Joelle graduated from Bath in 2021 and, after gaining experience in product and UX design, has since built a successful freelance career as a product designer and content creator.
Read on to discover the skills Joelle transferred from her sociology degree into freelance life, as well as her favourite spots to visit in the beautiful city of Bath.
Why did you choose to study at Bath?
I applied to Bath as it consistently ranked highest for sociology. The talks on the open day were great, and being able to walk around the campus helped me imagine what it’d be like to study there.
Of course, it also helps that the city is so beautiful and historic.
Did you have a particular career in mind when you chose your course?
No. I chose it purely because I was really interested in studying sociology, culture and how society works.
The pressure of knowing what to do as a career when you’re 17, as well as applying to university, is high (and unrealistic) so I applied with the mindset of being open to any opportunity.
Can you tell us about your experience of studying here?
Academically, my lecturers were great inspirations as they were passionate about their area of expertise and shared that passion with us students. I also ended up studying Italian as part of the ab initio course in my first year. Learning a new language unexpectedly turned out to be a very formative experience.
Other than that, my favourite thing to do with friends was go on long walks around the lake and down Bathwick Hill to watch the sunset. I also have fond memories of sweating out to dance fitness at the Sports Training Village and nights out on campus – with tea and toast after!
I loved exploring the city on the weekends leading to my discovery of cafes such as Same Same But Different. I also frequented Hondo Sushi with housemates and Noya’s Kitchen when I found myself missing good Asian food!
Describe your career journey since graduating.
I always thought I’d end up in the public sector or developing policy as a sociology graduate, but little did I know, marketing was my first job. I then pivoted into product design and UX design. Since then, I’ve worked in companies in fintech and healthtech.
Now as a freelance UX designer and content creator, every day varies hugely. I love being able to start my day going to the gym before answering a million emails, filming and editing.
How did your studies help you to develop, professionally and/or personally?
There were so many transferrable skills I took from studying at Bath. From the sociology course alone I gained critical thinking and research skills that were directly applicable to my job as a product designer.
Beyond that, spending time in Italy as an au pair in the summer of 2021, following the completion of my Italian course, was an eye-opening experience. I still return to Italy every year!
I also joined the Social Media Ambassador Programme which is where I learnt writing skills and where my love for creating content really began.
What advice would you give to prospective students thinking about studying your course at Bath?
Grab opportunities with both hands! University is where you get to experiment, meet people and try out things in an environment that’s safe for learning. Who knows, you might stumble upon a career path or make friends with people who might impact your life for a very long time.
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