Design Series Ep.1 - Breaking into Design: Transitioning into UIUX without a Traditional Design Degree
Design Series is a learning-focused initiative created for designers at every stage - whether you’re just starting out or already deep into your design career.
Through this series, we will be bringing in designers as guest speakers to share practical insights, real-life experiences, and lessons they have in their design journey.
For Episode 1, we are starting with a topic many aspiring designers struggle with: Breaking into Design: Transitioning into UI/UX Without a Traditional Design Degree.
Breaking into UI/UX can feel intimidating especially if you didn’t study design in school. In this session, we will unpack what it really takes to transition into UI/UX, beyond degrees and certificates.
We will discuss:
How people from non-design backgrounds successfully enter UI/UX design
The skills, mindset and learning paths that matter most
Building a strong portfolio without a design degree
Common mistakes beginners make and how to avoid them
Practical advice for landing your first UI/UX role or freelance opportunity
Whether you’re coming from tech, business, education or a completely different field, this session is designed to give you clarity, confidence and actionable steps to start or accelerate your UI/UX journey.
About the Speaker
Chinonye Lydia Umeh is a Product designer focused on creating intuitive, scalable and user-centered digital experiences. With 3 years of experience across SaaS, e-commerce, ERP, and media platforms, she designs products that balance user needs with business goals.
She have collaborated with cross-functional teams to deliver products for companies like Instollar, Tentz, Fuse ERP, SIRz, WytePage, Earna and The Pake Group.
Beyond professional work, she enjoys contributing to community-driven design initiatives. As a Design Lead at She Code Africa (Lagos Chapter), she supports educational campaigns and help shape the organization’s visual communication.
Learn more about her work: LinkedIn
About the Host
Edidiong Francis is a UI/UX Designer with over 3 years of professional experience, as well as a Community Lead and Program Manager. She specializes in designing user-centered digital products and leading structured programs, events and communities within the tech ecosystem. Edidiong brings a strong blend of design expertise, strategic planning, and community leadership to all her projects.
Learn more about her work: LinkedIn