When the pandemic hit, Nicole was working a travel-heavy marketing job at an engineering consultancy. While struggling with the realization that she was tired of traveling for her job, Nicole was assigned a long-term project abroad.
Thanks to the pandemic lockdowns, there was little to do on the weekends. So Nicole decided to challenge herself creatively by launching an app.
“I managed to find a couple of engineers who were open to doing an app together, and off we went to launch an MVP,” Nicole shares. “I was kind of thrown into design with the app, but I enjoyed the experience so much that I wanted to study the UX design process more in-depth.”
Why Nicole Applied for UX Academy
At this point, Nicole had her eye on the UX design field, realizing that it would satisfy what she calls her “creativity monster”, as well as allowing her to work remotely.
After some research, UX Academy became a frontrunner in her search for a good UX bootcamp, so Nicole began to reach out to alumni and current students to hear about their experiences.
Despite the fact that each person had a unique set of high and low points, Nicole quickly saw that not a single person regretted taking the program. Fueled by this realization, Nicole decided to take the leap and apply, finding herself particularly drawn to three facets of the program:
1. 100% Remote Online Course
UX Academy is a fully remote online program.
“This was crucial for me, since I was working a full-time job and I didn’t want to be bound by geography,” Nicole says.
2. Mentorship
UX Academy students are paired 1:1 with experienced designers, whom they meet with for weekly mentoring sessions.
“I know I learn the best with a mentor. A mentor brings structure, order, and focus which was exactly what I needed to navigate my UX design journey.”
3. Group Crits
UX Academy students also meet up weekly for virtual Group Crits, where they practice giving and receiving feedback on their work.
“I know trying to communicate designs isn’t natural for newcomers. I thought this was the best space for me to practice articulating my design decisions, and it’s something the other bootcamps didn’t have.”