Successful graduates in 2025
Many of our graduates are having success starting new careers in UX this year. Despite a competitive job market, our alumni are showing that breaking into UX is achievable. This year, we’ve seen inspiring stories of people from all kinds of backgrounds moving into their UX roles and building exciting new careers.
Kristýna Hrabánková
Kristýna Hrabánková began her career in fashion design and product development. Working with complex PLM systems showed her how poorly designed tools could cause more confusion than clarity, and it sparked her interest in UX. She enrolled in the Professional Diploma in UX Design and graduated in September 2025. The course gave her the structure and confidence she needed, and even before finishing she was already freelancing on projects such as a real-time voice AI brief for Kyutai. Today, Kristýna is combining her fashion background with UX expertise to drive innovation in fashion tech.
“My goal is to combine my experience in fashion with my new UX expertise and move towards fashion tech, an area where I see enormous potential for innovation.”
Joel Podolski
After nearly a decade working in human-centred learning, design and creative media across the UK and Europe, Joel Podolski made the move into UX in 2025. Shortly after graduating with the Professional Diploma in UX Design, Joel was hired as a Junior Product Designer at Alto Software Group in May. More recently, he built on this achievement by completing the Certificate in AI Fundamentals for UX, equipping him with the latest skills in AI-driven design. Naturally curious, a people person and a strong believer in the power of ideas and stories, Joel continues to grow his career creating user-centred solutions that make an impact.
“The Certificate in AI Fundamentals for US course cuts through the hype to focus in on the practical ways AI can help you be a more efficient designer. It has certainly given me a confidence boost and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to go deeper into how to integrate the latest AI tools with your work.”
Janis Underwood
Janis Underwood built her career as a business consultant and performance coach before making the switch to UX. In July, shortly after completing the Professional Diploma in UX Design, she stepped into her first role in the field. She has since gone on to complete the new Certificate in AI Fundamentals for UX, further strengthening her skills and making her even more competitive.
“I’ve always had a passion for great customer experiences. Taking the course with the UX Design Institute really helped with my career switch, and showed my employer that I was serious about UX.”
Paula Rimmer
With more than 20 years of experience in primary education, Paula was ready for a new challenge. She chose the Professional Diploma in UX Design, and gained the practical skills and confidence to start fresh. By taking on projects and freelance work, she built a portfolio that led to her first role as a Service Designer in local government. In 2025, she added the Professional Certificate in UI Design and soon after stepped into her current position as a UX/UI Designer in the Cabinet Office.
“The whole team at UXDI were so supportive and I couldn’t have changed my career without them.”
From business consulting to creative media and even fashion tech, our graduates are proving that a background in UX isn’t a prerequisite for success. With dedication and curiosity, a rewarding career in UX is within reach.
For more inspiring alumni stories, take a look at these:
- Keelan’s success story: Upskilling with the UX Design Institute to become a product lead
- From digital marketing to UX leadership: Emily’s career pivot with the UX Design Institute
