“Thanks to UX Tree mentorship, I secured a junior UX role – which was a great step into the industry.”

Hi everyone! I’m Marie. Before joining UX Tree, I worked as a graphic designer with 10 years of print and branding in smaller agencies.

What challenges were you facing that led you to consider UX design?

After a number of years working in graphic design, I began to feel limited in my career. I’d developed a strong visual skill set, but wanted more involvement in problem solving and to help shape earlier why things were designed.

UX felt like a natural progression. It built on the parts of design I enjoyed, researching, structuring content and considering customer needs – moving away from the main focus being on final visuals.

Why did you choose UX Tree’s mentorship program?

I’d just finished a Higher Diploma in Interaction Design and was looking to bridge the gap between university and industry. UX Tree stood out because it offered a balance of guidance from industry professionals, hands-on experience and connection with peers, exactly what I was looking for at that stage.

Can you describe a specific moment or aspect of the mentorship that had a significant impact on your learning journey?

Being able to bounce ideas off a mentor was really valuable, especially when I hit bottlenecks – making it easier to move forward with confidence. Seeing how other designers approached problem-solving and their processes helped me reflect on and improve my own approach.

How did the structure of the program support your development?

The weekly checkins and project deadlines helped keep me on track, and gave the whole experience a good sense of momentum. Working on a new project that I could add to my portfolio was also a big benefit.

Were there any tools, resources, or methodologies introduced during the mentorship that you found particularly beneficial?

One of the advantages for me was being able to meet the group in person in Dublin, it added a nice human element and made it easier to connect and learn from each other.

What tangible outcomes have you achieved since completing the mentorship?

I was lucky enough to secure a junior UX role around the time I started the program, which was a great step into the industry.

How has your perspective on design changed?

It really reinforced how important it is to support junior designers and career changers. Having the opportunity to learn and grow makes such a difference early on.

What advice would you give someone considering a transition into UX?

Don’t underestimate the transferable skills you already have, design and tech really benefit from different perspectives. If you’re interested, research methods are a great area to dig into, especially if you’re coming from a more visual background like I was. It really helps ground your designs in real user needs.