User Experience Designer @ Qlik
I am a Brazilian UX Designer who began my immigration to Canada weeks before COVID-19 exploded in the country. As a newcomer, I prepared my Canadian journey on my own to start a new life. The pandemic showed me that there are circumstances beyond our control and that we must know how to deal with them with persistence and courage. So, I kept asking myself, how will I be able to do this under these conditions? In fact, this was an exercise in design thinking, a way to apply what I do in my craft to my life.
What were the biggest initial hurdles and how did you overcome them? The greatest obstacle for me was learning to believe in my potential, without fear, based on my life and career decisions. From the moment I focused on what I strongly felt, I began to treat others' opinions as just feedback and that it was alright not to agree with them. I began to follow my choices according to my feelings and my dreams while always keeping my feet on the ground. What books are you currently reading?
I recently read the book titled "97 things every UX Practitioner should know" and actually had the pleasure to be one of its reviewers. I highly recommend it for Junior UX Designers to learn this rocky road.
What do you know today that you wish you would have known when you first got started?
The UX community today is very collaborative. When I first started out on my career, it was tough to find research, industry professionals to talk to and best practices on the internet. Today, as a UX mentor, having a senior professional as a partner for advice makes all the difference for those just starting out. I've walked in my own shoes facing both mistakes and success, but the journey of learning is long, and you often feel insecure. Maybe a career mentor would have been ideal when I started. What advice would you give to an upcoming youth or talents locally and internationally?
Allow yourself to learn from your failures, look to feedback as an opportunity to be better every day and be open-minded. Be persistent, set realistic goals and continue to dream. That's my two cents.
