Trying to reinvent yourself?

It’s never too late.

Aroa Santisteban
Sep 7, 2018 · 3 min read
Illustration by @coss_illustrations

A quick view of my background:

Since I finished my Degree in Communication I’ve always been involved in the business industry specially working on the design and marketing areas. When I was 19 I started up my own ecommerce project puntoclimax.com about erotic accessories and lingerie for women. At 22, before finishing my degree I was in charge of the design and implementation of a new beauty franchisee chain branding. At 24, I had developed the graphics and marketing strategy for another medical device importation company. At 26, as Marketing Director of a cosmetic company I was in charge of developing design and marketing of a new product line for Europe and Middle East. My last two years are the most daring ones. At 29 I was organizing private gastronomic events with a new scope based on a relation between bio-dynamics, the moon and the guests. Finally, at 30 I have co-created my own fashion brand Kamura111 while I’m doing graphic design as a freelance.

But…what happen at 30's?

It doesn’t happen to everyone. In my case, it started when I was reaching my 30’s. Some kind of unconscious pressure started to push me out with questions about my profession and the way I was earning my living. After noticing and being aware of that, what can you do for yourself at that moment?

Stop & Think.

So I did it… and it was not until that precise moment that I decided to reinvent my self again.

Reinvent into what?

Because I love the process about how ideas merge into other more elaborate ones and how these converge within the entire design process. And besides this I’ve always been driven to the further exploration of the unlimited mysteries of human behaviour (I did two years in Psychology Degree) so I decided to re orientate my professional career into the UI/UX Design.

On the way of reinvention you will find a new you.

The fact is that even I’m being part of the millennials (specially known for extensive use of Internet and mobile technology starting at a young age), I have never been a true geek until the last year. It was not because I did not love technology because I did, it was just because in some way I was trying not to loose some of the traditional ways of behaving and relating that I had seen in my old relatives during my infancy without tech.

It is said that sometimes to reinvent yourself you have to overcome some fears or handicaps. Doesn’t it?

How to start with the reinventation?

Going back to the important theme, once you feel your inner voice is calling with the right message, the next step is to take hold of the reins, carry forward your first research and take first actions.

In my case, I started collecting information regarding the UI/UX Design through Barcelona Activa, independent schools, Online tuition, Youtube… but I really appreciate to learn by doing, experiences within a group and establish connections with others in the same field so I decided to enrol in the Iron Hack UI/UX Campus.

What is the next step?

How this story follows is a mystery at the moment. I started browsing on Pre-work and I’m creating a new illustration character about a unicorn, which will be the one which graphically will be sharing my new experiences and knowledge on the way as a UI/UX Designer.

Here you can have a look at its progression (for the moment I’ve just sketched some ideas about it). As you see, I love unicorns and rainbows.

First Sketch
Process of character design

If you have reached until here… Thanks for Reading!

Aroa Santisteban

Written by

I’m a dreamer and sometimes I dream ideas. Then, I love seeing how ideas finally get materialised, specially on the design process — Soon: Future UI/UX Student.

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