In the ever-evolving world of digital design, join me as I recount my transformative internship and bootcamp experience in UI/UX at Side Hustle’s cohort 7.0, “Alpha Clan 2023.” With no prior product design experience, I stepped into the unknown with a mix of excitement and apprehension, determined to give it my all. Thanks to Yusuf Daudu i immersed in the world of user-experience design, I honed my skills and gained invaluable hands-on experience. I will share the highlights, skills acquired, and personal growth from this incredible journey.
Internship Experience:
The Journey Begins:
Under the guidance of our remarkable instructor and coach, Jeremiah Folorunso also known as “Fine-boy Jeremiah” 😂 our journey into the world of UI/UX began. Jeremiah kick-started our learning by recommending insightful books 📚 such as “Clueless to Designer” by Mitchelle Chibundu and “Design is a Job” by Mike Monteiro. These books served as a catalyst for engaging discussions where we shared our key learnings and reflected on their practical applications. Jeremiah’s expertise and book recommendations fueled our enthusiasm, setting the stage for an enlightening and transformative internship experience.
Week 1: In the first week, we covered the basics of UI/UX and problem-solving. After the lessons, we took a quiz where we had to write about three of our best websites and mobile apps. Based on our performance, we were graded and moved on to the next week.
Week 2: During this module, we explored design thinking, user research, and information architecture through four lessons. We were provided with additional resources to deepen our understanding. The quiz involved creating a new fintech app and submitting user personas for it
Week 3: In the third week, we learned about the principles of design. The task was to create a low-fidelity design for our favorite fintech app, applying the principles we learned.
Week 4: The fourth week focused on UI design, Figma hacking, and prototyping. We received in-depth lessons on these topics. The quiz required us to redesign a fintech app of our choice.
Throughout the internship, I achieved a perfect score in all my tasks, although I faced challenges that required extensive research and asking questions. Generally, it was an incredible experience that left me feeling accomplished and proud.
Communication Highlights:
Formed a supportive study group with Zita, Obehee, and Faith, who made the experience even better.
Met amazing people, including, Damilola Odebode andBoluwatife Olasupo a spirited and jovial individual.
Introducing myself as “Rihanna” brought some fun to the meetings- of course who wouldn’t want to meet famous ‘Rihanna’ Lol.
Jeremiah’s unwavering patience in addressing repeated questions during our meetings made him the best coach indeed.
Key Learnings: My internship served as a significant stepping stone in my UI/UX journey. It allowed me to grasp essential skills and concepts that form the foundation of successful product design.
Bootcamp experience:
The Journey Continues:
To enhance my UI/UX skills, I enrolled in the side hustle bootcamp, led by our instructor Damilare Oyetade also known as Drey. The bootcamp offered a structured curriculum and a supportive community on the side hustle Slack channel. I was excited to be a part of team two (2), led byOlusola Fatoba and assisted byADEPEJU ADEDEJI alongside talented team membersSeun Adebayo (2018/7218) and others. Together, we embarked on a series of challenging tasks that put our skills to the test.
Week 1: We carried out a UX Case study on a food delivery mobile app called “Food2Door,” utilizing the design thinking process. Our goal was to create an intuitive and user-friendly app experience.
https://www.behance.net/gallery/168414011/Food-Delivery-App-Case-Study
Week 2: Given the choice between designing a direct messaging app or a job search platform, both for mobile and web versions, my team opted for the latter. We conducted thorough research to ensure the development of a comprehensive job search platform named “JobFlex.”
https://www.behance.net/gallery/169094997/Job-search-platform-case-study-and-designs
Week 3: Our focus in the third week was designing a music player that could adapt to different devices and interfaces. We named it “Mplay” and explored its usability in various settings, including a dashboard in a tour bus, a smartwatch, and a web browser.
https://www.behance.net/gallery/169482433/Music-Player-Case-Study
Week 4: During the final week of the bootcamp, our task was to design three portfolio websites. Collaboratively, we created portfolio websites for an interior decorator, a product designer, and a photographer. Our efforts were rewarded with a perfect score of 100%.
https://www.behance.net/gallery/169935837/A-Collection-of-Portfolio-Website-Designs
We applied our research skills and internship knowledge to create engaging and user-centered designs. The experience sharpened our design abilities, encouraged critical thinking about user needs and also helped us build our portfolios. Being part of an amazing team, attending daily meetings, sharing jokes, and enduring sleepless nights made the experience both challenging and rewarding.
In conclusion, this journey of internship and bootcamp facilitated my personal growth by pushing me out of my comfort zone and fostering resilience and adaptability. Embracing feedback and constructive criticism became a natural part of my design process, fueling continuous improvement. Looking ahead, I’m eager to grow and apply my knowledge to future design endeavors. Continuous learning is a priority for me as I strive to expand my skills and stay up-to-date with industry trends.
Cheers to a new beginning 🥂
Special thanks to SIDEHUSTLE for granting me this opportunity to be a part of the tech industry.