The leap of faith: transitioning from civil to UX
From building structural drawings to weaving user experiences—my journey from civil engineering to chasing the UX dream.
So, a quick background check: I come from a small college town named Kharagpur (KGP), in West Bengal, India. I did my schooling there, and then I moved to Kolkata for my undergrad.
I was a big art enthusiast. It was something I was naturally good at and one of the few places where I felt comfortable expressing myself. However, societal whispers subtly convinced me that art was merely a hobby, not a viable career.
As I wrapped up my senior school year, I was introduced to the world of architecture, and I was hooked. Amidst peer pressure and everyone else’s opinions, I ended up choosing civil engineering, thinking it might be close to architecture. Well, that misconception was shattered pretty quickly. I continued that path, hoping to stumble upon something that matched my skills, but I felt confined in a career that didn’t align with my passions. The realization hit—I couldn’t see myself doing this for the next 15–20 years.
What I yearned for was the freedom to unleash my creative skills. Growing up, I witnessed many people who were unsatisfied with their jobs, blamed others for their situation, and deep down wished they had pursued their passions instead. Therefore, I wasn’t going to give up on my passion without a fight, so I kept looking for an opportunity.
I was in my final semester when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. While everyone else grappled with the upheaval it caused in their lives, I saw it as my only chance to break free from the ties holding me back. This was because most jobs in core domains were field-based, and due to the lockdown, everything was halted. Perplexed by the uncertainty, everyone’s main focus appeared to be getting through this difficult phase. Even though my parents were worried about my future, we didn’t talk much about it because no one knew what to do. So for me, it was now or never. After extensive research into the design domain, branding stood out to me. I dove in, starting with brand strategy, fueled by my excitement.
Since I hadn’t told my parents about my plans at the time, I had no financial help; therefore, I tried to use every possible free resource that was available on the internet. I took advantage of the one-month free trial of LinkedIn Learning Premium. Within that trial, I completed around 25+ certifications, trying to build my design fundamentals and absorbing everything about branding and brand strategy. Simultaneously, I built my Behance portfolio. Fast forward to September, and I finally showed my work to my parents, sharing my aspirations. I told them that I wanted to follow my passion. Despite liking the work, they flatly rejected my plans. This marked the start of a two-year-long battle that I won’t get into here.
By the end of September, I had secured an internship in a design studio. I vividly recall the interview, where they were surprised at the consistency and structure of the portfolio pieces I had crafted without a formal design degree. Even though they were looking for a junior designer (with a design background or equivalent experience—which I didn’t have), they took a chance and offered me a paid internship with the possibility of turning it into a full-time position because of my work. Due to the limited options available during the pandemic and the fact that it was a work-from-home job, my parents eventually came around to the idea, and I accepted the offer.
Fast forward to January 2021, and they extended a full-time job offer, which I had to decline due to personal reasons. However, this experience broadened my exposure to various other roles within the design domain, and user experience captured my interest. Because of the market scenario at the time, I thought that extending my educational qualifications would be more appropriate. So I looked into the best Master of Design (MDES) programs in India that provided UX specialties and began preparing for their admissions processes.
In 2021, I sat for the MDES entrance exams (CEED and NID) for the first time. Although I received a rank (500–700), it wasn't high enough to secure admission to the top-tier colleges. I informed my parents that I was planning to retake the exams the following year and would use the remaining months to prepare for it, laying the groundwork for a difficult period, but I was determined to follow my dreams and was confident that I could do much better. The most challenging aspect of this journey lies in overcoming mental hurdles associated with proving oneself amidst societal expectations and internal struggles. A formidable internal conflict arises from the constant erosion of self-esteem and the simultaneous effort to preserve self-confidence. The fact that these struggles are invisible and go unnoticed by those around us makes them even more challenging. This shared narrative is not an anomaly among students.
After preparing for almost 6–7 months, I gave my second attempt at the CEED and NID exams while simultaneously applying to universities abroad (United States). This time, I was able to secure admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), Hyderabad, through CEED (Rank 200–300). Additionally, I received admission offers from two of my top three choices—namely, IUPUI and ASU. After careful consideration, I decided to pursue my Master’s degree at Indiana University and Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) in Human-Computer Interaction.
As I reflect on my journey so far, I realize that every challenge has shaped me into the person I am today. The journey may not have been easy, but it has given me the fortitude to persevere in the face of adversity. With unwavering faith, I stand on the edge of exciting times to come, ready to seize the chances that lie ahead.
In sharing my journey, I hope to help others in a similar situation. Transitioning from an unconventional background can be daunting, but feeling content with your choices, despite uncertainties, is crucial. While I haven’t yet achieved my goal, I believe that embracing the journey and remaining confident in navigating the unknown is a victory in and of itself. So, if you have faith in yourself, take the leap.