My Journey as a UI/UX Designer

My name is Rotana; I’m a UI/UX Designer. Since my early days, I’ve been completely intrigued by art and the magic of bringing ideas to life through drawing and building things.

As high school was ending, I felt lost, unsure which path to take. Even though I am interested in computer science, I know my heart belongs to design.

I came to the USA with many challenges, including a late start, an unfamiliar language, and a new environment. Despite these hurdles, my passion for design remained determined.

One day, I took on a friend’s suggestion; I pursued IT and landed a job at a printing company as a Graphic Designer unrelated to my field.

I started on this journey during a time when QuarkExpress 8 ruled the design industry. I remember the excitement of watching a large printing press print your design and experiencing the awesomeness of seeing your artwork published in magazines.

While working at the printing press, I began crafting stationery packages to design newsletters and branding materials, and my skills flourished. However, my path took an unexpected turn when the printing company I worked for closed its operations, leaving me at a crossroads.

I didn’t give up because of a strong will. I listened to my heart and pursued Graphic Design at The Art Institute in Orange County, California, graduating in 2018. That decision changed everything, opening doors to exciting opportunities and propelling my career forward.

My journey has taken me to work with various organizations, from small to large-scale companies to renowned names like Animax Entertainment, Experian Consumer Direct, and Classic Industries. These experiences have been invaluable, teaching me about delivering good design and crafting meaningful designs that enhance user experiences. This experience has improved my understanding of the importance of UI/UX design in the current landscape.

During my year doing freelance projects, I learned how to blend digital art with programming, a space that has long captivated me. I remember scouring the web for outdated websites to grasp building techniques using basic HTML and CSS or any available resources. I have revamped those outdated websites, making them user-friendly and more accessible. I dedicated numerous hours to self-education, examining leading sites for ideas and insights on how I learned web development. This special mix sparked my passion, leading me to focus on website development and use my years of experience.

Today, as a UI/UX designer working at IAAI and RB Global, I love the variety and flexibility in this role because it allows me to create things that truly matter!

I started this blog site to share tools, tricks, tips, insights, and real-world stories about my experiences, and ideally, I want to encourage others to learn from each other. My goal is simple: to create incredible designs and make a difference in people’s lives. What fuels me is the opportunity to impact their lives genuinely.

Thank you for stopping by!