Why am I learning UX/UI with a class around the world?

Hello reader ??

Wherever and whenever this blog finds you, I'm glad that you are here!

I'm here to talk to you about my UX/Ui journey with Memorisely that is about to start, and I would like to take you along.

• First things first, who am I?
• Why did I decide to study UX/Ui and why with Memorisely?
• What does it mean to learn with a class around the world?

I'm Constantine Dranganas also known as The Dragon ???I’m a true advocate of user needs in digital spaces. Next to that, I enjoy sports, visiting exhibitions, dancing, and observing how people behave both in physical and virtual experiences.

I won't bother you with details about my studies, professional experience, etc. If you feel like learning about it, you are welcome to visit my Linkedin profile.

?? Let's get to why we got here in the first place!

Why UX/Ui Design and why with Memorisely?

I’m a true believer that our life actions and decisions, even mostly unconscious in nature, pave the path to finding our rightful place in this world.

From a young age, I developed a distinct interest in people and their experiences. I recall staging a theatrical play with some friends at the age of 14 in my backyard, starting a Super Mario Kart (Nintendo 64) tournament in my area, or inviting friends to explore together how the internet works, on my very first computer which seemed quite alien to us.

We were all explorers, driven by the same passion to get a grasp of the ever-changing world around us.

This same passion, stronger, wiser, and more refined, has led me here today, as UX/Ui is a space for the explorers, the visionaries, the ones determined to change the world.

I might be quite new to the world of UX/Ui with no previous work experience, but I'm not new when it comes to studying and learning about the field. I have successfully completed two professional certification programs in UX/Ui Design from the UX Design Institute and from TechLabs Berlin.

I am very glad about both experiences that provided me with a strong foundation. But in the end, my studying experience was off as there was something missing.

This is when I decided to find what that was and ways of improving it.

Let the research begin!

Exploring the available options for any study course is already a journey itself and even more so when searching for a UX/Ui Design course.

We cannot hide the fact that the field is on ?? and keeps growing year after year. There is no end to it, at least for the coming years. Therefore, it makes total sense that there is an increasing number of schools and academies offering related courses.

As mentioned earlier, I had my time studying in two great programs. I got to meet inspiring people and instructors that supported me through my journey, BUT...

You know, there is always a BUT...

In my case, it had nothing to do with the curriculum of the courses I graduated from, but with how the learning experience was structured.

If I wanted to spend time watching pre-recorded online videos, there is a plethora of free and low-cost platforms available. If I wanted to chat with others interested in UX/Ui online, but never really share a class together, there are also myriad options out there.

To make it clearer, I was missing a real connection.

• A real connection with fellow students
• A real connection with instructors
• A real connection with the tools used
• A real connection with the industry itself

This is how I got to learn about Memorisely. I recall my search query being something along the lines of "UX/Ui Design live courses" and just like that, a new world opened up to me.

No, It wasn't that easy.

You might call me suspicious, but my years working in marketing have taught me that there are two types of products and services:

• Products/services that work as promised and exceed user expectations
• Products/services that suck but have an amazing marketing and sales teams

Hence, even if Memorisely seemed very good, I always prefer to talk to people that have a personal experience with a course, product/service, company, etc. We might have different views in life - something that works for me might be a nightmare for someone else - but I always like to involve others as part of my research.

This is why I paid close attention to listening, posing the right questions, and then bringing it all together to make my final decision.

From top 3 to the Aha! moment

We inhabit a world of endless options, but sometimes it really feels like we have none or too many. It is quite a paradox but it is very true.

I got to experience it while trying to list my top choices from all courses available to me. In some moments, I felt overwhelmed, and as if I wouldn't be able to choose one or make the right decision in the end.

Gladly, after some chats and additional research, I cut it down to three options:

• My first option was an academic MSc program with highly positive feedback from alumni, but very much targeted at highly experienced designers.
• The second option was a course almost identical to Memorisely with double duration but almost the same curriculum. I heard mixed comments from former students about it.
• Last but not least, it was Memorisely that strike me immediately as a hands-on live course with a strong community. Moreover, whomever I talked to was more than excited about sharing their experience, that was only positive.

Then, it was the right time for me to take a step back and recall why I started this research in the first place:

I wanted to improve my experience studying UX/Ui without lacking the feeling of connection.

This is how I eventually chose Memorisely!

Already by joining their Slack and Discord channels before even signing up for the course, everyone was welcoming, inviting me to ask any questions I had, connect and network with others globally.

Upon signing up for the course, I was assigned my personal Notion page with prep work leading up to the course. For example, this blog is part of my tasks - along with other blogs that will follow - but to be frank, I only have fun doing it.

My first official class with Memorisely is set for the 29th of August and I can already say that I'm very happy with my choice. The following months will bring me in contact with other students around the world, design experts, and mentors on live classes and events.

Learning UX/Ui in such a setting is ideal for developing a universal mindset as a design professional. We all come from different backgrounds, with a plethora of user experiences and diversity in the way we think and behave.

I am learning UX/UI with a class around the world because we can only change the world by understanding the similarities, differences, and uniqueness of each other's world.

Hello reader ?? Are you still with me?

Stay tuned for more stories coming up soon!