Getting into UX without UX experience

Five years ago, I made the move from advertising to UX design. Don't get me wrong – advertising is still near and dear to my heart. That conversation will always continue here, but the industry is not known for maintaining long relationships. It starts to look at you differently as you hit your 40's and 50's. Its eyes wander to a younger version of you.

Granted, I never stopped being creative. With years of wisdom and experience under my belt, I know I'm better at my job than I was in my 20's and 30's.

I also learned early about advertising being a fickle business, so I always kept my eye out for ways to remain relevant and grow. I started studying UX design about 10 years ago. Back then, people were asking, "What's UX?"

Now I'm getting calls from former ad execs asking how I made the move. Over the last two years, I've talked about it at events. You're still a creative problem solver with lots of relevant ad experience to draw from. Just present your work with a UX mindset.

I've conducted workshops to help others make the transition. It starts with updating your portfolio with case studies. Let me take you through part of the process. It's quick, painless and free!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3