Welcome to the 5th Sunday Story! Today, we’re featuring an engineer who discovered her passion for design and made a bold career switch. Now, she’s fully immersed in the design world and is also growing her presence on Instagram, where she’s already gained over 8,000 followers. Let’s dive into her journey!
Hi! I’m Wishvaja, a Computer Science graduate and UX Designer, currently interning at a startup. I’ve always loved both art and technology, and UX Design is where these two passions come together for me.
As a child, I spent a lot of time with my dad creating all sorts of art—painting, drawing, sketching, and crafting. My dad, who’s passionate about animation, has a great eye for creativity, especially when it comes to abstract and traditional art.
Back in 2004, when computers weren’t as common, my dad had this old-school monitor and a clicky keyboard from the Windows XP era. He introduced me to Microsoft Paint, and I was amazed that I could create art digitally. That’s where my journey into design began.
As a teenager, I threw myself into drawing, entering every school art competition and winning a few. But in junior college, I discovered I was really good at IT—I even topped my class! Still, I didn’t know what UX design was at the time. When it came time to choose a career, I felt stuck. Coming from a middle-class family, there was pressure to pick something stable and financially secure. Art seemed too risky, but giving it up felt impossible.
Then the pandemic hit, and everything moved online, leaving me with a lot of free time. I went back to painting, something I hadn’t done in a while, and started an Instagram page for my art in 2021. I began selling hand-painted items like pots, scrunchies, and vintage lockets across India. It was exciting, but I still felt like something was missing.
The thing is, I couldn’t create art on demand. For me, art has always been something I do when I’m inspired, not just because someone orders it. My heart has to be in it, or it doesn’t feel right.
During my second year of college, I got into frontend development and thought, “This is it! I get to design interfaces!” I started cloning websites and coding them, but something still didn’t feel quite right.
Then in 2023, I discovered UX design. It was like everything I loved—art, technology, and psychology—came together in one field. My grandma, best friend, and another close friend were my biggest supporters during this time. They believed in me even when I wasn’t sure I could make the switch. With their encouragement, I enrolled in Google’s UX certification courses and threw myself into learning everything I could.
My journey hasn't been easy. I've faced a lot of uncertainty and challenges along the way, much like a child who can't control their surroundings. But my determination to become independent kept me moving forward.
Just back in January, I was feeling lost and unsure about my future. I didn't know if I should pursue a master's degree, my art account wasn't gaining traction, I didn't have an internship, and I wasn't prepared for any entrance exams. Fast forward six months, and things have completely turned around. I'm now earning, loving my life, and feeling confident about the path I'm on.
In February 2024, I started a new Instagram account to document my UX design journey. To my surprise, I gained over 1,000 followers in just 25 days! This milestone confirmed that I was heading in the right direction. Since then, I've received offers to conduct workshops and have even been invited to participate in YouTube podcasts. I can honestly say that after almost a year in this field, I truly love what I do.
This journey has been tough, but every struggle, late night, and moment of self-doubt has been worth it. From painting with my dad as a kid to diving into UX design, each step has brought me closer to where I’m meant to be. I’m also starting to explore other fields like logo design and product management—this is just the beginning of a bigger adventure.I’m grateful for all the support I’ve received along the way, and I’m excited to keep growing and learning in this amazing field.To everyone who’s been there for me—thank you. This is just the start.~Wish