What We’ve Learned About Breaking Into UX Design – From the many Harness Projects learners who’ve done it.

When it comes to breaking into UX design, there’s no shortage of advice online. But much of it comes from recruiters, influencers, or designers reflecting on their own isolated journeys. At Harness Projects, we’ve had a rare vantage point: we’ve supported hundreds of people from a wide range of backgrounds into paid UX roles—across the U.S, Australia and globally, from junior to senior, from research to UI design.

Some came from marketing, teaching, HR. Others from engineering, customer service—even forklift operations. Their journeys weren’t defined by where they came from, but by what they learned to show. Here’s what we’ve learned from the learners who made it:

1. Transferable skills aren’t just a bonus—they’re your fuel.

Many people believe they need to bury their past to move into UX. In reality, the opposite is true. The fastest (and most fulfilled) career changers use their background as a strength.

• One learner came from HR, where she’d spent years navigating internal systems and advocating for employees. She reframed that experience through a UX lens—showing how her understanding of people, workflows, and communication could be applied to product design. That helped her move into a UX role at a fast-growing SaaS company.
• Another had worked as a lab assistant, accustomed to careful procedures and structured documentation. Through the program, she channelled those same strengths into UX research and now contributes to digital service design in government
• A former dental assistant brought empathy and precision into her UX practice and now works on digital wellbeing products in the finance sector.
• One learner transitioned from audio technician to UX, applying the same deep listening skills she used in sound design to uncover user needs
• Another had previously worked in QA, testing systems and identifying edge cases. That analytical background translated well into UX, where she now helps redesign hospital systems from the perspective of the users she once supported behind the scenes.
• A former creative director came to the program seeking more structure in his process. He formalised his design instincts with research and testing, ultimately landing a dedicated UX role where he now brings user-led thinking to the kind of creative work he’s always loved.
• One learner spent years in retail at a global tech company, gaining first-hand insight into how people interact with technology. She now applies that understanding to interface design, focused on clarity, flow, and user empathy.
• A former marketing and brand strategist used her storytelling skills to shift into UX. After completing the Career Launcher, she built a strong freelance UX practice, working with startups and small businesses to improve their digital products with a user-centred lens.

These stories show how backgrounds once seen as “nontraditional” become unique strengths when translated into the UX toolkit.

2. Practice matters more than polish.

Employers aren’t looking for glossy mockups—they want to see how you think. That’s why real-world projects matter.

All our most successful grads point to the same thing: the live projects they completed through Harness. These weren’t theoretical—they involved real clients, real stakeholders, and real deadlines.

• One learner led UX research and strategy for two live client projects. That experience helped him land a UX role at a U.S. based healthtech company helping clinics manage vaccines and contraceptives.
• Another created a portfolio that showed not just outcomes, but process—what she tried, what failed, and what changed. That honesty earned her interviews, and ultimately a full-time UX role.
• One graduate was hired into Optus, a global telecommunications and media company, immediately after the program. Her work spoke for itself—because it was grounded in authentic collaboration and real results.
• A learner with a graphic design background combined her visual skills with real-world UX projects to land a UX role at BHP, one of the world’s largest resources companies, where she works on digital experiences at scale.
• Another learner joined the program with a clear goal—to pivot into UX and grow fast. She approached each project with focus and curiosity, built a strong portfolio, and sharpened her communication with stakeholders. She’s now working as a senior UX designer, bringing structure and leadership to complex design problems.

3. The interview isn’t a test—it’s a conversation.

Learners often feel they need to present like an expert to land a job. But in reality, authenticity and self-awareness win out.

• One learner reframed her transition from graphic design as a learning curve. She walked her interviewers through how she shifted her mindset—from layout and visuals to problem-solving and user flows.
• Another, who came from hairdressing, was upfront about her nontraditional path. But she also demonstrated her ability to connect with people and adapt her process—earning her a UX role in the wellness sector.
• A learner who took a winding route through internships built up her experience gradually and now works as a freelance UX consultant. Her confidence in showing her growth proved more powerful than a traditional CV.

4. There is no single background that leads to UX—but there are patterns.

The range is vast, but we see some career paths show up often:

• Education – One former teacher brought classroom empathy and structured thinking into product design.
• Marketing & Comms – Learners from branding, content, and social media often transition into UX strategy, writing, or research, where storytelling and messaging are essential.
• HR & Customer Service – Experience with systems and user-facing challenges often translates into user-first product thinking.
• Engineering & IT – One software engineer bridged the gap between development and design, moving into UX with a technical edge.
• Science & Research – Learners with analytical or academic backgrounds often bring strong skills in user research, insight synthesis, and experimentation.

What unites these learners isn’t a specific technical background—it’s a mindset. Curiosity. Reflection. Adaptability. The ability to take feedback and turn it into insight is what employers are really hiring for.

5. You don’t need to be first—you just need to be ready.

Many of our learners don’t land the very first job they apply for. But they build momentum. They take on freelance gigs, accept internships, and stay ready until something clicks.

• One learner was hired before even finishing the course, thanks to strong project work and preparation.
• Another built up her freelance UX career through internships and contract roles—gradually assembling a portfolio and client base.
• A recent graduate set clear goals from day one and moved quickly into a senior UX position, proving that speed isn’t everything—but preparation is.

The path isn’t always linear—but it gathers strength.

So, What Should You Take From This?

Breaking into UX design isn’t about having a perfect background, or following a single path. What we’ve seen time and again is that success comes from transferable skills, persistence, and the chance to apply them in real projects.

Whether someone starts in marketing, teaching, customer service, or engineering, the common thread is that they learn how to think like a designer, collaborate with others, and deliver work that makes a real impact.

For anyone considering this career, that’s the most important takeaway: there’s no one right way in — but there are proven ways forward. If you’re curious about how this could look for you, we invite you to book a call with our team and explore your pathway into UX.