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If you'd told me beforehand that I could achieve so much so quickly here, I wouldn't have believed you. Yet in five months, I grew from a student with fairly limited knowledge to a versatile UX Designer. My designs were used for an important pitch with a big U.S. client. I was able to start a permanent job immediately after graduation. For my first real assignment, I challenged the client based on my own research. My suggestions may soon help tens of thousands of starting athletes have a better athletic experience. I also just landed an exciting training course, entirely paid by Move. With this I will specialize as a Motion Designer. So you can safely speak of a very successful internship!
Mobile-first thinking and design is a challenge that really inspires me.Â
While studying Communication Multimedia Design (CMD), I wasn't sure about my specialization for a long time. I was enrolled for Development the entire summer, but on the last day before the new school year, I chose UX Design. Purely by feeling. Whenever I had to choose an assignment, I always went for mobile-first design. I find it a real challenge to show exactly the right information in the limited space of a mobile screen. To immerse myself in the needs of the user, and dose the information in my design using those insights.
During the first conversation with Move, I immediately knew that I made a good choice.
I googled a lot to find an attractive internship position. Move appealed because of the large number of interesting clients on the website. Clients with widely used apps. I like the idea that my work has a real impact. A few days after I sent my e-mail, I received an enthusiastic response and an invitation for an interview. That interview immediately felt very good. I uploaded some assignments from my training on a website. My later internship supervisor had taken a close look at those. She asked a lot of interesting questions about them. This immediately led to a very lively and interesting conversation. I knew right away that I made a good choice.Â
'If you'd told me beforehand that I could accomplish so much here so quickly, I wouldn't have believed you.'
My internship was challenging and inspiring from day one. Exactly what I had hoped for.Â
On my first internship day, I was particularly impressed. The large, modern office with an amazing view of the Amsterdam harbor. And the vibrant, international atmosphere you immediately feel when you step inside. Lots of interesting people from many different countries. After a short familiarisation period I could get straight down to work. After a month I received a request from sales to make a number of mock-up screens. These had to be included in a pitch to a large American client. The briefing was: 'Make the coolest screens you can make'. For the rest I had a free hand. It's great that more experienced colleagues here are always ready with advice and feedback. Two weeks later a delegation went to America, with my designs in the folder. See, that gives you something to talk about when friends and family ask how your internship is going.Â
I learned much more in those five months than I did during my entire studies.Â
Move has many big clients. As a result, the bar is high. For example, we have a very detailed design process that you always have to follow closely. That's tough in the beginning. But it also gives you a lot of grip and confidence once you get used to it. Besides a lot of new knowledge and insights about UX Design, I also learned many other things. For example, the importance of good communication. I worked on an app where the client kept coming up with new ideas and specifications. After each new design, it had to be changed again. I now know that these things are part of the job. And that it's important to keep asking carefully what the intention is. To then be able to communicate precisely what you are going to do.Â
The opportunity to do my graduation assignment as a working student was a perfect conclusion.Â
Move brought that opportunity to my attention. I received a nice stipend and could use all available knowledge and resources. Of course, I then had to choose a relevant topic. That wasn't a problem. I chose to design a seamless payment capability in a retail environment. In other words, shopping in a supermarket and paying automatically without ever seeing a cash register. There's a lot involved in that. For example, you don't want minors buying alcohol with this. To prevent that, I developed a Know Your Customer flow. It allows the app user to verify their identity in a few simple steps. This smart payment solution is finished, and in the future, it could end up in the app of a large supermarket.Â
Thanks to my successful internship, I now work full-time as a UX Designer at Move.Â
During my internship, I was offered a permanent job. I grabbed the opportunity with both hands. I immediately received an interesting assignment for a large chain of gyms. Novice athletes often quit quickly. The app should help prevent that. The client already had an idea for it. After my own research, I challenged that idea. I developed an alternative myself and presented it to the client. As a result, soon my idea may be helping thousands of novice athletes have a better sports experience. That's a very satisfying feeling.Â
Move continuously motivates me to further develop myself as a digital professional.Â
Challenging a client is something that simply would not have occurred to me six months ago. It says a lot about my grown self-confidence and my professional development. Since the first day of my internship, Move has been stimulating me to develop myself further. You are thrown into the deep end, but you always get the help that keeps you from going under. Move also actively encourages your development. For example, I now get to do a high-end course in Motion Design right away. A great opportunity to further develop myself as a digital professional. That also says a lot about Move: they motivate and support you in everything you do.
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