My background is in industrial, product and physical design. I had mixed feelings about product design because it clashed with my values as an environmentalist. After I realised this, I started a sustainable fashion business with my husband. I worked in customer support at the same time to pay my bills.

I came across UX while working on our fashion website’s eCommerce. I thought there could be a better way to do this. I felt like if I knew how to do UX design, it could help have more control over our website’s design.

The Professional Diploma is all you need for starting a career in UX design. It gives you the skills you need for a job, skills which you can continue to grow professionally.

I’m the only UX designer at the federal government of Canada. I’ve been there for two months. Everyone else is a developer or programmer here.

After posting my diploma on LinkedIn, recruiters were coming up to me. I didn’t have to hunt for a job, they contacted me!

I have many new challenges because it’s my first UX design job and I’m trying to figure out everything, but I’m finding my way. I’m trying to apply everything I’ve learnt in the course to the right circumstances.

Absolutely. I don’t think you need a specific background to study or do UX design. As long as you’re interested in helping others by building something, and you enjoy embracing new technologies and challenges, I think it’s a good area.