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Today’s story centers on Fabio Novelli, and his Path into UX. He works as a UX/UI and motion designer who started out making 3D animations for industrial machines—but ended in the automotive industry. If you like to understand how to blend your unique background into a strong UX portfolio, stay with us. By the end, you’ll have a clear, step-by-step game plan to bring fresh energy into your own projects.
From Industrial 3D to Automotive UX
Fabio’s journey begins in the industrial sector, where he created detailed 3D animations for machinery. This might sound like a world away from UX, but here’s the quick win: skills like visualization and storytelling can transfer into just about any design field.
Fabio made a bold move and switched gears—literally—to join an Italian company focused on automotive Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI). This role merged his passion for design with an industry that demands top-notch user experiences. If you’ve ever hopped on a motorcycle and peeked at the instrument cluster, you know how crucial it is that everything looks sharp and feels intuitive. No one wants to spend their morning commute fiddling with confusing controls or dull layouts.
Solid Foundations: Fabio’s Graphic Design Background
Before he dove into the automotive world, Fabio earned a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from the Academy of Fine Arts in Italy. That might sound formal, but it gave him the classic design principles he relies on every day—balance, composition, and a knack for capturing attention with clean visuals.
From here, Fabio discovered that these skills translate perfectly into UX/UI tasks. Whether you’re crafting a logo or mapping an entire user flow, clarity is everything. If you’re building your own skill set, remember that a strong foundation in traditional design often leads to smoother transitions when you tackle interactive projects later on.
Breaking Down Fabio’s Day-to-Day
Fabio’s current role mixes creativity with strategic thinking. About 70% of his work focuses on product and motion design:
- Analysis & Ideation: He studies user needs and sketches out concepts.
- Design Implementation: He turns wireframes into polished user interfaces.
- Micro-Animations: He adds subtle transitions, so each screen feels alive and user-friendly.
The remaining 30% is all about branding. That includes logo creation, corporate identity, and brand strategy. This is looking really good for those of you who enjoy variety—branching out can sharpen your design sense and help you pivot when you need a fresh challenge.
Powerful Tools for Streamlined Work
Now we get to the fun stuff: the digital tools that make Fabio’s process run like clockwork. Here’s his short list of must-haves:
- Figma
- Prototypes? Check.
- Design presentations? Check.
- Micro-animations? Check.
- It’s a one-stop shop that saves time and keeps everything in one place.
- Notion
- For project management and team communication, Fabio relies on its clean, minimalist setup.
- It’s especially helpful when you want a quick overview of tasks and deadlines.
- Midjourney + ChatGPT
- Midjourney helps add next-level effects to After Effects and Premiere Pro videos.
- ChatGPT comes in handy for crafting precise prompts that spark creative visuals.
By using AI tools, Fabio shows that staying curious about new tech can lead to quick wins in efficiency and design impact.
A Quick Case Study: Motorcycle Instrument Cluster
One of Fabio’s standout wins involved developing the entire HMI infrastructure for a motorcycle’s instrument cluster, from initial research to final hand-off. He managed every phase, which allowed him to:
- Conduct usability tests using interactive prototypes.
- Implement UI elements that kept riders’ eyes on the road.
- Present the entire project to the client in one smooth session.
The result? A sleek, intuitive interface that his client loved, plus a faster approval cycle since all the design details were ready to review in a single file.
Community Matters: Berlin Design Events
Fabio doesn’t just work behind the scenes; he also founded Berlin Design Events, a community where designers meet up, trade insights, and discover new design approaches. It’s a powerful way to stay motivated—seeing how other designers solve problems can spark your own lightbulb moments. If you’re feeling stuck or just craving some fresh perspectives, joining a local design group or starting your own could be a quick win.
Path into UX: Embrace the Flexibility
Here’s a lesson Fabio lives by: stick to a plan, but don’t panic when real projects skip steps or shuffle the order. You might test first, then prototype, or even hop between branding and UX tasks in a single day. As long as you maintain focus on your end goal—an effective, user-centered design—you’ll be just fine.
Fabio likes to quote J.R.R. Tolkien: “Not all those who wander are lost.” In the UX world, a little wandering can help you discover new tools, industries, or approaches you never knew existed. That’s often how surprising skills (like 3D animation!) become your secret advantage.
Ready to Take Action?
Try this now:
- Audit your skills. See how unexpected experiences might blend into your UX journey.
- Attend a local design event or start your own group. You’ll grow faster when you share ideas.
- Stay flexible. If your design process doesn’t follow a perfect checklist, don’t worry—just keep your eyes on user needs and keep iterating.
From here, you’ll be well on your way to building a portfolio that shows your range—and maybe discovering a passion you didn’t see coming. As Fabio’s story reminds us, sometimes your path to a fulfilling UX career is hidden right in your current skill set. So keep exploring, stay adaptable, and let curiosity guide you toward your next big break.
