Wilson, Digital Media student, tells us about his placement experience
BSc (Hons) Digital Media student, Wilson Tavares, is out on placement with the Innovation Group as a UX/UI Designer. The experience has really changed his career plans and broadened his creative horizons.
Can you tell us a bit about your placement?
I am currently doing my placement as a Junior UX/UI designer for Innovation Group. Innovation Group is a company that provides claim management solutions for insurance companies. They have a cloud-based software that helps insurance companies on the different stages of claim management. I’m part of the design team; our job is to work around the designs within the software and ensure that the software meets all the requirements to give the users an easy and effective journey throughout.
As a UX/UI Designer, I mainly design mobile or web-based interfaces and ensure that, based on the user’s experience, those interfaces will offer an enjoyable and intuitive experience that is also engaging and visually pleasing.
Wilson’s office environment
What have you learned so far?
So far, I have learned a lot about user experience (UX). When I started my internship, I didn’t have much knowledge about the UX side of things. However, the design team I work with has helped me gain new insights. They have let me be involved in real projects that required practical solutions, always taking into consideration the users, their experience, and the feedback they provide to us.
I’ve gained a whole new perspective when it comes to designing a product. The UX part of the role has shown me that even if we have the most beautiful and visually appealing product if it offers a bad user experience and leaves the user frustrated, it has no value.
Some of Wilson’s great UX work
What would you like to do when you graduate?
I can picture myself working as a UX/UI designer. To be honest, I never thought I would find this area so exciting to work in. If I decide to seek a career in UX/UI, I already some valuable work experience thanks to my internship with Innovation Group.
What would you say to someone considering a placement year?
If you are considering doing a placement, well go for it! I recommend it 100%. Filter the areas that you enjoy working on, or are passionate about, then compare those areas with the skills you have and see if they meet the specification for the job you are applying for.
Don’t panic if you don’t have all the required skills, that’s why you’re doing a placement, right? To learn new skills, gain experience and help you decide your future career.
One of the many training experiences Wilson was offered
Do you have any placement search tips?
Start planning your placement hunt early. Make a portfolio if you need one and include your best projects in it, projects that you are proud of and that you’ve put all your sweat and blood into.
What if you have only three projects to showcase on your portfolio? Well, that’s a good start already, quality matters over quantity always. Most employers won’t have time to look at all the work in your portfolio. But you can still work on personal projects to add to your portfolio and use them to show the companies you are applying to more of your talents and skills.