My Journey in Design

Hi, I’m Shariful Islam (Shari). a UI/UX designer who has spent more than a decade creating digital products that combine usability with aesthetics. My story isn’t just about design tools or workflows. it’s about curiosity, growth, and the passion for turning ideas into experiences that feel natural and human.

My journey began long before I knew the term UX design. I was always curious about how things worked from sketching small diagrams to experimenting with early computer programs. I didn’t realize it then, but those playful moments were the seeds of design thinking: observing, imagining, and improving.

When I got my first computer, I was already experimenting with colors, shapes, and layouts in whatever software I could find. I was drawn to how digital interfaces guided people and frustrated when they didn’t. That frustration made me want to fix things.

I formally studied design principles, but much of my learning came from self-teaching and curiosity. I explored Photoshop, Illustrator, and later moved to Sketch and Figma as the industry evolved. I joined online communities, shared work, and learned from others.

I took on my first freelance client. It wasn’t perfect but it taught me the importance of listening to users, asking the right questions, and simplifying ideas.

I worked on my first true UX project: redesigning a small startup’s website. I researched competitors, ran informal user tests, and designed a solution that increased engagement. That was the moment I realized UX wasn’t just about making things look nice. it was about solving problems.