Determined to switch to a career that fused her interests of design and problem-solving, Katie looked for a flexible education program that would kick-start her transition. She chose Bloc’s Designer Track so that she could continue to work full-time while learning. After gaining new skills and greater confidence, Katie landed a job as a UX/UI Designer at digital creative agency in Washington, DC!
Tell us: what were you doing before Bloc?
When I graduated from college, I was interested in a potential career in law. I accepted a two-year position as a paralegal, and quickly realized it was not the right field for me. I enjoyed the research and problem-solving, but I was missing a creative outlet. In search of a more creative profession, I was drawn to marketing and design.
So before Bloc, I was a Marketing & Communications Associate at a private school in the D.C. area. I designed print and electronic marketing collateral, managed social media accounts, and worked with some amazing people; however, something was missing.
Why did you end up enrolling at Bloc?
After moving to the D.C. area for the marketing & communications role, I became interested in UX/UI design, thinking that it might fuse my love of problem-solving with my interest in design.
Bloc was a great option for me since I wasn’t able to take time off of work to attend a design program full-time.
What was your favorite part of the Bloc curriculum?
I really enjoyed the Front End Foundations section. I knew some code going into the program, but I became much more comfortable with CSS after this part in the program. When it came time to code my design portfolio, I was amazed by how far I had come.
How did Bloc impact your career and life?
About two years ago, I felt discouraged. I was interested in UX/UI design but wasn’t sure how to proceed with a career change. Bloc gave me the skills and the confidence to change careers, and my life has already been positively impacted. I’m happier, more excited for the future, and ready to take on new challenges!
Signing up for Bloc’s Designer Track was one of the best decisions I’ve made. It was challenging — I was studying after work and on weekends for about a year and a half — but it was so rewarding. Bloc helped me review design fundamentals, learn new skills, become proficient in HTML/CSS, and, above all, helped me land a new job!
My wife is in the tech industry as well (an engineer), so we’re excited to have shared career interests. I’m looking forward to this next chapter!
Tell us about your favorite project. What was it?
https://katiejrowan.com/primary.html
