From intern to design lead in
two and a half years
I have always been creative, but learning to harness that creativity took me some time. However, the life experience I picked up along the way, coupled with the UX design theory I learnt in University, set me up for rapid success in my professional career.
Before university
University
Foolproof
2013 - 2017
A-level student, fish and chip delivery driver, graphic designer
2013
My journey starts at Long Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge. In my first year, I studied AS fine art, computing, photography, and philosophy, and in my second year, I studied A2 fine art, photography, and AS film studies. However, due to health issues, I had to drop out just before my second-year exams.
2014
When I left college, I wanted to work and earn money. I got a job at a local fish and chip shop serving food to customers, delivery driving, and wrapping chips in paper. During my time there, I learnt how to manage my time, talk to customers, and handle money.
2015
After working there for a year, I decided to get creative again. I found work as a graphic designer—my first paid creative role! I taught myself how to use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and worked closely with another graphic designer to make posters, menus, engravings, and cut vinyl graphics.
2016
While working at the chippy, I saved up to go travelling. But before I set off, I attended an open day at Norwich University of the Arts. I went to see the Graphic Communications course, but my Dad wanted to see the UX course. I went with him, and completely fell in love with UX design. I knew straight away that I wanted to apply to the course.
2017
During my travels, I visited my family in Malaysia. I wrote all of my application material using my cousin’s computer, with my nephew as my study buddy!
Following that, I travelled to Australia, where I received my interview confirmation and booked my flights home. Since I had no A levels, I had to showcase my creative work from college and from when I was a graphic designer.
Shortly after the interview, I received an unconditional offer. I was thrilled!
2017 - 2020
UX design student, intern at Vodafone, pandemic graduate
2017
My BSc (Hons) UX design course at Norwich University of the Arts started in 2017, and I was one of two students. We studied with one Interaction Design student and 10 Games Development students. I learnt about research, design, front-end development for websites and AR.
2018
During my time at the university, I worked on a local charity website redesign, designing and developing an interactive experience for the Norfolk Broads Authority, and, for my final major project, an app concept design for D&AD New Blood Awards.
I learnt how to engage with stakeholders, conduct ethnographic guerrilla research, and work as part of a design team.
2019
In the Summer of my second year, I undertook three months of work experience at Vodafone‘s UX Chapter in their London office, The Speechmark. This was my first time seeing UX in action in the industry. I completed a design challenge: a hypothetical app about booking activities. It was so exciting to showcase my work and have it critiqued by industry professionals!
2020
In June, I received a first-class degree in BSc (Hons) UX design.
In July, I applied and was accepted for an internship at Foolproof.
In September, I started working as an intern at Foolproof.
2020 - today
Intern, junior, mid-weight, senior, principal, author, teacher, mentor, and design lead
2020
I was an intern at Foolproof for three months, shadowing projects focusing on research and design. I was promoted to junior UX designer for six months, then to midweight UX designer for a year, and then to senior UX designer.
2021
After working at Foolproof for a year, my year group were invited to (finally) have our graduation ceremony after it was postponed because of the pandemic. It was fun to go back, see old friends, and talk to my tutor about work. Not every student gets the opportunity to reminisce with their tutor after the end of their course!
2022
On my journey to senior UX designer, I worked in the finance (UK and Singapore), food, medical, automotive, creative software, and digital entertainment sectors. Those experiences offered me many experiences, from storyboarding, wireframing, prototyping, presenting, and conducting and analysing research. Moreover, it was a joy to work with and learn from those more senior than me.
2023
In March, after working on Sky Mobile ROI for 6 months, our lead UX designer was resourced elsewhere, and I was appointed the new design lead. I was nervous, but it felt right and was the most exciting opportunity I had had to date.
In June, Sky kicked off its SAFe agile pilot in the Mobile product department, and yours truly was assigned as design lead. I led all design work across Sky Mobile ROI and the UK, and my team comprised a UX and UI designer.
I also started to extend my UX skills outside of Foolproof when I met Dr. Sylvie Studente, the course leader for the MA UX designer at Regent’s University London. She invited me to teach the students, so I designed and delivered a three-hour practical workshop about design thinking for them.
2024
In May 2024 (on my birthday, no less!), I was promoted to principal UX designer, and I can not express my pride in myself. I had come so far, and this was only the beginning.
The promotion made me want to gain more experience as a lead on other accounts. I left Sky in October and started as lead UX designer on the Coutts project a week later. For the first time, I experienced scoping a new project and writing a statement of work, which was exactly what I was looking for.
Outside of my work at Foolproof, I did a few more pieces for Dr. Studente:
From June to August, I wrote the brief for and mentored 2 MA UX design students at Regent’s University (and they both passed with distinction!)
In August, I wrote a book chapter titled “Prototyping approaches: The application of prototypes for design teams”, which teaches students how to leverage different prototype fidelities and styles for different audiences.
In October, I designed and delivered a practical workshop titled “Intro to Figma”, which taught students how to get set up and start with Figma.
In November, I designed and delivered my design thinking workshop from the previous year again.
2025
I started 2025 by working with Coutts; it was so much fun! The work was challenging, the stakeholders were helpful and kind, and the deliverables are gorgeous. Our project concluded in March, but they were so impressed by our work that they asked for another two and a half year contract.
I moved to the Post Office project to help finish our work on redesigning their self-service kiosks.
“Your open and honest approach means that you form relationships readily and build trust. I have enjoyed working with you. I am grateful for all that you have done on Mobile for ROI, and I am proud of what we have achieved together.”
-Product Owner, Sky