Becoming A UX Designer
The Steps I Took To Change My Career From Architecture To User Experience
As many other UXers, I began my career in a different industry. After 4 years of working as an architectural designer, I realized that what I had signed on for at age 17 wasn’t totally right for me. I have always been both a creative and logical individual, and architecture seemed to be a great path that would marry the two seemingly contradicting parts of my brain, and the education I received at Syracuse University taught me how to look at the world with a completely new set of lenses. I had doubts about architecture though, and those doubts were validated after working in the profession.
The problem was- I didn’t know what to do instead. I began my journey as an architect because of my desire to carry through a vision for something that would ultimately help others. I worked in residential architecture because I wanted to know the people that I would be designing for, and what they needed at that scale of day-to-day living, to make their homes both enjoyable and useful spaces. I developed a sense of empathy to understand clients’ wants and needs, and I wanted a career that would still harness those factors.
User Experience was something that spoke to me- so I educated myself, left my job as an architect, and found a new job and life that I love as a UX Designer in San Diego, CA. I often get messages from others who learned of my background, seeking advice on how to make the change, what programs to take, when to do it, next steps, etc. Here’s the process that worked for me, in hopes that individuals in similar positions will be able to do the same and launch a new and rewarding career:
How I discovered UX
The 7 steps I took to make the change
How I brought architecture with me into my job as UX designer
How I Discovered UX
I knew what I loved about architecture, but also what I didn’t love. In order for a project to be built, it often takes years, and I craved a shorter design cycle. I wasn’t inspired by the weekly site visits that lasted years until project completion, and client work became draining. I wanted to be able to spill out as many ideas, and see through as many designs as I possibly could. I’ve always loved and practiced graphic design, which sparked an interest in web and product design, where iterations can happen quickly and often.
I started to connect my previous experiences with what I wanted out of the future. I had previously done some freelance graphic design work for a digital marketing agency, which I very much enjoyed. I had heard of UX, but it wasn’t something I was too familiar with at the time. I researched further and the more I read, the more excited I became. It seemed like UX combined everything I was interested in- all parts of my over-analytical brain. A lightbulb went off and I was ready to dig deeper.
So- what actually is UX?
To put it simply, maybe too simply, UX design is spatial design in the digital world.
As architects, we design for the human experience on a journey in the physical world. As UX designers, we design for the human experience on a journey in the digital world.
It really is another version of architecture, mixed with psychology, industrial design, ergonomics, interaction design, graphic design, writing, technology, data visualization, functional design, and so much more. What a beautiful marriage of everything I dream about!
I decided that I needed to talk to someone in the industry. I searched for “UX” in my LinkedIn network, which at the time was saturated with architects, interior designers, and others in the construction industry. I discovered one friend from high school working in San Francisco, who I hadn’t spoken to in years, reached out, and scheduled a time to give him a call. He sent me a huge list of resources, and was extremely helpful and giving with how to proceed with my next steps of moving into the UX world. My desire to pursue UX became further solidified.
The 7 Steps I Took To Make The Change
At this point, I was committed to explore and dive into UX design. But how was I supposed to get from Point A to Point B, without hard knowledge or relevant experience? There’s not a set formula for these sorts of things, and paths should be customized for everyone. Here’s what I did, and what worked for me:
1. Familiarized in UX knowledge, principles, and trends
I read books, articles, blogs, watched YouTube videos, Lynda videos, and everything I could get my eyes and ears on. I sifted through Dribbble and Behance for inspiration. I breathed in all I could about UX, until I was too anxious to do anything but to start creating.
2. Educated myself through a UX certification course
I took a UX Design course with CareerFoundry, which spanned a total of 6 months. There are many other options out there, such as General Assembly and Human-Computer Interaction Masters Programs at many universities. CareerFoundry was the best option for me, as I was a) able to complete the course online during the evenings and weekends without giving up my job as an architect, b) able to finance it over a 6-month period, c) was given a mentor who was a User Researcher, and a huge support in my career shift. My background in architecture was a huge help, and the course was incredibly thorough and a major catalyst in preparing me for my current role.
3. Travelled, to mentally recharge
When I was confident enough with my departure from my job, and nearly complete with the CareerFoundry course, I took an outdoor adventure in order to clear my head. I bought a one-way flight to Montana to embark a solo bicycle tour. I followed Adventure Cycling Routes through the west coast, down the Pacific, and ended at the border of Mexico south of San Diego. It was the most liberating experience I could’ve done for myself, gave me inspiration for future work, allowed myself to discover San Diego, and powered me to approach a new phase of my life from a brand new angle and perspective.
4. Created a portfolio
Making a portfolio wasn’t new to me. I had put together portfolios for applying to architecture school, internships, and jobs. But, what would I possibly put in a UX portfolio, when all my professional work was architecture related? Thankfully, I completed a project through CareerFoundry which included a thorough cross-section of UX deliverables- enough to put together a single solid case study. I started looking at other portfolios out there, and I noticed many UX designers included hypothetical design projects in theirs. I heard the most important thing to show for a UX portfolio is how you think and tackle problems, so I redesigned a mobile app that I used during my bike tour, as well as designed the concept for another mobile app. I now had 3 solid pieces for a portfolio- enough to put it out there, showcase how I think, and begin more confidently making connections.
5. Networked with UX professionals
Networking is a little dreadful, especially for someone leaning more towards the introversion end of the spectrum. This isn’t my favorite activity…but I needed advice, and maybe I could offer something in return. I reached out to the friends I had in the industry to see if anyone could put me in touch with a UX professional. I subjected myself to coffee dates with informative and generous strangers. I also attended Meetups, General Assembly talks, and other events where I could exchange information and inquire about getting into the industry.
6. Talked with recruiters
UX was, and still is, in high demand, so I was fortunate enough to have recruiters reach out to me upon launching my portfolio online. The problem was, to overcomplicate things, I was living in Boston after my bike tour while trying to find a job in San Diego, with hopes to eventually move there. I reached out to recruiters in San Diego and they were happy to hear that I had a time-frame for moving. Some though, refused to speak to me at all without being a San Diego resident. I worked with a few different recruiters, and I had phone interviews with a handful of companies that they found for me in San Diego.
7. Researched and applied
Aside from speaking with recruiters, I independently looked for and reached out to quality companies in San Diego that seemed to be a good fit for me. Some weren’t even hiring at the time, but I sent my information along anyways because it was worth it to show my interest regardless. I knew I wanted to work for an agency, as I would be able to gain versatile experience across various industries, and work with many clients in a fast-paced environment. I discovered an opportunity, which I excitedly applied for. I had planned to move to San Diego regardless, but the timing very luckily worked out that I would be beginning a new job upon arriving!
How I Brought Architecture With Me Into My Job As a UX Designer
I changed my career as well as the industry in where I work, which has been a learning curve and a continuously fun, exciting discovery. Despite the new skills I’ve gained and practiced, I realized that during my life as an architect, I had been doing UX design all along. Here’s how:
The way of thinking
The way of thinking as a UX designer is wildly similar to that of an architect. UX design requires the ability to think holistically about large, scalable systems- from the big picture concept to the micro-interactions of the details. Projects are designed for humans, and problems are solved creatively through a cyclical flow of research, analyzing, planning, sketching, iterating, and refining. The ability to understand form, function, and the balance between the two are crucial in both disciplines, in addition to the human interaction with designs.
The team dynamic
All project stakeholders are involved early on in the project, and like architecture, disciplines must collaborate in order to carry through the overall vision. This involves working with clients, users, front-end developers, back-end developers, product and project managers, and visual designers. Like architecture, no two days in the UX world are the same, and each discipline must be flexible in order to look out for the greater good of the project as a whole.
The work itself
The way of thinking and team dynamic are similar, and so is the output of deliverables. Projects are divided into similar phases beginning with planning and ending with completion. In architecture there are program diagrams, concept diagrams, sketches, drawings at varying degrees of detail depending on project phases, and 3D models or prototypes- all to be handed off to the client for buy-in, and to the contractor to be built. In UX design there are site maps (like program diagrams), user flows (like concept diagrams), sketches, wireframes (the “blueprints”, for a site or app), and prototypes. These all serve to better understand the design and vision, and are used directly for products to be built.
Although both career paths prove to have many parallels, I’ve found satisfaction in UX on multiple levels, particularly the ability to churn out work and ideas more quickly. It’s great to be able to see projects go live, watch how they perform, and refine to continue to enhance user experiences- projects are never “done”, and there’s a constant ability to improve.