UX Tree Mentorship
Mentees Testimonials
We are proud to share with you the feedback we have received from our mentees and students throughout all the rounds of our program
Testimonials from Mentees
"I think it is a really well run programme. I love the way it is not focused specifically on entry-level/junior designers to learn about UX and more about up-skilling and learning from other highly experienced UX mentors to grow the skills you already have-don't think there are other programmes out there like that. Also as a UX Designer working remotely, I found it really nice to feel connected to UX Designers at home and hear about their jobs and projects they were doing."
---- Aoife Buckley, Head of UX @ SAVVY
"I cannot overstate how helpful this program has been. It has raised my whole UX game entirely. What I especially appreciated was the chance to interact with experts as well as other mentees. My research, prototyping, and presentation skills have been raised through this course."
---- Mark Byrne, UX Designer
"UX tree mentorship was a fantastic experience. Everyone was so nice and supportive. I feel lucky to have been able to meet other designers within this field and this programme provided the perfect way to do that. It was great to improve my presentation skills and UX skills too, having a mentor to bounce my doubts and questions off is beyond valuable. It helped to remove the guesswork out of the some of the techniques I was a bit more unsure of."
---- Lachlan Phelan, UX Designer
"As a career changer, this program was invaluable to help grown my confidence, skills and network in the UX industry. I improved my design and presentation skills, discovered new methods and became more confident defending design decisions and presenting my work. Overall, a great experience!"
---- Niamh Fahey, Content Designer @ IBM
"I really enjoyed the programme overall. I liked that we were able to pick a project that was our own choice and we were interested in. Designing for a brand much different than my previous experience was really great experience and seeing how others designed for even more of a variety of businesses was really helpful to broaden my knowledge of being a designer for different types of projects than I was used to. Particularly, my prototyping skills improved significantly, as did my research abilities and knowledge. "
---- Emily Stolberg, UX Designer @ AIB
"The UX Tree was a great place to learn. I’ve done online courses before, but this one really helped with real-time feedback and a great mentor. I loved seeing the rest of the mentees and their projects, learning how they approached their work. The breakout rooms were fantastic, allowing us to chat about our projects without any pressure. My weekly meetings with my mentor helped me stay focused and inspired me to explore my project in different ways."
---- Ronán McIntyre, Creative Director @ Tower Records
"A very well rounded UX mentorship program. Made me more confident in presenting my work and the feedback from mentors was always constructive."
---- Lorcan Looney, UX Designer
"I originally went into the mentorship to help improve my presentation skills and bridge the gap between research insights and design implementation. Throughout this process, I was surprised and impressed by what I could achieve in only four months. I was able to improve these goals as well as so many more with the help and guidance of some great people. The mentorship is very well recognised and is a perfect bridge from academics to the real world, whereby you get feedback and expertise you'd only get from working in the industry. It has been a great opportunity and I encourage anyone trying to get into the industry to apply."
---- Reuben Maher, UX Designer @ Griffols
"The program offered great insights on real life experience with careers in UX. Since I left college, I’ve found it hard to find a UX job and felt like I was losing touch with the UX community so it was great to connect with everyone and hear about their experiences and learn from them. In the four months of the program, I learned that you don’t always need to do every single approach for each stage, focus on the problem at hand and how to provide a solution for that. I learned how to present my work and answer questions confidently. I have learned to ask for constructive feedback to enhance my case study, my UX approach and my case study. "
---- Taylor Brady O'Daly, SEO & Digital Marketing Officer @ Cora Systems
"I feel like my storytelling and presenting skills have improved a lot. Looking at my case study on my website compared to my older projects, the new project stands head and shoulders above everything else in terms of the story told throughout the case study. I will definitely have to go back and work on those case study’s to improve the standard of them using my learnings from the UX Tree programme."
---- Darragh Carthy, Designer @ Shop Equipment
"Today I feel much more confident about my skills, being in contact with mentors and realising that what was being done was a Sample of the daily life of a designer. I learned new data analysis techniques, received good insights. I’m very proud to be part of the program and I recommend it for everyone! "
---- Larissa Arnold, UX Designer
"I really enjoyed the program from start to finish. It exceeded my expectations and I am still shocked at how much work I did over such a short span of time. There were a number of webinars throughout hosted by designers and previous mentors/mentees, this was an opportunity to ask about stuff like portfolios or the interview process. Could not recommend UX Tree enough!"
---- Dylan Hennessy, UX Designer
"I started a UX/UI design role when the course started, over the first few weeks I noticed myself using skills I learnt from my mentor and UX tree which helped a lot. I feel a lot more confident in my job now and also presentation I’m more confident now and know how to back my designs and answer questions correctly due to my experience presentation throughout the UX tree course"
---- Chloe Brady, UX Designer @ GagaMuller Group
"I loved it. Personally, I went in to the program looking to develop research and presentation skills and benefited hugely from presenting regularly in the group sessions. The course is well-structured and gives mentees a great opportunity to gain feedback and insights from seasoned professionals. I would recommend the program to anyone looking to strengthen their skills in UX and create a good case study for their portfolio. "
---- Elaine Cahill, Design Lead @ Oliver Ireland
"I felt it was a great opportunity to create a good portfolio piece and get genuine feedback on your work. I learned a lot about research and how everyone can have many approaches to research."
---- Tara Hennessy, Technology Specialist @ Accenture
"I would recommend UX Tree to any UX designers looking to improve their skills and learn from senior professionals. I think you really get what you give with this programme. Everyone is very welcoming and it really gives a sense of community. Even though you work mainly with one mentor, everyone is very nice and will make the time to talk to you and provide insights and feedback. I feel much more confident as a designer and feel I have really developed my research and decision making skills over the past 4 months. Overall I really enjoyed the course and I feel I have developed my skills and network from the programme."
---- Eoghan Carr, UX Designer
"The UX Tree Mentorship Programme was definitely more than I expected from a mentorship program. All along the program, I felt so challenged, supported and inspired. Everything is well structured, our roadmap was so clear. I had regular meetings with my mentor, she was available whenever I need. And what's more is that the sessions with my mentor was not all. We presented our progress to other mentees and mentors at the end of each stage of our project, so we could get feedback from other mentors as well. I have improved my research and presentation skills, and I connected a lot of outstanding designers. Now, I am a part of UX Tree community for life."
---- Olgu Saglik, Product Designer @ Learnovate Centre, Trinity College Dublin
"UX Tree mentorship programme is a rewarding experience for anyone looking to improve their UX design skills. The mentors are experienced professionals who provided valuable insights and guidance throughout the programme. The programme was well-structured and provided ample opportunities for the mentees to work on real-life projects and gain practical experience. The continuous feedback and support from the mentors helped to enhance my research and presentation skills and build my portfolio. I loved it and I would highly recommend UX Tree mentorship programme to anyone looking to elevate their UX design career."
---- Nunzia Terminello, UX/UI Designer @ Ret Apps
"Overall very pleased with the course. It invites you to a huge network of other UX Designers to share ideas and possible jobs. Easy place to do a project you want to do and get feedback off it. Also encourages to learn and improve your UX skills."
---- Louis Manahan, Product Designer @ Allianz
"It was a really great opportunity to work with some of the best in class in UX on a project completely of your choosing. The mentorship provided a safe space to explore research methods, concepts and ideas that could be tested over the course of 3 months all with the extremely helpful guidance of your mentor. The 1:1 sessions with the mentor were the most useful aspect of the programme with the group presentations offering slightly less value. The programme would benefit from a little more collaboration and more opportunities for mentees to share ideas outside of presentations. Perhaps it is appropriate now to have onsite days where mentors and mentees can brainstorm in the same physical space."
---- Stephen Browne, Senior Designer @ DeviceAtlas
"The programa built up my confidence in UX, I have now new skills in interviewing and testing. I also learned tools that I am using in a profesional projects. "
---- Daniela Wong Maa, Product Designer @ AIB
"I have a portfolio piece that I am proud of and will use for future employment. I also learned loads about researching, presenting and UX methodology too. It's definitely worth doing if you're interested in UX. And Valentina is super organised and helpful too!"
---- Rachael Ryan, Project Manager @ CPAC Modular
"The UX tree program has been a great opportunity for me to learn from others and expand my network. I couldn't have gotten the kind of insight I did from a college course. I am very grateful to all the mentors for providing their feedback and giving us direction."
---- Shaun MacGabhann, UI/UX Developer @ Laya Healthcare
"It was great. I learned just as much from seeing others presentations. It helped me see what I am lacking in my work and what I need to improve or change."
---- Matt Chávez-Delgado, UX Researcher @ Guidewire Software
"I loved it! Working alongside my mentor while going through each step of the UX process allowed me to upskill and grow my confidence! Having someone to bounce ideas off of really opens up another perspective as well and allowed me to think of things I never would have beforehand, and this kind of perspective is what UX is all about! Approaching the project with multiple viewpoints in mind (as my mentor taught me) really allowed me implement a more well-rounded project in the end and will certainly add to my case study and portfolio (things like showcasing possible limitations within the project, showcasing the business case, next steps, etc)."
---- Sami DeLuca, UX Designer @ Each&Other
"The biggest gain from this was the improvement in my presentation skills, including an improvement in my confidence in presenting also my mentor taught me a lot about what to include in a presentation, and how to structure it. Prior to this, I was just relaying the research and work I did in my presentations, whereas now I have learned to use my slides to tell a story. I also learned a lot about user research methods and how to get the most out of them, more specifically I learned the importance of asking 'why?'"
---- Karen O'Sullivan, UX Designer @ Friday Agency
"The program was excellent and offers new graduates the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills more directly applicable to the workplace from mentors in industry. I benefitted hugely through learning from my mentor about UI design for mobile screens. There was so much I wasn’t aware of in terms of best practice, accessibility and design system component choice. Attending regular meetings with my mentor allowed me to get use to sharing my work and giving project status updates and my mentors feedback allowed to view problems from different perspectives. I learned a lot from being involved in the group aspect of UX Tree, from hearing other mentors and mentees feedback and thinking styles around projects. Presenting is a skill I want to greatly improve and had ample opportunity to practice throughout the course. "
---- Marie Doyle, UX Designer @ AIB
"It was an excellent opportunity to learn more about UX Design, especially UX Research. I've enjoyed the programme, and all the learnings and improvements I gained during the past four months will help me build a solid portfolio and start looking for my first opportunity as a UX designer."
---- Aline Torres, Customer Success Specialist @ Drop Chef
"I learned some UX research methods, that I had never applied before on my work, so I was able to expand my approach during my UX design workflow and it also helped me to stood my ground during work meeting and presentations."
---- Rafael Basso, UX Designer @ Upland Altify
"I absolutely loved this program. I learned so much from mentors and mentees. I got more comfortable using UX terms and more confidence in my work. New to UX design so I was nervous about the program but it was insightful. Everyone was welcoming and encouraging."
---- Sharon Mc Donagh, UX Designer @ Housebuild
"I can't recommend the program enough! Having done my UX diploma and subsequent case studies on my own, it was invaluable having a mentor to point me in the right direction through the process. Great to meet so many other UX designers and mentors too!"
---- Laura Gilsenan , UX Designer
"As someone who had little UX experience besides some projects in college, this program gave me some insight about what it's like to be a UX designer. I learned vital information from mentors and mentees, such as how to create an appealing portfolio and CV for employers. Various talks and presentations we're given throughout the program that made me reflect on job goals and prospects for the future. By the end of the program I felt more confident in my skills and abilities to find a job in the related field. I hope that future mentees are able to find aspects of this program that allowed them to grow just as much as I did."
---- Hannah O Donoghue, UX Designer @ Carzone
"Highly recommend this programme for graduates. It is a big plus that we can include this as part of working experience for the CV and LinkedIn profile, which does work to get attention for interviews. Also, this program is great to practice skills for presenting work."
---- Ustina Maximova, Instructional Designer @ Teamwork
"I'm so impressed with the programme, the management and mentors were excellent, I feel I have developed a great network and my confidence in UX has increased."
---- Katie O'Connor, Product Designer @ Bizimply
"It was great it helped me land a job in UX, I some really nice people who are really passionate about design, I improved my design skills and would highly recommend!"
---- Jack Dixon, Product Designer @ Genesys
"The UXTree mentorship program has been a huge factor in my journey to becoming a UX Designer. It gave me the chance to refine my skills under the guidance of my mentor, while also pushing me to grow with the feedback of the other experienced designers. In the 4 months I've been apart of UX Tree, my ability and confidence in the UX field has grown significantly, and I am grateful to have been given the opportunity. I would recommend the Mentorship programme to any aspiring designer looking to get a start in the field. You won't regret it!"
---- Dean Meaney, UX Designer @ Three
"I thought it was great for developing my UX skills further, and for creating a quality case study to add to my portfolio. The case study I completed during this project is far better than my others that were completed in UX bootcamps etc. Valentina was extremely helpful and was always available to help with the project and also with job-search related questions. Before the program I had not received and interviews in the last few weeks of the program I received 2 interviews for UX and Product Designer roles."
---- Alan Murtagh, UX Designer @ AIB
I found the most beneficial aspect of the programme was the pooled knowledge of all the mentors. UX Tree has brought together a diverse group of UX professionals who are incredibly generous with their time and advice. Thanks to everyone for being so forthcoming with practical project and career advice. Special thanks to Valentina though for creating such a welcoming community."
---- Stephen Reid, Process Design Specialist @ DCU
"Starting a new career can make you feel unworthy of getting a role but doing the program showed you you don’t have to have all the answers and that everyone at every level is still learning. It has definitely helped with imposter syndrome! Also everyone was so helpfully, kind and fun!"
---- Megan Sarah Lee, UX Designer @ Genesys
"The UXTree mentorship program has given me great confidence in myself. Having worked in advertising for years. I wanted to transition into UX design. I chose to work on a project close to my heart and it ended up winning the best project. My mentor Val pushed me all the way along with help from some of the other mentors. I can't recommend this mentorship programme enough for any designer looking to break into UX design. Val is one of a kind and will bring you to the next level in your career."
---- Bryan Minton, Senior Art Director at Verve, moving to UX
"The UX Tree Mentorship programme has been a great opportunity for me to develop my skills in UX while working alongside an experienced designer. Throughout the programme my mentor has been fantastic offering their enthusiastic support at every stage. The programme has been a great way to bridge the gap between education and the workplace. My confidence approaching job interviews grew while taking part and my mentor was always there with calming advice and reassurance. I would recommend this programme to anyone looking to continue their career in UX or who want to make the career switch to UX.''
---- Feargal Cassidy, UX Designer @ Cora Systems
"The products I designed in college were all made from scratch so this programme was a great opportunity to redesign or improve an existing product. The work I produced will be a great addition to my portfolio and will increase the variety of my work. I learnt a lot about the UX process in relation to redesigning an existing UI and evaluating a design's success."
---- Karl McClelland, UX Designer @ Autodesk
"Taking part in the UX Tree mentorship program provided me with a great opportunity to undertake a design project under the guidance of an industry professional. The program provided me with an excellent opportunity to build my skillset, learn about the industry and create a detailed portfolio ready project. The guidance and expertise of my mentor was extremely beneficial and has helped me to develop a project that I am proud of. I am confident that the lessons I learned during the course of the program will benefit me greatly during my career as a UX designer.''
---- Dylan Reilly, UX Designer at AIB
"As someone taking a leap in my career and entering the UX industry, I’m excited to be working with someone who has the knowledge and experience to share with me. Having a mentor to guide and help me develop within the UX space, I feel, will be paramount to my development. The best way to learn and grow is to have support from enthusiastic peers."
---- Bria Mulholland, UX Designer @ Version 1
"Very good for applying information learned in college and applying practical skills"
---- Rachel Kerr, UX Designer @ Further Learning Group
"It gave me excellent practical skills that I can use in my career!"
---- Peter Delaney, Changing career from the film and television industry