The Minimalist Career Changer - How to Build Case Studies, Nail Interviews, and Land Your First Product Design Job in Minimum Time

Literary Titan Gold Book Award Recipient

#1 Amazon Best Seller in Job Markets & Advice 

“...a no-nonsense, plain-speaking how-to book that delivers exactly what it promises...”
- Readers' Favorite ★★★★★

The Minimalist Career Changer is an actionable guide to help aspiring career changers break into product design in less time, with practical tips, frameworks, roadmaps, and resources.

What’s Covered in the Book

✅ My personal stories

✅ 5 mindsets to achieve more with less

✅ Frameworks to choose the right projects

✅ Tips on interviews, portfolios, and personal branding

✅ Step-by-step guides to building compelling case studies

✅ A roadmap to break into product design in 5 months or less

✅ My favorite resources for each topic

And much more…

Kind Words

“Definitely give it a read if you are a student and starting out in UX design. It's about how you can approach your job search by being strategic and making the right choices. I wished I had read this in the beginning. Xinran has been active in the industry for many years now, and it is amazing that he compiled all his knowledge in this book. I would also also suggest reaching out to him for chat. He is amazing to talk to!” - Sachin

“It is so mind opening after reading this book! This is the first book I’ve seen on the topic of UX career change. The author introduced some eye-opening ideas on how to maximize the limited time to efficiently and effectively break into the field. Great refreshing read. It is very recommended for people think of making some changes but not yet sure what to do~” - Leo

“A comprehensive guide for people who are interested in switching careers to UX. Full of insights and tips. The additional resources as the end of each chapter is a gold mine.” - Wenzhe

“This book was very helpful for me as I explored career paths outside traditional architecture. It is refreshingly practical and straightforward, offering a clear roadmap through changing careers while offering insights into how our training as architects already gives us the tools to succeed in many other fields.” - Ariel

“As someone who made the switch from landscape design to product design last year, I wish I had come across this book sooner. When I was searching for my first product design job, I spent a lot of time building my portfolio website and felt overwhelmed with preparing for portfolio presentations, whiteboard challenges, and behavioral questions. This book covers all these aspects and more, offering a wealth of valuable insights on how to prepare for them effectively.” - Yuan

“This book is a game-changer, offering a refreshing perspective on career transitions that emphasizes simplicity and purpose. From the moment I started reading, I was impressed by the author's clear and concise writing style. Presented with practical advice and actionable steps that are easy to follow, making the daunting task of career change seem less intimidating.” - Vijay

I wish I could read this book 4 years ago when I was about to make the decision of career transition. As someone who already completed the career transition, this book resonate with me a lot. This book isn't just like a guide for a career to the product designer role, but also like a friend who listen to you, encourage you and help you along the way.” - Shunyao

Chapters

• Introduction
• CHAPTER 1 - The Minimalist Mindset
• CHAPTER 2 - The Minimalist Kickoff
• CHAPTER 3 - The Minimalist Project
• CHAPTER 4 - The Minimalist Case Study
• CHAPTER 5 - The Minimalist Portfolio
• CHAPTER 6 - The Minimalist Application
• CHAPTER 7 - The Minimalist Interview
• CHAPTER 8 - The Minimalist Roadmap
• Conclusion

A Little About Me

My name is Xinran Ma, a product designer, mentor, and speaker. I was a mid-career architect, trying hard to break into product design with a busy full-time job and a newborn, with only a maximum of 15 hours a week to spend on my career change. After countless trials and errors and after interviewing with all kinds of companies, I finally made it. 

Since 2020, I have carved out time almost every week to talk with product designers and career changers. I am honored to have received ADPList Top 1% Mentors in Design five times and have 40+ articles curated by UX Collective. My mission is to help you maximize your limited time to land your dream job in product design as soon as possible.

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

If you're unhappy with your purchase (for any reason), you'll get your money back. Simply ask for a refund within 30 days of buying it, and I'll get that processed for you. No questions asked.

*The book's Paperback version is available on Amazon.