Career Transitions

We work with professionals who want to move into UX design or research.

• We’ll have frank discussions about the challenges of the role.

• We’ll talk about your experiences to date, transferrable skills and any gaps.

• We’ll discuss books, courses or side-projects to fill those gaps.

• We’ll review job descriptions, your resume and portfolio in preparation for interviews.

We’re probably a good fit if:

• You have some experience in UX design or research through your current role, academic background, side project, class or bootcamp.

• You’re looking for a role or will be ready to apply in the next 6 months.

We’ll start with a quick email and 15 minute introductory call to identify if we’re a good match.

1. Once we’ve committed to working together, we’ll set goals and a timeframe that feels realistic and works with your current responsibilities.

2. We’ll have regularly scheduled meetings to review your progress, “homework assignments”, and topics you want to discuss. We’ll use video chat and screen sharing for reviewing materials together.

3. You’ll also have support through email between calls.

We’ll have 6 x 1hr phone calls over 3-6 months and schedule our meetings every 2-4 weeks as needed.

UX designers and researchers come from all disciplines. Anna, the founder of Blue Umbrella transitioned into UX from biology by following her love of learning and through a lot of hard work! She picked up a few things about changing careers the hard way and wants to share and help you overcome similar roadblocks.

Anna studied Biochemistry at York University, interned in labs and followed it with a Masters degree in molecular biology at the University of Toronto. During those years her research was with cells and mice, DNA and protein instead of people. She loved asking questions and being diligent about gathering data.

After graduating, she looked to branch out of academia and found a role at a startup. This role was a perfect blend of biology (something she knew well) and tech (a new field altogether). That experience, a sequence of intentional decisions following it, and a giant leap of faith later, she was working in UX.

Given her path, Anna likes to work with others moving through career transitions. She believes her role is part mentor and part thoughtful critic.

While we can’t guarantee you’ll land a job, working together and getting tailored advice increases your odds.