02/14/2026
When I was laid off from my job in April 2022, it was tough. But what I faced afterwards was even tougher.
After eight years as a UI/UX designer for Kaiser Permanente, I faced the harsh reality that despite my decades of experience, my services weren’t valuable anymore. And maybe (gulp) I had acquired too much experience.
I consulted with many people in my field and even more outside it. But nothing was adding up. I even said, “Give it to me straight. I need to hear what I’m missing here.” And only one person told me what I needed to hear. And it wasn’t good.
The whole industry (graphic design, UI design, UX design, branding) had passed me by, and what had once been my most valuable assets were no longer going to cut it. I had become an “old designer.” Ouch.
Like so many times before, I could have quit and done something else. What people don’t know is that there are so many ebbs and flows in a design career. From bad bosses, bad clients, bad jobs, and unsupportive people, there are many things that make you want to quit. I actually believed this was just another one and that I would recover. But what I did next was unconventional, but it was true to my ‘Do It Yourself’ mentality.
You see, I never got a college education. I didn’t have the resources, support, or finances to make it happen. I never let it hold me back, and luckily, I was talented enough to learn quickly on my own and build my own multi-decade career. But after the layoff, I started teaching at Chapman University, and later Mesa Community College, and found my true calling. Inspiring the next generation of designers.
My goal is to teach at a higher level and even create my own learning platform. Through many sacrifices and thanks to my girlfriend’s encouragement and guidance, I have finally earned my Bachelor of Science Degree in User Experience Design from Western Governors University. If nothing else, I achieved something that few would even attempt after all these years.
I hope this inspires you to believe in yourself and that, with grit, determination, humility, and a punk rock attitude, you can pick yourself up and get another shot at making a difference.
