1) Why did you want to take a UX design course in HK? What got you interested?

I had been looking for UX courses since I became a team leader at work which means I have a voice to envision the company's direction and strategies. I am interested in integrating human elements into processes and translating behaviour into measurable performance goals. UX Design looks beyond the data and helps businesses grab the focus quickly without spending too much on developing something that no one will use.

2) What made you choose H Academy over other boot camps/courses in HK? Could you list down the key traits you were looking for in an ideal academy?

The qualifications and experiences of the tutor were my top concerns when choosing UX courses. Michael, the IBM global design director, gave me confidence in the teaching quality. I believe UX Design is an accumulative learning process. The more years you've been in the industry, the more clients you've met, the more perspectives you can share to solve the same problem. The second trait would be the study mode. As a full-time working designer, I prefer part-time courses that happen on weekday evenings and weekdays, which allow me to learn outside of work. The third is the course curriculum. I think H Academy's course strikes a good balance between hands-on projects and theories while the extra support on a career is a great bonus for people considering pivoting to a new job.

3) What is your best memory from the course? What was your key learning?

My best memory from the course was the group project times. Working on a real business case is more complex and challenging than working on a topic of your own choice. We have to meet with the SMEs of our sponsored company, pick up domain knowledge that we're not familiar with, organize user interviews, think through the user pain points, develop and refine a solution in 4 weeks, followed by a final presentation to the clients. My key learning was managing client expectations and timelines while articulating the value of user-centricity.

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4) Why did you choose to become a learning facilitator? What has been your biggest takeaway?

Becoming a learning facilitator has helped me learn faster by doing and sharing. Whenever I have to explain UX theories or activities to the class, I have to digest the content thoroughly to give a precise and unambiguous description of that knowledge. The process has helped me to reinforce my learning. I was constantly amazed by the depth of questions from my cohorts which provoked my thinking on different topics. As I've said above, UX Design is cumulative learning. We have to keep iterating to stretch our brain ‘muscles’.

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5) How has this course helped you? How are you applying the learning to what you do now?

This course has helped me in 3 aspects. 1) It’s laid an excellent foundation of UX Design, provided clear pathways, and identified the gaps to enter the industry. 2) It’s built a network with my cohort classmates, UX community, and sponsored companies to increase exposure to the latest trends and support. 3) It’s helped me understand more about myself to plan my career and personal growth, pushing me to accept challenges and embrace ambiguity.

I was a creative lead in a digital marketing agency during the bootcamp and have now moved to a digital marketing specialist role in a global medical company after eight months. I can't think of a moment when I was not applying the learning since graduation. It's indeed a transferable concept that can be used to hold meetings, drive collaboration, and connect people as a team in enterprises or small businesses. Especially, when working remotely or in a hybrid model, which was a new thing in 2022. Anyone who wants to drive changes and innovation will be best equipped with user-centricity in mind.

Takeout

This UX Design Course provided by H Academy requires no pre-requisite experience and is therefore suited to beginners through to those wanting to upskill or wanting a career switch. The course isn’t bogged down by tedious, endless theoretical principles but is rather hands-on and learner-centred letting you simulate real-life projects as a UX designer. Future-proof your career with the knowledge of Experience Design to gain an edge, make your career more enjoyable, and command a competitive salary.