“After completing the UX Tree mentorship, I secured a UX internship and finally felt confident in my design process and portfolio.”

Hi everyone! I’m Ciara. Before joining UX Tree, I worked as a graphic designer with five years in branding and print media and completed two industrial design internships totalling around 16 months.

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

While working in industrial design, I was often involved in physical products that incorporated digital elements, such as companion apps or digital touchpoints. I found myself more drawn to digital product design and the overall experience beyond the physical object. UX felt like a natural next step for me to focus on problem solving in a more iterative, digital environment.

Why did you choose UX Tree’s mentorship program?

What really drew me to UX Tree was the mentor-led aspect of the program. Being able to get advice and feedback from people who are actively working in UX felt more valuable than other programs. I also loved the idea of working on a real brief — it made the project feel meaningful and gave me something practical and relevant to add to my portfolio.

What was your experience like during the mentorship?

One aspect that really stood out was refining ideas after research. I was overwhelmed starting my low-fidelity designs, but my mentor helped me step back and organise my findings. They reminded me to use my research outcomes to focus on the best solutions, which made the design process feel much more manageable.

The weekly sessions with my mentor were especially helpful because it was easy to ask questions and get feedback in real time. The breakout rooms were also great, as they gave me the chance to hear other mentors’ perspectives and get different ideas on my work. Overall, the regular interactions with mentors and other mentees helped me grow quickly over the three months.

Were there any tools or resources that helped you?

System.io was really helpful for tracking my progress and keeping a clear guide throughout the program. The resources available there were useful at different stages of the project, especially when I needed guidance on the next steps or to refresh my understanding of a particular methodology.

What have you achieved since completing the mentorship?

Since completing the mentorship, I’ve received an offer for a UX internship, and I’ve also been able to add my project to my portfolio. The experience helped me build confidence in my process and gave me a real, meaningful project to showcase.

How has your perspective on design changed?

The mentorship made me realise that industrial and UX design share similar methods like research, iteration, and testing. What changed for me was becoming more aware of the whole user experience, not just the interface. I also learned how important user feedback is in shaping decisions, rather than designing based on assumptions.

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

I would definitely consider transitioning into UX if you find yourself drawn to the digital side of product design and enjoy designing interfaces while thinking about user needs and experiences. My advice would be to lean into the design thinking skills you already have from industrial design — research, iteration, problem solving, and empathy are all important in UX.