--- title: "My Design Journey: NIFT Gold Medalist & UX Mentor" description: "Join my design journey from NIFT student to professional UX designer. Get practical design career mentorship and NIFT entrance preparation tips today." canonical: https://mytribe.in/mallikamohta/design-education-career-coaching/my-design-journey-from-aspirant-to-pro last_updated: 2025-10-01 --- # My Design Journey: From Aspirant to Pro Tribe Verified · NIFT Gold Medalist & UX Industry Mentor By [Mallika Mohta](https://mytribe.in/mallikamohta) · Online coaching and webinars · ₹299 per attendee (estimate) Part of [Design Education & Career Coaching](https://mytribe.in/mallikamohta/design-education-career-coaching). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/mallikamohta/design-education-career-coaching/gallery) Transitioning from a non-creative background to a tech design career wasn't linear, but it was worth every late night. Here is how I went from NIFT gold medalist to working as a UX designer, and how I help others navigate the same path. ## Photos and videos - [Video: My graduation from NIFT Delhi was a milestone. This video captures the moment I received awards for academic performance and my graduation project. It represents the culmination of a focused effort, and I use the same principles in my NIFT coaching to help students achieve their goals.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/56249c51-a98b-4ada-851f-08fda9e88bcf) - [Video: Moving to a new city for an internship was tough. I was homesick and faced a lot of challenges, but the experience at Info Edge for Jeevansathi.com taught me so much about personal growth and professional resilience. I share these experiences because I know many students go through the same thing.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/0c9c75a0-ba31-4368-9ca5-838fa297fe69) - [Video: I’ve been the "art kid" for as long as I can remember. This reel shows a little bit of that journey, from childhood drawings to my current illustration style. My passion for art is the foundation of my career, and I love helping others build on their own creative spark.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ddd6ff85-2f28-4c1c-9c89-2259d939d5e2) - [Video: This video is the most complete summary of my journey. It covers my switch from political science to design, my success at NIFT, and my transition into a corporate UX role. It explains exactly why I am so passionate about mentoring aspiring designers.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/65fbf02f-8b60-4744-95ae-5c1fd77d20aa) ## About My Design Journey: From Aspirant to Pro The biggest shock during my career switch wasn't the NIFT entrance exam; it was the massive gap between my college projects and what my first corporate employer actually needed. That transition is exactly where most graduates get stuck. In our sessions, we skip the fluff and focus directly on bridging that specific divide: building a portfolio that hiring managers actually want to see, not just one that looks good on Behance. My path wasn't typical. I started as a Political Science student and ended up as a UX designer at a major tech company. Getting that NIFT gold medal felt amazing, but the real growth happened later when I realized that academic success doesn't always translate to corporate readiness. I struggled during my first few months on the job, and I know I am not alone in that. ### Why I Started Mentoring After my journey went viral, hundreds of students reached out with the same problem: they had the technical skills but felt lost when it came to landing the job or cracking the entrance exams. I realized the industry and colleges often speak different languages. ### How We Work Together Whether you are aiming for NIFT entrance preparation or trying to survive your first year as a junior designer, we tackle the awkward stuff together: - **Portfolio Audits:** We stop treating portfolios like art galleries and start treating them like business cases. We look at logic, decision-making, and what recruiters actually click on. - **Mock Interviews:** We practice the conversations that happen after the design task is done. I help you handle technical rounds and explain your thought process clearly. - **The Reality Check:** I share insights on corporate UX roles versus what you see in textbooks. I am not here to give you a lecture. I am here to help you get the role you want using the exact strategies that helped me transition from a student to a working professional. ## About Mallika Mohta I'm Mallika, and I've been doodling since I was tiny. I turned my passion into a career as a UX designer at a major tech company, and now I help fellow creatives navigate their own paths into the design industry. [See all of Mallika Mohta's services](https://mytribe.in/mallikamohta) ## More from Design Education & Career Coaching by Mallika Mohta - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/mallikamohta/design-education-career-coaching/featured) - [Real-World Industry Insights](https://mytribe.in/mallikamohta/design-education-career-coaching/real-world-industry-insights) - [Free Tips & Resources for Designers](https://mytribe.in/mallikamohta/design-education-career-coaching/free-tips-resources-for-designers) ## More services by Mallika Mohta - [Custom Digital Illustrations](https://mytribe.in/mallikamohta/custom-digital-illustrations) ## Similar work from other experts - [Design Portfolio Development and Art Masterclass Showcase](https://mytribe.in/brainart.co/design-college-portfolio-preparation/featured) by BrainArt Studio · Design College Portfolio Preparation · Portfolio prep at Studio in HSR Layout - [My Styling Journey: From Statistics to Celebrity Sets](https://mytribe.in/madhurisinghhhh/styling-education-mentorship/featured) by Madhuri · Styling Education & Mentorship · Available online; In-person sessions across Mumbai and Delhi NCR - [Fashion Design Mentorship & Career Coaching](https://mytribe.in/anuj_lalwani/fashion-coaching-mentorship/mentoring-the-next-generation) by Anuj Lalwani · Fashion Coaching & Mentorship · Online sessions available; In-person at Hauz Khas studio or across India - [Art and Design College Portfolio Success Stories](https://mytribe.in/thearthubdelhi/art-design-college-admissions-consulting/featured) by The Art Hub · Art & Design College Admissions Consulting · Online and at studio in South Extension I - [My Architectural Sketches and Artistic Process](https://mytribe.in/_eroz13_/digital-illustration-graphic-design/additional-art-design-journey) by Eroz · Digital Illustration & Graphic Design · Available online; delivers across India - [My Design Journey and Professional Philosophy](https://mytribe.in/_estilodesigns/interior-design-masterclasses-workshops/featured-in-livpro-magazine) by Estilo Designs · Interior Design Masterclasses & Workshops · Available online; Workshops held in Bengaluru ## Book To book Mallika Mohta, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hey%20Mallika!%20I'm%20interested%20in%20your%20design%20mentorship.%20Could%20we%20chat%20about%20your%201%3A1%20sessions%3F)