We had the privilege of hosting an insightful webinar with Myles Carey, Senior UX Designer at Backbase, on the theme “Getting Started with UX: A Guide for Junior Designers.” Myles shared practical advice and actionable tips for those looking to break into UX, drawing from his experience working across fintech and startups.

Here’s a summary of the key takeaways for junior designers from Myles’ talk:

1. Your First UX Role Sets the Foundation

Myles emphasised the importance of your first UX role, as it sets the foundation for how you will learn and grow throughout your career. He noted that everything you learn in your first role will carry forward with you, even when you move into more senior positions. For this reason, it’s critical to find an environment that encourages learning and growth.

2. Finding the Right Environment

Although it can be tough to be selective when you’re starting out, Myles stressed the importance of finding a company that offers a supportive environment—one where making mistakes is part of the learning process. He highlighted that junior designers should be allowed to make errors, as it’s a natural part of growing in UX.

3. Asking the Right Questions

When interviewing for your first UX role, Myles suggested asking key questions to ensure the company offers the support you need. Questions like:

• What will my first 60 days look like?
• What kind of mentorship and support can I expect?
• What design feedback processes are in place? These questions help uncover if the company fosters an environment where juniors can thrive.

4. The Role of Feedback and Mentorship

Feedback is essential at every stage of your career, especially as a junior designer. Myles encouraged juniors to actively seek feedback and be open to it, even when it’s uncomfortable. He also highlighted the value of finding a mentor, either within your company or externally, to guide you through the challenges of early career development.

5. The Importance of Experimentation

Myles reassured everyone that experimenting, asking questions, and making mistakes are not only acceptable but expected as part of the UX learning curve. He emphasised that juniors should take ownership of their learning journey and not be afraid to try new things.

6. Networking and Mentorship Beyond Your Company

If your current company doesn’t offer the support you need, Myles suggested seeking mentors outside of your workplace. Platforms like UX Tree and ADP List are fantastic resources to connect with experienced designers who can offer guidance and feedback.

7. Preparing for the First 60 Days

One of the standout tips Myles provided was to spend your first few days in any new UX role immersing yourself in the product. Understand the user flow, click around the system, and find potential pain points. This hands-on approach will help you empathise with users and better understand the design challenges ahead.

8. Tying UX to Business Goals

One of the most valuable pieces of advice Myles gave was learning how to connect your UX work to business objectives early on. While this skill typically comes with experience, being aware of it from the start will help you stand out in your career.

If you missed the webinar, don’t worry – here is the recording. You can also catch up with all our UX Tree events by signing up for future sessions and joining our Slack community.