Not everyone who becomes a UX designer follows a traditional path. Doreen Nabukalu is proof that you can learn how to become a UX designer without a degree – and still develop a sharp, thoughtful approach to the craft. In this interview, she shares how design gradually shaped itself around her, what she has learned from designs that missed the mark, and what she would do differently if starting over today. The interview is presented in her own words.
"Good design is almost invisible. If people don't notice it but everything flows - that's when it's working."
What originally pulled you into design – was it a conscious choice or something that gradually shaped itself over time?
It wasn’t a single decision – it kind of built itself over time. I started out just wanting things to look better – presentations, posts, layouts – and I kept tweaking until they felt right. At some point I realized I wasn’t just decorating things, I was thinking about how people would use and understand them. That shift from “making it look good” to “making it work” is what pulled me fully into design.
Can you describe a moment when you realized a design you created truly “worked”?
The moment it clicked for me was when someone used something I designed without needing any explanation. No confusion, no questions – they just moved through it naturally. That’s when I realized good design is almost invisible. If people don’t notice it but everything flows, that’s when it’s working.
Where do you tend to get stuck in your process – and what do you usually do to move forward?
I usually get stuck at the point where everything is “fine” but not good enough. It’s easy to over-polish or overthink at that stage. What helps me move forward is stepping away and coming back with fresh eyes – or stripping the design back to its core and rebuilding with more intention instead of adding more. Understanding how to improve website UX often starts exactly there – with less, not more.
How do you balance making something visually striking with making it easy to understand?
I treat clarity as the foundation and visual impact as the layer on top. If something looks impressive but confuses people, it’s not doing its job. So I start with structure – hierarchy, spacing, flow – and once that’s solid, I push the visuals. The best designs feel effortless but still have presence.
Tell me about a time when your design missed the mark – what changed in your thinking afterwards?
I’ve had designs that looked great to me but didn’t land with users – they felt overwhelming or unclear. That forced me to realize I was designing for myself, not the person using it. Since then, I’ve become more intentional about simplicity and usability, and I try to validate decisions instead of just trusting my taste.
What do you feel is currently shifting in design culture, and how are you adapting to it?
Design is moving away from just aesthetics and more toward systems, usability, and real impact. There’s also less tolerance for “pretty but pointless” work – because good ux web development decisions directly affect performance, retention, and conversions. I’m adapting by focusing more on structure, user flow, and thinking in systems rather than isolated screens.
What would you do differently if you were starting your design journey today?
I’d focus less on making things look impressive early on and more on understanding why designs work. I’d also build more real-world projects sooner instead of just practicing in isolation. Learning by solving actual problems accelerates everything. And since I am self-taught, I have enrolled in a school to get to know the basics of anything I might have missed out on.
About the designer
Rotem Pinkas is a product and UX/UI designer with over 15 years of experience across cybersecurity, fintech, and tourism. Currently working at Check Point Ltd, she specializes in design systems and complex product challenges where user experience, business goals, and technical constraints all need to align at once.
She works remotely and takes on freelance projects alongside her full-time role. Her approach starts with research, moves through intention, and ends with design that earns its place by driving real results, not just looking good on screen.
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