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On this page
  • Understanding the transition
  • Why I am where I am
  • Insights from my gap year

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Systems Eng to Product Design

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Last updated 2 years ago

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This page should provide you with the following:

  • Understanding the transition from engineering to UX

  • How did I get to the design systems space

Understanding the transition

Going from systems engineering to UX design was a calling based on my primal instincts. I have never been one that has been drawn to just numbers alone. Being able to exercise my creative muscle and be in a space that instead of weaknesses seemed like the best decision at the time.

I had to reside in a space that provided a level of challenge that drove passion rather than bring about disappointment.

Why I am where I am

In my last year of university, I had 2 potential career paths, specializing in optimizing airport systems (which is a lot more interesting than it sounds) as well as becoming a data analyst.

Both of which, I knew I would be remarkably unspectacular if I had stayed in those professions. These professions by design focused on my weaknesses instead of my strengths.

Weaknesses
Strengths
Description

Analytical in the conventional engineering space

High emotional intelligence

My situational awareness and deciphering skills are better applied when it comes to dealing with people and processes compared to dealing with math

As a result, during my last year in SUTD, I took a gap year. This explains the plethora of internships in my resume.

#
Reasons for taking a gap year

Reason #1

Wanted to explore the entire spectrum of UX

Reason #2

Prove to self that it was something worth taking the risk for as well as something I can be passionate about

Reason #3

Figure out what I want to explore and do next in my life (rewind back to 2018 clueless and lost nic)

Insights from my gap year

The path I thought I had to abandon if my gap year was successful, came to fruition when I found a space within UX that allowed me to utilize my background in engineering systems as well as my newfound knowledge in this field: Design systems

For the rest of the journey, you'd have to stay tuned to figure out how the rest plays out

😉
played to my strengths