From Science to Design: How I Found My Place in UX
Hi, I’m Alisha—here’s the story of how I got into UX.
I didn’t start my career in design. I began in biotechnology, fascinated by how systems in the human body worked. Then I shifted into healthcare recruitment, where I helped over 300 professionals find roles during the pandemic. Both jobs taught me a lot — but something was missing.
Two fields that seem far from design but shaped my approach to problem-solving, user empathy, and system thinking. I kept asking questions like: Why are these systems so clunky? Why isn’t this process easier for people? That curiosity slowly nudged me toward design. I wanted to be someone who builds better systems, not just navigates them. My journey into UX was driven by a desire to make technology more human — ensuring solutions enhance, rather than hinder, real-world workflows.
It all started with stories.
Back in college, I worked as a social media manager at The Booknerds, a literary startup where I created content for over 300 posts and led author campaigns. I also volunteered at Valley of Words, a literature and arts festival in Dehradun, where I helped with event coordination and audience engagement.
Both roles showed me the magic of crafting experiences — how language, visuals, and storytelling can connect with people. That’s probably where the seeds of user-centered thinking were first planted, even before I realized it.
When I discovered UX, it just clicked.
While working full-time, I enrolled in the Google UX Design course. I’d spend nights learning about wireframes, prototyping, and research methods — things that felt strangely familiar. The empathy I used with job candidates, the analytical thinking from science, and the structure I relied on in recruiting — all of it translated beautifully into UX.
I also took on freelance design projects, like building a SaaS platform for Indian farmers. It was the first time I saw how research and design could truly impact someone’s day-to-day life — and I was hooked.
Making the leap into UX.
My first big break came when I joined an AI First Medical Tech Startup as a Product Designer. Here, everything I’d learned came together.
I led design for multiple AI-powered SaMD products — from scratch. These were high-stakes tools used by clinicians. I collaborated not just with developers and product managers, but also with clinicians and regulatory teams — something I was uniquely comfortable with, thanks to my previous background.
One of my favorite achievements? Designing a solution that improved sonographer workflow usability by 45%. It wasn’t just about pixels — it was about solving real problems for real people.
What carried over from my past life?
Turns out, a lot.
Empathy and communication — from interviewing healthcare professionals, now applied in user research.
System thinking — from studying biology, now used in creating scalable design systems.
Cross-functional collaboration — from managing stakeholders in recruiting to aligning teams in med-tech.
Pressure handling — whether it was pandemic hiring or FDA deadlines, I’ve learned how to stay calm and move things forward.