Illustration of a case study that reads "my life before UX"

Turn Your Non-Design Experience into Design Portfolio Gold

by Laia Tremosa | | 9 min read
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Have you ever wondered how to transition into UX and product design from a different career background without feeling insecure? Let's uncover strategies to confidently bridge the gap and showcase your skills to prospective employers with confidence and clarity.

In this video, Morgane Peng, Design Director at Societe Generale CIB, shows you how to use your non-design related work experience as an advantage in your portfolio.

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Identify and articulate your transferable skills, experiences and motivations with the help of this template.

Turn Your Non-Design Experience Into Design Portfolio Gold
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Connect and Conquer: Embrace the Power of IxDF Local Groups

Transitioning to UX can be daunting, but you're not alone. IxDF Local Groups offer a supportive space to connect with fellow designers, gain valuable insights and build confidence in your new career path. Whether you're seeking mentorship, portfolio feedback, or simply a community of like-minded individuals, these local groups provide a platform to learn, grow, and showcase your skills. Discover how connections can fuel your successful transition into UX design.

The Take Away

A career change into UX and product design from another field requires that you embrace your career switch rather than hide it. Showcase your motivation and commitment and focus on why you were drawn to UX and are passionate about it now. Despite limited experience, highlight your accomplishments from courses or self-learning to emphasize your dedication. Identify transferable skills from your previous career and illustrate them with examples.

Use case studies from your former career to provide concrete examples of your abilities in interviews. Consider dedicating a portfolio section to showcase how you've applied transferable skills in UX and product design and confidently communicate your value to pursue UX and product design roles. Overall, remember to show how your non-design skills make you a stronger designer.

Join an IxDF Local group and connect with people who can help propel your transition to UX design.

References and Where to Learn More

Take our course Build a Standout UX/UI Portfolio: Land Your Dream Job.

Watch our Master Class with Morgane, Navigating Career Changes: How to Break into UX and Product Design.

Read our article How to Change Your Career to UX Design.

Watch our Master Class, How To Successfully Change Your Career To UX Design with Cory Lebson.

Read our piece on UX Career Development and its associated articles.

Build a network that supports your career growth—join an IxDF Local Group.

Hero image: © Interaction Design Foundation, CC BY-SA 4.0

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Tremosa, L. (2024, July 17). Turn Your Non-Design Experience into Design Portfolio Gold. Interaction Design Foundation - IxDF.

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New to UX Design? We’re Giving You a Free ebook!

The Basics of User Experience Design

Download our free ebook The Basics of User Experience Design to learn about core concepts of UX design.

In 9 chapters, we’ll cover: conducting user interviews, design thinking, interaction design, mobile UX design, usability, UX research, and many more!

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318,563 designers enjoy our newsletter—sure you don’t want to receive it?