2019 VS 2021: How our Junior Designer progressed to the BIMA100

Julia is our Junior UX Designer and we are delighted to share that she is included in this year’s BIMA 100 in the ‘Creatives and Designers’ category. Julia joined After Digital after taking part in the Inspiring Digital Leaders (IDL) programme in 2019—we were so impressed, we asked her to stay! 

In those short few years working with us, she has progressed her skills in UX design and has now been awarded one of the digital industries biggest honours as a result of her incredible work. With that in mind, we wanted to ask her some questions…

After going through the IDL programme, what made you want to focus on UX design? 

I suppose I’ve always been a very creative person and I had previously done a bit of research on UX design, so it felt like the natural choice for me. I really believe that the IDL programme was the best thing I could have done because it allowed me to experience what working in UX is actually like and, of course, gave me insight into all the other disciplines as well (it even made me consider briefly whether I wanted to be a developer instead!). Through the internship, I was also able to gain more insight into the world of digital agencies in general—something I didn’t really know much about when I graduated. I also met so many amazing people because of it, most of whom I’m still in contact with.

What are your day-to-day tasks at After Digital?

I’m lucky enough to be involved in a wide range of tasks; from user research, website analytics, content workshops, competitor analysis, and documentation to creating wireframes and designs. I also do a bit of animation and work on Squarespace sites for smaller projects. There are several internal projects I’m involved in, from working with the marketing team on AD’s own brand to developing our own products. The benefit of working in a small design team is that I get to be involved in the whole design process from start to finish!

What is one of the things you enjoy most about working at After Digital?

The team, hands down! I’ve found it surprisingly easy to transition to working from home—we talk a lot, and our daily morning stand up calls really helped me feel less like I’m working in a silo by myself. I also really love how much emphasis there is on continuous personal development. 

What has been your favourite project to work on? 

I’m really enjoying the more product-led projects I’ve been working on; AD Presents (coming soon) and Skyway. We have a big opportunity to create something really great and I can’t wait to see how they develop and grow!

What do you consider to be your biggest achievements in your role so far?

I’ve been working on creating an improved CMS experience for our own product, Skyway. It’s a big, complex project, but it’ll make a big difference to the user experience. We’re creating a proper design system and we’re putting a lot of effort into getting the details right. It’s still ongoing, but I’m very proud of how it’s looking so far and I know many in the team are excited to get it shipped as well!

How do you keep the creativity flowing in your spare time?

I think it’s important to find a variety of different outlets for creativity. I do a bit of sewing in my spare time, but I’m realising more and more that not everything has to be about productivity, or even being ‘good’ at something—especially when it comes to hobbies. Sometimes the best thing to do to keep creativity flowing is to let go of expectations, take a break, and do nothing!

Is there any advice you’d give to people considering a career in the digital industry?

The great thing about digital is that everything is online! There are so many resources out there and many agencies (us included!) put a lot of effort into blogs and case studies. There are also many events and webinars throughout the year, which are always a great way to learn. I don’t think that you need a degree in design to become a designer—I have a degree in Digital Media and Art History, which is only really adjacent to UX Design. Most of what I know I’ve learnt through practical experience and self-study.

At After Digital, we are all about championing the people behind our projects and we are delighted that BIMA has recognised Julia in 2021’s BIMA100. Julia has worked incredibly hard following her IDL placement and we cannot wait to see how she continues to progress within the industry. Congratulations Julia!

In the meantime, you can check out the rest of this year’s BIMA 100 or find out more about the Inspiring Digital Leaders programme—co-created by After Digital, alongside four other agencies, BIMA, and TRC.