My Background

Before I started using Uxcel, I was working as a content lead. I managed a team of writers and filled the gaps when necessary. My background is in journalism and photography, and I paid a lot of attention to visuals as well. After I got stuck professionally, I realized that I needed to make a transition to continue advancing in my career. I started doing research and found out that the skills I had would allow me to make a transition to design and UX research. Following a design bootcamp in Barcelona, I got the basics, and I ended up with a case study.

My Challenge

After the bootcamp, I knew that I wouldn’t get hired as a designer right away. To make a transition, I had to do several things:

  • Portfolio: Apart from one bootcamp, I didn’t have any formal education, and my portfolio needed to be strong.
  • Certifications: Luckily, there were lots of online resources that offered certifications upon completion. 
  • Fast Transition: To switch careers, I needed a reliable and updated resource of learning materials. 
  • Restricted Learning Time: I wanted to make a transition while still working. I looked for an app that would allow me to learn on breaks, while commuting, before going to bed. 

Finding My Solution

I first saw Uxcel via an Instagram ad. I decided to test it out for free. Immediately, I liked its bite-sized content, how it is organized, its lessons, and quizzes. There were enough things to do for free, but I got hooked! I tried other courses before, traditional ones, where you watch the video of the instructor talking about something. I always had trouble focusing after a while, because the videos are usually way too long. I work full time and have kids, and I can’t allocate too much time to this.

When I got hooked to Uxcel, I thought, why not pay for it? At the time, Uxcel had a promotion running with a special offer, and I took it. I’m still learning on the platform after two years, and I have completed 24 courses so far.

You can find new courses and updated materials at Uxcel all the time, which is very important for me. With each completed course, you get a certification, which is especially useful when learning about the tools that constantly get tweaked with new versions. If you get a certification for the latest version, it can give you a competitive edge in the job market.

I wanted to make a fast transition and have something to constantly push me forward, but I had restricted time for learning. Uxcel’s league system, where you are compared with other designers, kept the competitive spirit in me and made me learn every day.

The Effect on My Career

I applied for a UX Research position with the Design team opening at the company where I was already working. However, because I was transitioning from content to design, I  started from a junior position again. My wage froze, but I knew I had an opportunity to grow further.

Uxcel is different because you don’t race through the course just to finish and get a certification. It helped me learn how to research, how to read, and how to learn. I also noticed that Uxcel can help with working in teams. I recommend it to my colleagues too.

The feature I liked the most, and that helped me to develop faster, is design briefs. It is good to know theory, but if you don’t practice, it won’t translate to your skills. By doing briefs, you develop abilities and get better by using the tools required at work, for example, Figma.

Uxcel helps develop cross-functional skills as well. At the meeting with your bosses or stakeholders, you need to talk and explain the work you have done. Some designers might lack the language to address stakeholders and say why their design makes sense from a business standpoint. With Uxcel, you can easily identify the gaps you have in your knowledge and fill it out with learning materials.

Advice to Other Professionals

I have recommended Uxcel multiple times to people in my circle, work, and beyond. Even when a random person reaches out to me on LinkedIn and asks about design-related questions, I recommend getting a Uxcel subscription.

In these two years, I have never regretted buying a yearly subscription to Uxcel. I will definitely continue using it in the future.

Uxcel is great for working professionals who don’t have time for extensive traditional learning. You can learn on the bus, from the comfort of your bed, while waiting at the doctor's office, and your progress will be measurable. Uxcel is constantly being updated, and there is always new content to learn from.

You can learn at your own pace, without any pressure. Just try things out, explore a course, and don’t be afraid to revisit lessons. You don’t have to know everything right away.

Also, consistency matters more than speed, and Uxcel will certainly help you build a learning habit.