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    Blog From chef to UX designer: How Ibolya transformed her career
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    From chef to UX designer: How Ibolya transformed her career

    足球竞彩网 Assembly
    March 5, 2025

    Changing careers is no small feat. 

    It takes guts, curiosity, and the willingness to start over. For Ibolya Olah, it also took a book about doorknobs. Yes, really.

    A former teaching chef and director of a cookery school, Ibolya had built a successful career in the food industry. She was running three locations, teaching, and leading teams. But then she discovered Don Norman’s The Design of Everyday Things, and from there, everything changed.

    Discovering UX design: the career she didn’t know existed

    Most people don’t spend their time thinking about door handles. Ibolya did. After reading Norman’s book, she realized that UX design was about more than aesthetics—it was about problem-solving and functionality. And, more importantly, she realized that people got paid to think about these things.

    That’s when the research began. She wanted to shift into UX design but didn’t have another four or five years to earn a degree. Luckily, she found us—and the rest is history.

    Why 足球竞彩网 Assembly? 

    Ibolya knew she needed a UX design bootcamp that was worth the investment. With so many programs out there, she did her due diligence—reading reviews, digging into curriculums, and making sure GA wasn’t just another “pay us and we’ll hand you a certificate” kind of place.

    “I was skeptical,” she admits. “So I reached out. I talked to someone at GA, and I saw that the curriculum was solid. They even gave me a task before I enrolled to make sure I knew what I was getting into. That was convincing.”

    “They weren’t just trying to take my tuition—they wanted me to succeed.”

    The transition from chef to UX designer

    Ibolya took the leap and joined GA’s UX Design Bootcamp. It wasn’t easy—shifting industries never is—but the structure, hands-on projects, and real-world applications made it worth it.

    “The experience was overwhelming at first,” she says. “But the support, the curriculum, and the way GA structured the program made all the difference. I wasn’t just learning theories—I was building a portfolio and gaining real skills that mattered in the job market.”

    Looking for UX designers who think outside the box?

    Ibolya’s story isn’t just inspiring for career changers—it’s a wake-up call for hiring managers. The best UX designers aren’t always the ones who started in tech. They’re problem-solvers. They come from industries where they had to think on their feet, manage teams, and create experiences for real people.

    A former chef turned UX designer? That’s someone who knows how to work under pressure, adapt quickly, and think creatively—all skills that make for an incredible designer.

    Ready to hire talent like Ibolya?

    If you’re looking for UX designers who bring fresh perspectives and problem-solving skills from outside the tech world, our job-ready grads are exactly who you need. And if you’re thinking about a career change yourself? Check out our UX design bootcamp—it might just be your next best move.

    Whether you’re an employer in need of tech talent or an individual looking to pivot your career, we’d love to get in touch to learn about your goals and find out if our tech bootcamps or training solutions will get you there.

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