My Design Journey: From NIFT Gold Medalist to UX Pro
A look into my path from a non-design background to NIFT gold medalist and professional UX designer. Here is what I have learned, the work I do, and how I can help you find your own footing in the industry.
This is my story in a nutshell. I went from studying political science to cracking the NIFT entrance exam, winning a gold medal, and landing a UX designer role at a top tech company. This journey taught me so much, especially about the gap between design school and the industry, which is why I started my coaching webinars to help you navigate your own path.
Here’s a look at my NIFT convocation. It was a surreal moment to receive the award for best academic performance and best design research project. This is the result of the same preparation strategy and hard work that I teach in my NIFT entrance coaching sessions.
This video breaks down how I landed and completed a freelance illustration project with Netflix India. It shows the real process, from the first DM and negotiating commercials to pipeline iterating on sketches and seeing the final animation go live. This is the kind of real-world experience I share to help you with your own freelance career.
I believe in making design education accessible, and this is a perfect example. In this clip, I share a fantastic free resource for high-quality art and character design books. My coaching is full of practical tips like this that you can use immediately to improve your skills without breaking the bank.
Staying current is key in the design world. This is a glimpse from the UXNow conference, where I connected with industry leaders and learned about the latest trends, including the role of AI in design. I bring these up-to-date insights directly into my career coaching sessions to make sure you're industry-ready.
About Featured
Making the leap into design feels scary, especially if you come from a non-creative background like I did. I didn't have a roadmap when I started, just a lot of late nights and determination. Whether you are prepping for NIFT or trying to bridge the gap between college projects and your first real job, I have spent the last few years figuring out the exact steps that worked. I am sharing my process here so you can skip the guesswork.
My path to becoming a UX designer was not linear. I started with a degree in Political Science, totally clueless about the design world. Cracking the NIFT entrance as an outsider taught me that you do not need a traditional background to succeed; you just need a strategy. During my Master’s, I focused on research and logic, which eventually led to the gold medal I proudly hold today.
But the real challenge started after graduation. Corporate life is a different beast compared to college. Even after landing a PPO, I felt stuck for the first few months. This is exactly why I started mentoring. I realized there is a massive gap between what colleges teach and what hiring managers actually want to see in a portfolio.
Why learn from me?
I do not just teach theory. My mentorship focuses on the practical stuff:
- Portfolio Audits: Getting your Behance and website ready for real-world interviews, not just academic eyes.
- NIFT/NID Strategy: Using the same roadmap I used to secure AIR 2 and the gold medal.
- Tech Readiness: Integrating AI tools into your workflow to speed up your process, just like I do in my own UX role.
Whether you are staring at a blank canvas or trying to land that first offer, I am here to help. I have worked with Netflix, attended industry-leading conferences like UXNow, and navigated the exact hurdles you are facing right now. Let's make your transition smoother than mine was.
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