Journey into the UX world that resulted in business ownership

Interview with Maryna Mottet

This is the second in a series of articles showcasing CAWEB alumni, their path to Master’s Program, and their careers after graduation.

Tell us a little about yourself

I currently live in Switzerland with my husband and our cat Misha. I completed my first master’s degree in Ukraine at Kharkiv University of Humanities ‘People’s Ukrainian Academy’ in Business Administration.

When I began thinking about changing my career path, my husband who’s a developer, suggested that I should consider looking into the User Experience (UX) because I have always been good at psychology and understanding human behaviors. 

I started by attending bootcamps and webinars. They were valuable but too short to truly deep dive into the topics. I was enjoying learning about research but growing frustrated with the gaps in my understanding of UX design and accessibility. It led me to think that I need to commit a full year to complete a UX-focused Master’s Degree.  

Making the decision was easy but finding one was more challenging than I thought. I started looking locally but most Swiss programs are offered in French or German while my strongest language is English. I found a UX-focused program in the UK but it wasn’t fully remote and would require that I travel for exams which was not an option for me. Luckily, I found the Master’s program at the University of Strasbourg that was taught in English, fully remote, online and affordable.

Tell us about your time at Master’s CAWEB Program

I decided to enroll in a 1-year program, and it was very intense. During that year I was able to volunteer and work occasional small jobs, but my priority was to learn as much as possible and truly take advantage of the materials, videos, research papers, studies and examples our instructors shared with us. 

The study process was thoughtfully structured, allowing to immediately apply the learnings through hands-on exercises and real-world projects. We worked in groups with students from all over the world which allowed us to learn from each other’s experiences and compare how user experiences vary in different countries.

The flexibility of the program was a major advantage – if you ever miss a class, recorded sessions are available, making it easy to stay on track.

In addition, this program allowed me not only to deepen my UX expertise but also to gain immersive experience in project management, software engineering, and digital marketing.

Tell us about your professional accomplishments after graduation

My initial plan was to simply find a job where I can apply my newly gained knowledge and contribute to the success of my employer. But I entered a very challenging job market in Switzerland in 2025. After months of applying, I realized something: instead of waiting for the right opportunity, I could create one. That’s how my husband and I started Blysko. It is a collaboration between a UX designer and a developer, with one clear goal: improving the booking experience for independent beauty specialists by customizing their websites and connecting them with clients.

We are using the tools and techniques I learned in the Master’s CAWEB program to solve real life pain points for solo professionals who are easily intimidated by large CRM systems and desperately need simple, human, and approachable solutions. I am applying target audience analysis, journey mapping, jobs-to-be-done and FIGMA design skills to build solutions for our clients. It feels empowering to be in charge of your own destiny! 

What do you think about the future of UX?

Our instructors in the program were hands-on professionals that brought their everyday experiences into the classroom and translated them into valuable lessons for us. I heard about examples of actual digital design failures, true marketing flops, accessibility challenges and how they tie to requirements like the European Accessibility Act (EAA). When you think about daily living, that’s User Experience. We need more professionals that understand what makes a flawless, effortless, enjoyable experience. We need many more well educated User Experience Specialists.

Any final thoughts for our CAWEB Blog readers?

If I were able to turn back the clock and find myself again at the point of deciding if I should enroll in the Master’s CAWEB program, I would do it all over again. It was not an easy year, but I learned a lot and I feel truly prepared to find any UX challenge placed before me.

To learn more about other Master’s CAWEB alumni, visit our Testimonials page.