I didn’t set out to become a product designer. I originally applied to DevMountain’s web development program after finding it on a local tech-school resource site. Coding felt like the next step, and design wasn’t even on my radar. But after reviewing my application, a counselor noticed my background in art, visuals, and creative thinking. She suggested I explore their brand-new product design track instead, and handed me a challenge to see if it was a good fit.
The Challenge
I was given a simple but open-ended challenge: create an app I would personally use and could realistically build into a business—entirely from scratch. No templates, no rules, just the idea and the execution.To tackle it, I defined the concept, identified the target users, and outlined the core problems the app needed to solve. This exploration led to Hive, a collaborative music platform for singers and songwriters to create, jam, and share their work online. The initial vision was ambitious, so I narrowed it down to the most valuable features for a first version.What I didn’t realize at the time was that I was creating an MVP. Learning that later in the program validated my instincts and confirmed that I was already thinking like a product designer.
My Approach
Since I didn’t know anything about UX yet, I approached the project in the most basic way possible: I thought about what I would want in an app, listed out the key features, and sketched simple screens that brought the idea to life. From there, I narrowed the concept to only what felt essential and built the first version of the idea I called Hive.
Key Highlights
Identified a real user problem by starting with my own creative needs as a singer/songwriter.
Scoped and prioritized features by narrowing a large concept into an achievable first version.
Created my first end-to-end app concept without prior UX experience—naming it, defining it, and designing the core screens.
Demonstrated natural product thinking by instinctively building an MVP before I knew what an MVP was.
Showed initiative and adaptability by switching tracks from development to design and completing the challenge that inspired my UX career.
The Results
The project earned me acceptance into the program, and I became one of just six students selected for DevMountain’s first-ever UX Design cohort. This challenge was the starting point of my design career and set the foundation for everything I’ve done since.
Let’s review your Product together, uncover growth opportunities, and plan improvements—whether you work with me or not.
