Being furloughed from my role as a senior instruction designer at BILT was a turning point in my professional life. After dedicating five years to the company and making strides in leadership and innovation, the sudden pause allowed me to reflect and evaluate my career trajectory.
Assessing My Skills and Ambitions:
During this period, I’m taking the opportunity to introspect and consider my past experiences, existing skill set, and future aspirations. I realized that while I had a background in illustration, my passion for helping others and collaborating prompted me to pursue a shift towards UX design. With this realization, I embarked on the journey of building a UX design portfolio.
The Significance of UX Design:
Having witnessed the impact of design on enhancing user experiences, I recognized the importance of UX design in creating solutions that enable individuals to perform their tasks more efficiently. In my previous experience, I’ve first-hand felt the frustration of annoying tools. What could possibly be done to improve the experience?
I felt a strong desire to leverage my skills to improve the tools and experiences available to users, whether in the corporate world or for other clients. I know I have skills or knowledge that others don’t have, it would be a shame to not put those to use.
Identifying Areas of Expertise:
As I ventured into UX design, I pondered the areas where I could make an immediate impact. One possibility is sharing insights and guidance for students transitioning from higher education to the workforce. Additionally, I contemplated offering my perspective on enhancing the usability and functionality of the tools I previously used. Exploring these avenues could potentially lead to compelling case studies, contributing to a robust and comprehensive portfolio that targets profitable prospects in the business-to-business realm.
Presenting a Professional Portfolio:
Above all, my goal is to present my portfolio as a collection of professional ideas and solutions. By combining my expertise in illustration, motion design, with the principles of UX design, I aim to create a cohesive and sophisticated body of work that showcases my ability to deliver meaningful results.
So far, I dive deep into topics that interest me. Putting on my detective hat, I look for data, correlation and causation of multiple industries and trends. Staying aware of what’s happening today seems to be very important in order to stay on top of industry needs.
Exploring New Business Opportunities:
Finally, my journey has sparked thoughts about potential ventures that could support existing businesses. I enjoy identifying gaps and challenges in the market. Envisioning innovative solutions that address the needs of other companies is the next step. I strive to be a supporting member for businesses. Finding new tools and technologies will allow them to be better and faster at what they are already experts in.
Closing Thoughts
The period of furlough prompted me to reevaluate my professional path, leading me to embrace UX design as a new focus. With a clear vision, I am excited to embark on this journey. I seek to create impactful case studies, and develop a thriving business that offers valuable solutions.