Changing careers can feel overwhelming—especially if you’re moving into a completely new industry. But for Sara Lowry, the leap from sales into UX design wasn’t just possible; it landed her a role at one of the UK’s most prestigious organizations, the BBC.
In this article, we’ll explore Sara’s journey from feeling stuck in sales to thriving as a UX designer, and how CareerFoundry’s UX Design Program gave her the skills, confidence, and support to make it happen.
Discovering UX Design
Sara studied psychology at university and, like many graduates, wasn’t entirely sure which career path to take. She tried internships in PR and marketing, and eventually took a role in sales at UberEats.
“Sales was fun at first—lots of big personalities and a good salary,” she explains. “But once the pandemic hit, working from home made me realize it wasn’t the right fit. It felt competitive and isolating, and I couldn’t imagine doing it long-term.”
That’s when a conversation with a friend, a developer at Microsoft, changed everything. Her friend encouraged Sara to explore UX design, a career that combines psychology, creativity, and problem-solving.
Intrigued, Sara spoke with several UX designers at Microsoft, tried out CareerFoundry’s free UX design short course, and quickly realized she’d found her calling.
Why CareerFoundry?
When researching her options, Sara considered both self-study and other bootcamps. But CareerFoundry stood out for three reasons:
Dual mentorship: Every student has both a mentor (an industry expert) and a tutor (a day-to-day guide), providing feedback and reassurance.
Flexibility and support: The program allowed Sara to study full-time and progress quickly while still tailoring the pace to her goals.
Career support and job guarantee: Knowing she’d have a career specialist to help with job applications and interviews gave her confidence.
“I’m the kind of person who needs reassurance,” Sara shares. “With so many resources online, I’d have wasted time second-guessing myself. Having expert feedback made all the difference.”
Building Skills and a Portfolio
Sara approached the program with determination. Thanks to savings she’d put aside, she was able to dedicate six months to studying full-time. Alongside CareerFoundry’s structured projects, she created a personal portfolio piece: an app concept to help music festivals return safely after the pandemic.
“I’m passionate about festivals, so designing something I cared about made the project more engaging. I think that passion really came across in interviews.”
By the time she completed the program, Sara had three strong projects in her portfolio—enough to start applying for UX roles even before she graduated.
Want to create a portfolio that impresses employers? Check out our guide to building a standout UX portfolio.
Landing the Role at the BBC
One of the first jobs Sara applied for was a UX designer trainee position at the BBC. With support from her CareerFoundry career specialist, she refined her CV, cover letter, and even practiced interview questions.
“The career specialist helped me tailor everything specifically to the BBC role. When they asked me to record a video presentation, I got feedback before submitting it, which really boosted my confidence.”
Her preparation paid off—Sara was hired in June 2021, just a month after finishing the course.
Life as a UX Designer at the BBC
Sara’s role at the BBC has exposed her to a wide variety of teams and challenges. She’s worked across iPlayer, Sport, and News, often juggling projects that impact multiple audiences at once.
Her team structure reflects the scale of the BBC: around 15 UX designers spread across different “work streams.” Each stream might include seniors, midweights, juniors, and even rotating trainees who spend three months in different departments. Researchers and product managers also play a key role, though researchers are fewer in number and often stretched across multiple projects.
This cross-functional setup means collaboration is constant. A typical day includes stand-ups, prototyping in Figma and other UX design tools, and even “recommendations of the week” in meetings to keep things light and personal.
Design Practices at the BBC
One new practice Sara encountered at the BBC is workshopping.
Rather than leaving a single designer to solve a problem, workshops bring together people from different disciplines—engineering, product, and editorial—to brainstorm solutions. Using tools like Miro, teams tackle challenges collaboratively, ensuring that both user needs and internal requirements (like editorial workflows) are considered.
“It means the responsibility isn’t just on you to come up with the perfect solution,” Sara explains. “It’s very collaborative, and honestly, really fun.”
Challenges of Designing for Millions
Designing for a massive product like iPlayer comes with unique challenges. For one, the BBC must compete with global streaming giants like Netflix while keeping its product accessible and user-friendly.
Another challenge is research bias. To avoid skewed results, Sara’s team carefully screens participants to ensure they don’t have extreme opinions about the BBC. This ensures that feedback reflects the experience of typical users.
She’s also worked on “off-product” projects—ensuring that BBC content is just as accessible on platforms like Sky, Apple, or Facebook Portal as it is within the app itself.
Advice for CareerFoundry Students
Sara’s journey offers plenty of advice for aspiring UX designers:
Make your portfolio stand out. Beyond the course projects, Sara created an independent passion project that showed creativity and initiative.
Write a personal cover letter. Rather than being overly formal, she shared her values and connected them to the BBC’s mission, which helped her personality shine.
Be proactive on LinkedIn. From messaging recruiters to connecting with interviewers afterward, Sara’s determination helped her stand out.
Show collaboration skills. Even as a student, working with peers on joint projects can demonstrate teamwork—something employers value highly.
For more inspiration, check out career change stories from other CareerFoundry graduates.
The Future of UX
Looking ahead, Sara is confident that UX will only grow in importance. With technologies like AI, voice interfaces, and even the metaverse becoming mainstream, designers will play a key role in making these tools usable and approachable.
“Every time I tell someone what I do, they say, ‘Oh, that’s really cool.’ UX has become the cool job, and I don’t see it slowing down anytime soon.”
From Feeling Stuck to Thriving in Tech
In just over a year, Sara transformed from a sales executive feeling unfulfilled to a UX designer shaping digital products used by millions. Her story is proof that with the right mindset, support, and training, a career change into UX design is not only possible—it can lead to exciting opportunities.
If you’re considering a similar path, why not start where Sara did? Try CareerFoundry’s free UX design short course and see if it feels like the right fit for you.
FAQs About Becoming a UX Designer
1. Can I become a UX designer without a background in tech?
Yes! Many UX designers come from non-technical backgrounds such as psychology, sales, teaching, or the arts. With the right training and a strong portfolio, you can transition successfully. Sara, for example, moved from sales into UX with CareerFoundry.
2. How long does it take to switch careers into UX design?
The timeline varies depending on your pace of study. On average, CareerFoundry students complete the UX Design Program in 6–10 months and find their first job within a few months of graduating.
3. Do I need a degree in UX design?
No, a degree is not required. Employers typically value practical skills and a portfolio of real projects over formal education. Bootcamps like CareerFoundry are designed to give you both.
4. What skills do I need to become a UX designer?
Key skills include user research, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and collaboration. Familiarity with tools like Figma and other UX design tools is also helpful.
5. Is UX design a good career for the future?
Absolutely. With the rise of AI, voice interfaces, and immersive technologies, the demand for UX designers is growing. As Sara points out, UX is becoming “the cool job”—and it’s not slowing down anytime soon.