackle and solve, which is interesting in itself.
I’m really happy with my experience and in fact, I’ve been recommending the school to some people I know. The online delivery was a major plus for me because you can bypass the logistical nightmare of travelling on a tight schedule. It’s much easier to go home and settle down for a lesson, especially after a workday. In particular, I loved the lecturer’s enthusiasm and energy, because that’s obviously passed on to the student—no one likes a demotivated lecturer. There was never a question the educator couldn’t answer, and whenever you needed him, he’d be ready with a prompt and precise reply, which is extremely professional. You get expertise, support, and that energy that drives you forward and keeps you motivated. The fact that the educator is a UX designer himself makes all the difference. It helped me better understand what the job would actually be like. There’s this extra level of insight because you’re learning from an actual industry expert.
This was the biggest risk of my life but it worked out so well. I quit a degree I had already invested in but it paid off big time since I ended up with a shorter course that landed me the job I was looking for.
ZAK GALEA MULÈUX Designer
