From Zero Game Experience to Blizzard: Gillian Pangilinan's UX Journey

Contents

1. Initial Goals and Expectations
2. Course Effectiveness
3. Skills and Knowledge Acquired
4. Professional Impact
5. Future Goals

SECTION 1: INITIAL GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS

What specific goals or objectives did you have in mind when you enrolled in this course?

I think my biggest goal at the time was mostly the gamer understanding of the gaming industry and what it meant to work in that kind of environment. Prior to my experience at ELVTR, I had already received UX/UI training through another boot camp, but it was for a general text. So things like making websites and phone apps – nothing really gaming-related. I knew that gaming was always my big goal. So it was really nice to see that ELVTR had a course that was specifically gaming oriented and also led by an industry professional. 

What were your expectations for this course in terms of professional development or career advancement?

I honestly went in not really sure what I was expecting. I think what I wanted out of it was to gain a specific knowledge and skillset around the gaming industry. And that was kind of the most basic goal that I had. I was very surprised at how impactful that knowledge was and how important all of that is to me, because it definitely helped me later on, after I graduated and then started looking for jobs in the gaming industry. Ivy’s course was very informational about the kind of roles a UXG designer might take on in the gaming industry. The gaming industry is very different from General Tech… The team structure is very different for gaming and I think that the expectations of a UX/UI designer also are different as well. So it helped me understand how to not just solve problems with the mind of a game industry designer, but also when I went out to look for jobs, I was able to better tailor my portfolio, my cover letter, and my resume to what they were looking for.

SECTION 2: COURSE EFFECTIVENESS

On a scale from 1 to 5, how well did the course help you achieve your initial goals?

(1 = Not at all, 5 = Fully achieved)

I think that's a little hard to say because I must say that I do have a lot more prior training than so many of my classmates. So I feel like there is kind of a skill gap there to consider, but I'd say it was at least a 4… I genuinely don't think I would have been able to confidently apply for these jobs and get myself of the right mindset without the course. So I'd say it was a pretty heavy-handed help.

Can you provide specific examples of how the course content or activities aligned with your initial goals?

I’d say there is a lot – more at the beginning than at the end of the course. Like I said, Ivy does a very, very good job of setting up the course and giving an overview about what it's like to work in games. And so, her first lessons, which were basically an overview of what UX/UI design is with the context of what it is in gaming, was very, very informative and super helpful to set my expectations; and it made me very, very excited to actually go through the whole course. I think there was also a part of the course where she talks about accessibility, and accessibility in gaming is such a unique subject. There's so many different kinds of people that will play video games, and that want to play video games for a very long time… people want to sit for hours on the couch and play a game. So, approaching accessibility in the holistic way that Ivy taught us, was really really really informative and it showed a lot of depth to our line of work. And then closer to the end, she started getting more into the tips, and how to tailor your portfolio, and how to land a job and make a name for yourself. I think all of that was very impactful for me. I'm like, okay, these are skills that I really need.

SECTION 3: SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED

What specific skills or knowledge did you gain from this course that directly contributed to achieving your goals?

That's hard to say, because at the time I was still working for a company where my product was web-based and mobile. It was a mobile app, but I think the moment that I started working for Blizzard, or even when I was interviewing for Blizzard, obviously Diablo is a PC and console game and I have no experience designing for games. Let alone a game that is so seen on both PC and console and there are parts of Ivy’s course that goes into designing specifically for  those platforms. 

How have you applied these skills or knowledge in your work or other professional situations?

I got some technical knowledge from Ivy's course about that, as well as which is the best way to approach it. So it definitely helped me a lot when Blizzard handed me a UI design test and I was like “Oh my god, I don’t know how to start this!” but it felt good because Ivy already had prepped me for that in some way.

SECTION 4: PROFESSIONAL IMPACT

Since completing the course, have you noticed any improvements in your job performance?

I'd say that definitely helped me quite a lot. I think because I had no idea what this sort of pipeline looked like in gaming – Blizzard is a huge company and Diablo’s a huge team, and the course does break down what that kind of pipeline looks like. So I knew what to expect, and it prepared me with the hard skills that I need as a UI designer. I was also prepped for the kind of processes that go into designing a new feature for a game, for example, or just who to expect you will be talking to. I had never spoken to a game designer before, and trying to understand what kind of features I needed to design for the new thing that they're making. So, I can definitely say that the course prepped me for that.

Have you noticed any changes in your confidence levels?

Oh, yeah. It definitely helped my confidence level in applying for jobs. When I finally did land interviews, it felt like I had earned it; that I deserved to be there as opposed to questioning, “Oh my god, do I know enough?”. I think there was always going to be a little fear of, “Do I know enough to be in the game industry?”, but it definitely was comforting to know, “Okay. No, I did take this course with Ivy”. I think that Ivy’s an amazing instructor, and it was such a great experience to take her course. And as soon as I graduated, it felt like I could start my journey with a really good head on my shoulders, ready to take on any application.

Have you noticed any improvements in your career prospects?

Oh, yeah, of course. I definitely think my goals are to move up the ladder as much as I can. Outside of just professional goals, I've had to talk to a lot of incoming ELVTR students – they will see that I've taken the course and that I currently work for Blizzard – and they'll ask me like, “What was your experience with it?”. And I thought, “Was it worth it?” and always tell them, “Yeah, it was worth it, I had a good experience.” Then also, students who have recently graduated ask me for advice, and I'm definitely interested in passing along any knowledge. I think I would like to pass on something to the newer generation of UI designers that want to be in gaming.

SECTION 5: FUTURE GOALS

How has this course influenced or shaped your future professional goals?

I definitely don't intend on staying an associate.  I'd love to move on to intermediate/ senior, maybe even a lead position when it comes to that.

Are there any additional skills or knowledge you would like to acquire to further pursue your goals?

That's a hard question to answer, because I feel like we, as designers, always have to consult, so it's very hard to pinpoint what specifically you need to learn. It's just going with what you know and with what is needed in the current time. And so, the general answer is just to continue to build on my UX/UI design skills, keep educating myself on game development, and hopefully learn some leadership skills as I move up the ladder.

Thank you!