We recently connected with Jesse Erandio and have shared our conversation below.

Jesse, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

The concept of user experience design is not new, but the role of a UX Designer is relatively new in the workforce. Many companies are beginning to see the value of having a UX Designer in a specific team and that is focused on supporting a specific product. Since understanding the value and power of a UX Designer on a team is becoming more prevalent, many people are beginning to transition into the design industry. Some of the key features of a UX Designer role that attract many people is that a UX Designer can potentially work remote, has a good starting salary, and that the role can play a major part in creatively influencing the development of a product. With these key features, people begin to feel that the role is a comfortable career path that requires them to simply use their product knowledge, management and artistic skills. What many people forget, or do not realize, is that UX Design, not only revolves around management and creative design, but it also comprises of user research. A great and ideal UX Designer creates intuitive and user-friendly products based on their findings on their user research and wholistic, storytelling, presentation of their data and designs.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As a former Biologist and Molecular Biologist, I never imagined myself as a user experience (UX) designer capable of optimizing and enhancing websites, softwares, applications, and systems. Before I finished college, I was always pursuing my passion for creative and artistic avenues. Whether it was drawing charcoal portraits in the fine arts department, performing as a symphony cellist, or striving to be a drone photographer, I was always in touch with my passion for creativity and the arts. Despite my creative talents and artistic goals, I pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology with a minor in Medical Veterinary Entomology. I accrued six years of experience in the scientific research field, particularly in the mosquito and vector control work environment. At the peak of my scientific career, I was able to develop my own mosquito-borne virus testing methods, establish a drone surveillance program, conduct my own research, present at conferences, and publish my very first peer-reviewed scientific article in the One Health Implementation and Research Journal. Since I was able to conduct and publish my own research, I felt that I reached my end goal in the scientific research field. At this point, I no longer felt like I was growing in my career and was no longer developing new skills. With my experience with biotechnology softwares as a scientist, I began searching for careers that allowed me to harness my creative and artistic talents to develop user-friendly, and intuitive, product designs in order to help users, stakeholders, and customers achieve their business goals. This was when I discovered UX Design as a dream career where I was able to combine my research skills with my passion for creativity and artistic skills in order to design products and provide optimal user experiences.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

After six years in the scientific research field and achieving a great role as a Biologist that conducted mosquito-borne virus surveillance testing for the northern Tulare County in California, my scientific career peaked, and I was no longer developing new skills. In this case, I sought to follow my creative dreams and passion for the arts by pursuing a career in UX Design. In order to transitions careers, I had to leave my role as a Biologist in central California during 2021 and moved back home with my supportive family in the San Francisco Bay Area. At home, I decided to accept a role as a Molecular Biologist within the public health department that paid about 50% less than my role as a Biologist in Central California along with reduced health and retirement benefits. While working as a full-time Molecular Biologist, I attended Springboard’s virtual UI/UX Design bootcamp as a part-time student for 9 months so that I can learn the UI/UX design career path and industry. The career transition from a Biologist to a UX Designer was an investment in time, financial, mental, emotional, and physical health that I was willing to sacrifice during this time in 2021.

It was was very difficult working a full-time position, being a virtual part-time student, and supporting your family household, both physically and mentally, all at the same time. Despite my hardships, I finished Springboard’s UI/UX Design bootcamp in May of 2022, along with a job offer, a month after completing my bootcamp, from a biotechnology company as a UX Designer. At this point, I stepped foot into a new field and industry, and I felt that my heart, dreams, and passion were finally in the right place. With a great start in a biotechnology company that allowed me to use my scientific research background and newly found UI/UX design skills, within one month and a half, I was unfortunately a part of a mass layoff that many technology companies experienced in the San Francisco Bay Area during this time in July of 2022. Aside from the layoff, I applied to several positions, and within 3 months, I managed to receive and accepted an offer from Boeing to be a User Experience Specialist for their Manufacturing Operations and Management team. Although I was laid off from a biotechnology company who supported me in and out of the company, I continued to follow my creative passion and dreams as a UX Designer and was able to join a prolific team that also supports my future goals and growth in the design industry.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative, or more specifically as a UX Designer, is being able to design products from the heart with data support from user research. I believe many artist create works of art using various skillsets and talents. For me, I am using my passion for the arts and my experience in scientific research to develop intuitive, user-friendly, and modern designs. As a scientists, I always wanted to make a change and impact the software and workflow for other scientists. Although, I felt like was not in a position to make any changes in the scientific software programs and tools. Therefore, as a UX Designer, I am in a position to help influence design changes in products. I enjoy hearing the product and design team agreeing with my design choices, and I ultimately enjoy seeing users happy and able to conduct their work more efficiently with the products that I helped design.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jesseerandio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hillocchi/
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jesse-erandio
• FIverr: https://www.fiverr.com/s/G2oAea

Image Credits
Maria Kristina Lander