“She stepped away, then stepped up. Stephanie’s journey from Store Manager to UX/UI Designer.”
Stephanie Bugeja, UX/UI Designer
3 minute read
- Student story
- Design & Creative
Stephanie didn’t set out to climb the ladder. She just wanted to find something that fit. A space where she could grow, contribute, and be seen for her strengths.
She began in architecture, chasing a career path that blended creativity with structure. Pursuing her love for creativity felt like the right move for the first few years, especially as she worked her way towards completing a Master’s degree. Then, halfway through the final stretch, something shifted. The deadlines were still being met. The work was still getting done. But her gut kept whispering what her grades never could… this wasn’t her path.
“I worked hard, stayed up late, pushed through every deadline. Still, I just knew it was time for something different, even though I didn’t know what.”
She stepped away before finishing her degree, not because she couldn’t do it, but because she was ready to find something that fit.
With no clear next step, she took a job in retail while giving herself space to think. Then, an unexpected opportunity came along. A local company saw potential in her and offered her a new kind of challenge. She didn’t have experience in marketing, but she was ready to learn and they gave her the chance to try.
“I went from being an intern, to becoming the first team member within our marketing department. I had no clue what I was doing, but I did not let that stop me.”
Learn Digital Marketing Live →
That leap became the turning point. She found herself thriving in a creative environment where her work had a visible impact. As a natural-born leader, she wanted to keep up with the pace. Eager to back her instincts with structure, she enrolled in ICE Campus’ Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing while working full-time.
The online format gave her flexibility. The course content gave her clarity. The assignments sharpened her strategic thinking. By the end, she had passed her exam on the first attempt and started applying what she learned directly into her day-to-day work.
“It made me feel grounded. I finally understood why things worked, not just how to do them.”
Still, something inside her was pushing for more. She wanted to build, solve, create. Her employer recognised that drive and funded her next step: the Professional Diploma in UX Design. That was the course that put all the pieces of the puzzle together.
ICE Campus gave her a new lens. Figma became her new creative playground. Storytelling, usability, and user needs became second nature. For the first time in her career, everything aligned.
Today, Stephanie leads User Experience for the same company that took a chance on her. Every part of her journey, from student, to the intern, to the marketer, and her final destination as the designer is stitched into the way she approaches her work.
“The course gave me the language. The work gave me the belief. Together, they gave me the career I wanted.”
Stephanie didn’t wait for the perfect time, title, or plan. She chose alignment. She took one step, then another… and built a role that reflects everything she’s become.
