Sophia Reyes's Success Story
Sophia transformed from a UI-focused designer to a comprehensive UX leader who now drives user research and design strategy for major international clients.
Started As
UI Designer
Current Role
Senior UX Designer
Years at GBF
3
Projects
9
"At Global BrainForce, I was able to expand beyond visual design into user research, usability testing, and design systems. The company invested in my growth every step of the way."
Career Journey
I started at Global BrainForce as a UI Designer focused primarily on creating visually appealing interfaces. In my first year, I expressed interest in learning more about user research and the broader UX process. The company sponsored my Nielsen Norman Group UX certification and gave me opportunities to conduct user interviews and usability testing. By my second year, I was leading the redesign of a major healthcare application, overseeing the entire UX process from research to implementation.
Key Achievements
- Created design system that reduced design inconsistencies by 90% and accelerated UI development by 40%
- Led user research that identified critical pain points, resulting in a 25% increase in user satisfaction scores after redesign
- Implemented accessibility improvements that brought applications into WCAG 2.1 AA compliance
- Mentored junior designers and created internal UX training materials now used company-wide
Overcoming Challenges
My biggest challenge was convincing clients of the value of user research and testing. Many clients initially wanted to skip these steps and jump straight to visual design. I had to learn how to effectively communicate the ROI of proper UX processes and eventually created case studies showing how our research-driven approach led to measurable improvements in user engagement and conversion rates.
Professional Growth
I've grown from focusing solely on visual aesthetics to understanding the entire product development lifecycle. I can now bridge the gap between business requirements, technical constraints, and user needs. Global BrainForce has also helped me develop presentation skills - I regularly present to C-level executives and lead design thinking workshops with stakeholders.
Advice for Others
Don't be afraid to expand beyond your core skills. The most valuable designers understand business strategy, technical limitations, and user psychology - not just visual design principles. Also, document your impact with metrics whenever possible, as this helps you demonstrate your value to the organization.