From self-taught to professional designer: Larissa's bootcamp success at neue fische

From Siberia to Germany, and from self-taught to certified: Larissa Neufeld’s ambitions brought her to the UX/UI Design bootcamp at neue fische. Read her story here.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Who are you and what is your professional background?

Hi, I'm Larissa. Two and a half years ago, I moved to Germany from cold Siberia as an ethnic German repatriate. I'm a UX/UI designer with almost five years of professional experience 🙂

Why did you decide to learn UX/UI?

I completed a degree in law and history in Russia, but quickly realized that it wasn't my calling. At the same time, I was working as a content manager in an online shop and looking for a job that not only paid well, but that I also really enjoyed. After extensive research, I discovered UX/UI design. A friend of mine was already a designer, and after hearing about it from him, I decided to give it a try. It was the right decision.

What made you decide to do a bootcamp?

As I mentioned, I already had professional experience. The problem was that I was completely self-taught in my profession. I tried to find a job, but it wasn't that easy. During job coaching, I realized that different rules apply in Germany; regardless of experience, it's important to have an official certificate or some kind of confirmation of your skills.

I also wanted to refresh and deepen my knowledge. And the routine of everyday agency life doesn't always allow enough room for further knowledge development.

And why did you choose neue fische?

It was recommended by my fantastic job coach. After that, I found lots of positive reviews during my research.

I was also particularly impressed by the onboarding process: I had to take tests right at the start, which showed me that neue fische attaches great importance to quality and professionalism.

How do you like the bootcamp so far?

I'm very happy that I came here. I was able to deepen my knowledge in the UX field (which was one of my main goals), met many great people, and my German has taken a huge leap forward because I actively use it every day, especially in a professional context.

This has made me feel much more confident - both in my work in German and in my skills in general. I've also been able to significantly improve my LinkedIn profile and resume.

Can you tell us something about your Capstone project?

We're right in the middle of the project, and I have to say, I'm really passionate about it. It's hard not to think about it even after work 🙂

My team partner and I chose a very relevant topic: developing an app that will make online psychotherapy more accessible in Germany. To do this, we conducted a comprehensive analysis, created surveys in three languages, and conducted interviews to really understand the needs and pain points of our target audience.

I find it particularly exciting that in this project we are not only making design decisions, but also dealing intensively with sensitive issues such as mental health, trust, and user-friendliness. I am very excited about the final result and look forward to presenting it 🙂

What are your expectations after graduation?

Of course, I hope to find my dream job as soon as possible. My goal is to work in a great team, solve important business challenges, and at the same time focus on user needs. I am highly motivated and ready to get started productively.

I know that through this bootcamp, I will not only receive a certificate, but also genuine confirmation of my knowledge; supported by the good reputation of neue fische, where quality really counts.

I find it particularly valuable that I learned to work according to German standards in the Capstone project, with a focus on user-centered design, teamwork, and the presentation of results in a professional context.

I am convinced that with the combination of my previous experience, the new impulses from the bootcamp, and my motivation, I can create real added value.