How do you break into UX, build a thriving career, and even teach the next generation, all without a formal UX degree? Meet Ricardo
In this episode of UX Spotlight Series, Nate sits down with Ricardo Ramirez, a seasoned UX Designer, UX Consultant, and Continuing Education Instructor at York University in Toronto, to explore his self-taught journey into UX and the strategies that helped him succeed.
“You don’t need permission to learn—start where you are.” – Ricardo Ramirez
He shares how he got started, leveraged networking, and embraced mentorship to transition from a software developer to a UX lead and instructor.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- What led Ricardo to build a career in UX without a formal design degree.
- Why networking is the key to opening opportunities in the field and how to do it right.
- Common challenges UX designers face when selling their point of view to stakeholders
- The power of mentorship and giving back to the UX community
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Nate Brown
Nate Brown is an experienced account manager with a background in enterprise technology, client relationships, and revenue-focused account management. During his time at Userlytics, he worked closely with research teams and enterprise clients to help them maximize the value of the platform and get meaningful insights from their UX research. His broader career includes working with technology companies and financial institutions, with a focus on building long-term client partnerships and helping organizations address complex business challenges.
Ricardo Ramirez
Ricardo Ramirez is a Service Designer and UX Consultant with more than 10 years of experience in digital transformation, innovation, and user-centered design. His expertise spans Service Design, Human-Centered Design, UX Research, and strategic design, with experience leading multidisciplinary teams across government, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations.
