From Canva to Technology

Hi, I am May, a Product Designer (UX|UI,) Product Manager and an AI Professional.

The pilot: "Communication Design"? the unexplored part of Industrial fine art and design

As a college undergraduate at Makerere University, I was undoubtedly excited about pursuing a BA in Industrial Fine Art and design. I had extreme dreams of becoming a professional in this field, I've loved drawing and designing since I was 13, and I started painting at 16. At 18, I realized the untold story of Industrial Fine Art and design - "Communication Design" and its close ties to products and users. When I was getting close to graduating and thinking about my future, I realized my passion for making attractive displays creating visually appealing and customer-friendly designs for B2C clientele after a 1-time opportunity to design for a client. However, the opportunity to eagerly grow in the skills and the field seemed far off as I got my first job in an Art Gallery.

From Stuck to Start: Transition to Technology: discovering the dynamic world of technology

Having worked for 1 year in the Gallery, I realized it wasn't right for me. The traditional arts' strict culture stifled my dreams of having more freedom, both in terms of working remotely, exploring new places, and cultures, and creating more than visually appealing works but usable, scalable, and user-centric products. So, when I had the opportunity to change fields, where I could use my skills to arrange products and design customer experiences, I eagerly took the chance. The greatest break was at the start of COVID-19, as I quit my job and pursued that desire to create products that meet more thanuser's needs. I realized the best way to start was on a clean canvas, knowing nothing about what I was getting into, I switched to the technology field.

A 3-month catalyst:? Not only code exists!? How I Discovered My New Passion for UX/UI and Product Management.

I was excited and had a lot of questions and expectations when I started a 3-month catalyst cohort at Refactory Academy for Software Development, albeit being new and green. I never expected to become best friends with a living room corner at home for the next 9 months in 2020. I looked at lines of code for the first month and wanted to quit but every time I opened my laptop, went to the web browser, and saw the website I had designed, I realized the depth of what I would miss if I quit. I learned the foundation (HTML, JavaScript, and CSS) in 3 months, and by the 4th month, I could design a full website..... kudos to me and this was without any UX/UI design knowledge.

6-month boot camp:

1 month later, I still wanted more than just engineering a website. I was introduced to UX/UI design and Product Management. They grabbed my attention because it was amazing to strategically direct every stage of the product lifecycle and design user experiences and interfaces with a bonus of excellent pay. It matched my passion for design, management, and my dream of a global career. But choosing to be a UX/UI designer and product manager wasn't just about the perks. It was also about working with different people, exploring dreams for people, and creating products.? And that's how my journey as a UX/UI designer and Product Manager started.

Evolving to specializing: Align user needs and business goals using user-centric designs and enhanced user experiences

It's always the lingering doubts!

“What if UX/UI design isn’t for me?”

“How can I compete with designers who have proper design education?”

“What if I fail in this career change?”

“How can I be sure this is the right path for me?”

I concentrated on getting better and learning as much as possible. I worked on my skills every day to design user-centric experiences for both individual projects and scalable recurring revenue-generating products alongside taking on mobile, web, and web-app probono projects.

Product Design (UX/UI)

The most recent project I am working on is for a Mental telehealth solution. The solution is an Afrocentric AI-based teletherapy solution that detects depression in individuals and avails professional help plus human coaches for those who need more. It is a brand-new product in the market, and the client needs professional designs to present it to potential investors and secure funding.

https://kharistherapy.com

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