My takeaways after UI/UX internship

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There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing and be nothing. Aristotle

I kicked off my professional journey as a UI/UX Designer with a three-month internship at the big-shot American company, IDT Corporation. I had my mentor and Art Director as tour guides throughout this rollercoaster. Summing it up I can describe this trip as challenging, confusing, but darn it, fascinating.?

I’ve decided to commence my writing journey by diving into an analysis of my mistakes and insights post-internship. Seems like a pretty logical starting point to me ??

Well then, let’s start ??

1. Questions, Questions, Questions

I’m naturally not the question-asking person, but I had to throw my principles out the window from time to time and make peace with my inner self because I needed answers, and going solo on searches didn’t always pan out. And besides, the main goal of any internship is to soak up as many answers as possible, or in simple terms, gain some experience.

When you’re in a situation where mentors are guiding you, and you have the chance to throw even the silliest questions at them?—?go for it! Don’t hold back, don’t be scared, and don’t blame yourself for not knowing everything. It perfectly aligns with the wisdom that the more we know, the more we realize we don’t know.

And in general, questions don’t make you look dumb or incompetent. On the contrary, in the context of internship they show your interest and eagerness to get a grip on things, shining a positive light on your professional karma. In the design world, questions are the foundation for building a killer product. If you’re asking, chances are your users might too. And it’s a win if you can figure out the answers before users bail on your app or ditch your service.

2. Break it down to the nuts and bolts

Back when I was learning in courses and dabbling in pet projects, I used to build everything from scratch. Now, I’ve landed in these massive projects that function like well-oiled machines, where processes flow as smoothly as blood through veins and arteries. It took me a good chunk of time to learn and understand it all (sometimes feels like I’ve covered only a fraction of the Universe in almost a year of work).?

Draw diagrams, read every bit of documentation, test the product yourself, ask questions (again, non-negotiable), and communicate with the team. The quicker and more thoroughly you grasp the processes, the more competent and justified your decisions will be down the road.

And a little tip from me: As you navigate through the nooks and crannies, trying to find your way and answers to all the pressing issues about the processes, you’ll come across a million abbreviations, acronyms, and terms (in simple terms, words completely unfamiliar to you). Start piecing together your own little dictionary, a manual that not only helps you make sense of what’s going on but also levels up your knowledge in the field as a whole.?

3. Perfectionism?

I’m pretty hard on myself, especially when it comes to my work. Yeah, it’s important for me that everything looks on point?—?proper alignment, consistent margins, and absolutely no messy drafts or unfinished designs.?

But let’s be real, things hardly ever go down the way I want them to. I gotta roll with the punches, learn new tricks for my job, and change up how I size up my work. After a year in the game, I’ve clocked that perfectionism is not the same as being a pro.

The main deal with perfectionists is that we set the bar higher for ourselves than the situation really calls for. Maybe the situation doesn’t call for obsessing over margins; perhaps it’s about quickly figuring out a smart SIM card activation logic. Or maybe the issue lies in communication, process organization, or technological requirements?

Nothing frustrates and demotivates a designer (or anyone, really) like heavy, prolonged, and meaningless work burdened with guilt.

What’s the worst that could happen if your layout sucks? Immediate firing? Starving because you’ll never find another job? Public humiliation in the office?

Realizing the problem is the first step to solving it. If you see yourself in this, I can confidently tell you that you’re not alone. There are many of us, but at least you can put perfectionism on hold without a valid reason. Making a mistake is not the end of the world; you just have to give it a shot. And during self-analysis, when it feels like perfectionism is taking over, try to pause, breathe, and take a couple of steps back. Again, remember what the situation requires. In 99 percent of cases, you’ve veered off course somewhere and are now eating yourself up inside.

You definitely need to do something about it because there's no such thing as perfect or flawless in the design world. There's no limit to perfection. So, you'll go crazy, die from a coffee overdose, lack of sleep, or extreme stress halfway through. Love and take care of yourself.

4. Communication

First things first, you’re part of a big machine, so unfortunately (or fortunately), the results don’t just depend on you but on the smooth operation of the whole team. To achieve mutual understanding among every team member, you need to talk. Sometimes it takes a whole day to sync up: discuss, prove, explain. But believe me, if spending a day on simple communication is what it takes for the success of your project, do it. Because redoing an already implemented idea will take way more time, and your trust credit will be shot. Of course, everyone should follow this rule, not just you. However, by building this process brick by brick through your own example, you can show others that it’ll benefit everyone if you communicate.

Secondly, one respected person told me designers should get processes even better than managers. At least, it’s smart to be in the loop with all the talks if you can. During requirement discussions, you can sometimes, and even should, pitch your idea, ask a question that interests you, or in other words, just be an active participant in the decision-making process, not just afterwards.

Thirdly, share your problems, questions, and concerns with colleagues. I got incredibly lucky to go through the internship not alone (I know some big companies bring in a bunch of interns at the same time). We still work hand in hand with my partner-in-crime. Daily, we share project updates, questions, challenges, and besides getting support, we get advice because when you’re deep into a product, your perspective occasionally gets blurry. So, just like people need people, designers need designers, at least to avoid going crazy during the first steps in a new profession.

Don’t be afraid to seek advice, message your colleagues for help, consultation, or a fresh pair of eyes. Most people will be happy to help, and for many a ten-minute call is a chance to talk to someone other than their laptop, which occasionally freezes while loading Figma or crashes when opening Photoshop or Illustrator.

Anyway, if you think you’re imposing or taking up your colleague’s precious time, remember that each of us has the ability to speak up.

5. You’re the most valuable thing right here, right now?

University studies, thesis writing, exams, learning English, and now an internship. Ever get the feeling that a healthy sleep, hobbies, and life, in general, don’t fit into this list? That’s pretty much how I lived throughout the internship.?

I think many newbies can relate to this scenario. I tried to squeeze out every bit of myself, but ended up with tears and stress for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus endless hours of overtime. I gave up on pleasures, rest, sleep, sometimes forgot to eat, worked on weekends, and socializing with friends and hobbies were not even on the radar during that period. I vividly remember sitting in front of the computer at one moment, staring at one spot on the screen for an hour because my brain, lacking essential components, refused to concentrate and get the job done. That very day, I signed up for a gym membership, which I still use twice a week, and muted notifications in all work chats after 9 pm.?

Over time, I figured out the best work hours for myself, graduated from university, cut down on overtime, and life started falling into place. I was beyond surprised when, a couple of weeks later, I found out that by adding normal sleep, physical activity twice a week, and minimal but still entertaining activities to my life on weekends instead of work, my productivity not only didn’t decrease but actually increased. And the concentration level somehow magically increased too. So, remember, ?whatever doesn’t kill us, breaks us? and the recovery process is too long and complicated especially for a designer with a sensitive and creative nature. No matter how challenging the phase in your life is and how much work you have, you’re the most valuable thing right here, right now.

6. Speed ≠ Quality

While you’re an intern or just starting a job and want to prove the world that you’re the best, it seems like you need to do everything in an hour, or better yet, send finished layouts before they even ask you to do them.

In any job, quality is important, and the speed of your work depends on your background and on how many birds you’re trying to kill with one stone. With time and experience, it will take much less time to complete a task than it does now. But while you’re gaining experience and understanding the processes, allow yourself to be a professional at your own pace and give each task enough attention separately.

And stop comparing yourself and the pace of your work with more experienced colleagues, because you will get nothing but the reason for self-examination. Their speed is the experience multiplied by the number of mistakes made, divided by the number of books read, completed projects, sometimes sleepless nights or overtime work. And you still have all this ahead of you.

Step by step, you’ll feel solid ground under your feet and have a clear understanding of how much time and effort each stage requires and where you can save resources.

7. Proactivity is the key to success

In contrast to the previous point about working at your own pace, let’s talk about something called proactivity. Designers who take the initiative in projects either end up in heaven or later suffer from burnout (just kidding).

But we all know there’s a grain of truth in every joke, so approach this advice with some thought: show that you’re interested in taking on various tasks, that you’re proactive, and you’re keen on any design activities or research beyond the current tasks in this sprint. But never forget about yourself and the boundaries of your workday.

Don’t just sit around if you have a light week. Be curious, hungry for knowledge and new experiences, inquire about the team’s future plans, and initiate taking on something more. In the end, you’ll gain experience you haven’t had before and make an impression as an organized and proactive team member who’s not lounging on the sidelines while everyone else is hard at work.

8. Don’t shy away from getting feedback?

Your professional image doesn’t define you as a person, and it should never shake your self-worth. However, at the same time, it’s a crucial and necessary step in any kind of growth?—?listening to what more experienced colleagues think about you and your work.

If this process isn’t formally set up within performance reviews, don’t hesitate to seek feedback on your own. There might be leaks in your communication with other team members that could use some patching up, but your colleagues might not be proactive enough to point it out themselves. Alternatively, someone might be impressed by your knack for explaining details quickly and clearly, and you might not even be aware of it. But you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover what the team thinks of you.

In the early stages, feedback is another stepping stone for growth, and the ability to take it and work on it is your asset as a professional.

9. Be Independent

Internship is a learning curve, a journey to acquire knowledge. At the same time, it’s a chance to immerse yourself in real-world experience and feel like a professional making decisions and, occasionally, learning from mistakes.

No need to run every step by the manager, mentor, and the janitor in the lobby. Showcase your professionalism and the ability to stand by your decisions in action. If your decision turns out to be successful, you might earn a couple of extra points; if not, well, it’s experience.

Try not to be spoon-fed and avoid being a novice?—?everything you learn here will serve as the foundation upon which you’ll build your valuable experience in the future.

10. When in Doubt, Say Yes

And, in conclusion, I’d like to highlight perhaps the most crucial insight: always choose to give it a try! If you’re faced with the decision to take on an internship or not, lean towards the positive option! Regardless of the outcome of the enrollment process or the internship itself, it’s undeniably an experience. Perhaps, in the end, you’ll realize that this isn’t your field at all, or you might want to explore something related by interacting with people from different directions and witnessing the intricacies of real processes. Or maybe, once again, you’ll confirm that this is exactly what you’ve been longing for.

Don’t build illusions and expectations about the experience before it begins?—?this will help your ship from crashing into the shores of reality.

And one more point: don’t worry if you end up job hunting all over again after the internship. It’s not going to be the same old starting point. It’s a new leg of the journey with more skills, knowledge, and maybe a whole new outlook on where you’re headed.

Thank you for reading! ??

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