Gabriel works as UX/UI Designer at Indra, a leading multinational company in technology and solutions for the transportation and defense segments in the city of São Paulo.

Check out this chat and understand what this great process of changes, city and profession went like, until arriving at UX/UI Design.

Tell us a little about yourself and how this interest in digital design came about

When I was finishing college, I worked at a company that made books and e-books for the doctors in the “More Doctors” program. Because of my graphic experience, I started diagramming the company's digital books.

Within that work they had a application who read these books and small works related to this app began to appear. For example, changing the icon, the interface, etc.

From that, I began to study how to change the interfacing and why I had to change, a question I learned in college. Then I started to find some things about UX And about how the wearers they consumed the information within a digital system. I decided to do my monograph on top of that. That's how I met the Interaction design, UX, I ended up shaping a path for this area and decided that was what I wanted to follow in my life.

After a certain period of working at this company, there was an internal change and they put me back on the layout part. However, it was no longer what I wanted and neither was the area I liked. I decided to leave and move to São Paulo to try to do what I really wanted.

São Paulo is a great city for this area. There are many vacancies and opportunities for Digital Design.

Some students of the course who move to São Paulo report that in their previous cities there was a certain immaturity for the area of Design. What do you think about that?

I lost a lot of contact with people from that area in the city where I lived. I know it's possible to freelance in UX/UI. The person needs to search.

Obviously, meeting people makes a lot of difference and in São Paulo it's better for that. And if the person wishes to change cities, the decision must be well analyzed and thought out. But it is possible to get freelance work up to internationally and there's no need for change.

What must be done is Always go back, meet people from this area, make contacts, watch interviews, etc. Always go beyond challenges. For example, in fictional works, do more than what they ask of you.

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We know that moving to another city is not easy. How was your process of changing and creating Networking?

I've never been a very communicative and expansive person. But when I moved to another city, I realized that I should improve this in order to be able to do it. liaisons. Then I started to open up more to new conversations and friendships.

To get a job, it was basically through Internet. I tried to improve my portfolio and adjust the resume. What I could do to advance my side and have a better image, I did. Since I didn't have a network of contacts at that time, which is essential and facilitating to talk to people and demonstrate what type of professional you are.

When I got an opportunity, it wasn't specifically for UX/UI. It was supposed to diagram a app for corporate training. I chose this position because I had been looking for opportunities for three months, but I didn't like the companies.

However, in this new company, it had a digital service. I then spoke to my manager and he said that I had experience in UX/UI. As a result, all the digital services that existed, they passed on to me. That way, I was also able to work with what I wanted. In addition, during the period that I stayed there, I made contacts and friendships that helped me a lot.

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How was the total migration to the UX/UI area?

I was very annoyed that I wasn't fully focused on the area I wanted. I realized that I was stagnant, not learning new things. And in this field, it is necessary to always seek new knowledge or you become obsolete.

After that, I began to search for new vacancies and to do interviews. But I wanted to migrate to a company that I liked, because I liked where I worked and wanted to leave only if it were for the better.

I ended up getting an opportunity as a UX/UI Designer at Indra, company multinational leader in technology and solutions for the transportation and defense segments. Including, the Diogo Alvarez, also a Bootcamp MID student, works here at IndraIn fact, it was he who implemented the UX area in the company and today we work together.

How did you structure your portfolio to get the vacancy you are currently in?

I took some jobs that I had from my first job, but I couldn't put together a UI/UX portfolio. I ended up adding an interface game that I made; it was a web game and I needed to switch to a game app, but very basic.

At that stage I was already in Master Interface Design (MID) and I added some coursework that was much more complete and structured. Today I have better results with them, because of my background. I can explain it better, and I can even criticize myself.

Another thing I did, after mentoring the course, was Specify my portfolio more for the area I wanted. Out of insecurity, I ended up mixing up a bit of all my work, and this was not effective, as no recruiter sees more than one or two projects. Today my portfolio has only 3 projects, but they are focused on UX/UI Design, and this generates much more results.

How is your experience with this new company?

It's fine unlike from HSM — the company I was in — because it was larger. Relations are colder, but I have much more professional independence. There, I have to go after the data, information, and help with various projects.

I have learned a lot and this Experience is of great value, since I am someone who is always looking to overcome myself and learn more.

Cool. Another point is the issue of socialization during working hours. Contact with the customer is necessary, but also with people from the team. How has that been for you?

Before, I received specific works already with “instructions” on how to proceed. I was working on solving problems that had already been mapped by someone.

However, now, The jobs I receive are from people who are having problems. It is therefore necessary to have this dialogue to understand the situation, to research, to study, to ask in order to understand exactly what the problem is to be solved and then start thinking about solutions.

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What advice or experiences would you like to share?

Search understand the problem in fact it's something very important. Don't go with the solution until you understand the whole situation.
Work at professional empathy is essential; this interaction and contact with people is part of the profession.

Also be open to criticism and criticize yourself to always evolve. Don't stop learning from your mistake.