There are moments in life when it feels as though the ground has quietly shifted beneath your feet. For me, that moment came after nearly five years in a role that had slowly become unsustainable. The trust had eroded, the environment no longer felt supportive, and each new workday grew heavier than the last. In the end, I made the hardest but healthiest choice I could – I resigned.

It was both liberating and terrifying. I had no clear plan. I live in a developing country where UX and Service Design roles are few and far between, despite the urgent need for better digital experiences across public and private services. For the first time in a long time, I was at a crossroads and I didn’t know which path to take.

A Manna Moment

In that wilderness, I stumbled upon a course from the Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF): “How to Become a Freelance Designer.” It felt like manna from heaven.

As a Christian, I couldn’t help but think of the Israelites in the desert hungry, uncertain, and suddenly supplied with what they most needed.

Figure 1: How to become a Freelance Designer Course Screen Dump

The course landed at exactly the right time. It gave me language, structure, and above all, hope. Much like the story of Moses leading the Israelites to the Red Sea where the waters didn’t part until they stepped in, I realized I, too, had to take a step forward in faith.

The course prepared me to do exactly that. I registered a company, QoDesign Dynamics, drafted a business plan, and began creating the governance and marketing documents I would need. The leap into consulting, something I had never truly considered, suddenly became possible.

Figure 2: QoDesign Dynamics home page screen dump

Building a Foundation with IxDF

The freelance course was just the beginning. I knew that if I was to build QoDesign Dynamics, a consultancy that could stand shoulder to shoulder with established firms, I needed more than passion, I needed solid capabilities. IxDF became my training ground.

I dove into courses like:

• Service Design: How to Design Integrated Service Experiences

• Conducting Usability Testing

• User Research Methods (in progress)

• UX Management: Strategy and Tactics (in progress)

I have also since completed the TOGAF Enterprise Architecture Foundation and Practitioner certifications as well the Project Management Professional – More on these later…..

Each course sharpened my skills and expanded my service offerings. They helped me see consulting not as a fallback option but as a strategic career pivot one where I could bring my 10+ years of experience in UX, Service Design, Project Management and Enterprise Architecture into sharper focus.

Figure 3: How to design Integrated Service Experiences Course Screen dump

From Learning to Doing

The impact of IxDF training was immediate and practical. I used the courses to:

• Draft and register QoDesign Dynamics.

• Develop strategies and roadmaps.

• Develop a business plan, marketing plan, and elevator pitch.

• Establish company OKRs (objectives and key results).

• Develop additional capabilities and skills 

• Create service offerings and develop corresponding work delivery processes.

With each step, my confidence grew. What started as a period of uncertainty became a season of building.

Early Outcomes

The certifications and lessons from IxDF have already opened doors. For example:

• Consultancy Applications: My team and I submitted a proposal to revamp Uganda’s national tax administration system. While we have not yet been awarded the contract, the IxDF certifications helped us clear compliance checks and demonstrate UX capability.

• Corporate Opportunities: The credentials strengthened my applications to major organizations, including the Uganda Revenue Authority and the African Development Bank.

• Mentorship: Through IxDF connections, I’ve gained access to global UX and Service Design mentors such as Frank Spillers whose insights are shaping my practice.

Most importantly, the courses gave me confidence, the kind that comes from preparation. As Brian Tracy famously said, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” IxDF helped me plan, and in doing so, helped me believe again in the possibilities of my career.

Lessons That have Stayed with Me

Of all the lessons, a few have stayed etched in my mind:

• Preparation is key. Success doesn’t just happen; it’s designed.

• Set clear goals and reach them. Without direction, effort gets wasted.

• Identify and eat your frogs. Focus on the 20% of tasks that deliver 80% of your results.

These aren’t just course notes, they’ve become guiding principles for how I run my consultancy and my life.

Looking Ahead

As I write this, I’m finalizing the ‘QoDesign Dynamics’ website and preparing to launch our go-to-market strategy in Q4 2025. It’s both daunting and exciting, but I no longer feel lost. Instead, I feel equipped.

IxDF gave me more than skills. It gave me a new story, one where I’m not simply chasing job openings that don’t exist in my market but creating opportunities that can transform how organizations in Africa design for their people.

If you’re reading this and feel stuck, perhaps you’re unhappy in your role, or unsure about your future, my advice is simple: “don’t wait for the waters to part. Step in”.

For me, IxDF was the stick in my hand, the resource I needed to move forward. It helped me pivot, rebuild, and relaunch. Today, I am not just a UX/Service Design professional; I am a consultant, a founder. I have recently also certified as a Project Management Professional as well as a TOGAF Enterprise Architect and someone excited about shaping the future of digital transformation in Africa.

And to think, it all began with one course, at just the right time.

See IxDF Courses &  Masterclass Certificate Visuals below