Visual design → UX Design

Photographer/Brand Director/Graphic Designer

After 11 years working in visual branding, I had created imagery according to numerous branding decks. Having collaborated with many Art Directors, Stylists, Editors and Agencies, I knew I was ready for a “next” creative challenge… and that video wasn’t it.

I started studying how my photos were incorporated in omni-channel brand experiences such as billboards, print magazines, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Websites, Reels and blogs.

I began studying the how alt text of images can reinforce visual brand representations for accessibility whilst contributing to metadata/SEO boost

I knew that I had a lot to learn with Figma, XD, and becoming code conversational. Although, after building my own photograph website, tweaking pricing guides based on customer research & feedback, and constantly running competitor analysis & KPIs of my site performance and ad spend, I knew that there would be many transferrable soft and technical skills.

what & Where to learn?

Inventory of Skills

Photography is all about empathy and human connection. Making people feel comfortable in front of the lens is something I had been perfecting for a decade- I knew I’d love User Research (I just had to learn how to do it well). I also had experience in Adobe InDesign from my days as a Graphic Designer/Creative Director at the YMCA. Also, my time collaborating with producers & stylists made me confident that I’d enjoy utilizing Design Thinking in teams.

Decision on Schooling

This is when I started asking anyone who would listen about their experience getting into UX. I interviewed people who transitioned from copywriting, people who attended bootcamps, people who were self taught or didn’t even realize they had been essentially “doing UX” for years.

I chose a rigorous, 6 month certification program through GA Tech and immediately established relationships with design mentors.

Taking on contract work

I redesigned a van conversion business’s website after running their Sales & Marketing part-time. This was challenging because of my familiarity with the stakeholder’s goals & desires. Ultimately a success after running KPIs, though left me wanting to approach Generative & Evaluative testing differently. (I still felt like I was working from a “Marketing” standpoint instead of a UX standpoint.

More contract clients & Front-end Implementation

I learned more skills in UX Research and Iteration through Coursera, LinkedIn Learning and Interaction Design Foundation. Then I got to work on an end-to-end UX Design & Implementation for an Organizational Development Training company and it’s the project I’m currently most proud of!

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Skills Gap I’m closing

and why I want to work for other people (I thought you might be wondering)

Skills I’m perfecting

Product Thinking- go to market strategies, rebrands

Interaction Design- skilled at Figma and learning After Effects

UX Analytics- AB testing but make it fun

Goal for design team

The extent of what I’ve learned has come through professors, clients, good books and kind mentors. My next steps are to learn by working with talented Senior Designers. I’d like to be a UX Researcher or Creative Director in the future. And I really want people to live their gorgeous lives well.