I didn’t plan to become a designer.
In fact, if you had asked me in college what I’d be doing in ten years, I might’ve said working in a lab, maybe wearing a white coat, testing samples, or researching something scientific. But truthfully, even before that, I had a different dream — I wanted to become a doctor. That was the goal I held close throughout my school years. Life, however, had other plans.
I joined a BSc Biotechnology course, thinking it was a step in the right direction. But during my final year, things changed. For many reasons—personal, financial, and practical—I dropped out.
It wasn’t easy. The decision came with a lot of questions, most of them from myself. But one thing was clear: I had to start working. I took a job as a front office executive at a hospital. It was routine, predictable, and not really creative—but it gave me time. And I used that time to tinker with something that had started to interest me: Photoshop.
I didn’t learn Photoshop because I thought it would become my career. I was just curious. I watched tutorials, tried out tools, failed a lot, and kept going. The pen tool became my best friend. I’d trace objects for hours, trying to get the curves just right.
One day, I heard about a company that was working on a pilot project—converting 2D movies into 3D. They needed people who could rotoscope scenes using Photoshop, and more importantly, people who could handle the pen tool with skill. I applied and got in.
That was my first taste of a corporate-style job. It wasn’t glamorous. I spent hours isolating characters from frames, frame by frame. But I was learning. Not just the tool, but patience, precision, and how to bring clarity to something messy.
Over time, I moved beyond Photoshop. I started exploring how people use digital products. I found myself asking questions like, “Why is this app so frustrating to use?” or “Why did I click on that ad?” That curiosity led me to UX design.
It was a new world, but it made sense to me. Understanding how people think, how they interact with screens, and how small changes can make a big difference—it felt meaningful. I saw the link between design and behavior. And from there, I discovered CRO—conversion rate optimization. Making things not just look good, but actually work better. That part excited me.
Web design and development came next. I wanted to bring ideas to life, not just design them. I taught myself how websites work, how to build them, and how to make sure they didn’t just sit there—they had to perform.
Looking back, it feels like a strange path—from wanting to be a doctor, to studying biotechnology, to a hospital front desk, to Photoshop, and now UX, CRO, and web development. But when I connect the dots, it all makes sense. Every step taught me something I still use today.
I didn’t follow a straight path. I followed what made me curious.
And if you’re reading this because you’re stuck or unsure about your own path, here’s what I can say: it’s okay to start small. It’s okay to change your mind. Just stay curious. That’s where all good things begin.
