Tanisha Banik

Design Management MA

Tanisha came to BCU looking to unlock new career opportunities with a master's degree. After thriving on the course, Tanisha threw herself into her chosen industry and is now a Product Designer at Wood Mackenzie. 

“I always wanted to pursue a master’s in the design industry. I knew that the MA Design Management course at BCU would help me grow, upskill, and move closer to my career goals.

I was working full-time when I decided to pursue my master’s, but then the pandemic happened. Even after applying, I faced several challenges, including visa delays, finances, and booking a flight to the UK during Covid-19 lockdown. But the international student support team helped me through this, and they were always quick to respond to my queries.

During my master’s, I was recognised for outstanding academic performance, and my final thesis was even published. I was also nominated class representative and later became the School Rep for the Faculty of Arts, Design & Media. Alongside that, I worked as the student consultant for CEDIA, hosting monthly Culture Café sessions for BCU students.

BCU taught me to network with people and manage larger projects. I also learned to respect and celebrate diversity and be empathetic towards others. My coursework also gave me the knowledge and experience to excel in my field. My final thesis was published in the December 2022 issue of the Design Management Institute (DMI) Journal.

After graduation, I had to work hard to get my first job. I got the opportunity to work as an UX Research Intern at Lagom Strategy during my studies, which helped me gain work experience. As an international student, getting your first job is hard, but my mentors and the Careers+ team helped me prepare a good CV and reviewed my portfolio.

But I chose not to take rejections personally. I applied to about 200 companies but finally got a job. I had to be patient and of course remember that good things take time.

Currently, I’m a Product Designer at Wood Mackenzie, a global research and consultancy group, in their Edinburgh office. I joined in October 2022, just after graduating from BCU, and I have been with the company since.

In my role, I study user behaviour and design improvements for Lens, our integrated, AI-powered data analytics platform. Lens supports organisations in the natural resources sector by helping them model, value, and analyse assets across the full energy value chain.

A typical workday is a mix of meetings and focused individual work. On meeting-heavy days, I spend most of my time engaging with users. This includes external clients and internal stakeholders from different departments who share feedback on our designs or take part in co-design workshops.

On quieter days, I focus on analysing research findings and shaping clear, robust recommendations for the design team to prototype and test. My role is primarily remote, but the team meets in person each quarter to plan ahead. Those sessions are usually a highlight and often end with a team dinner.

Since graduating, I have become more confident and feel much calmer too. My mentors at BCU prepared me well to make better decisions and work hard to achieve success in life, for which I’m incredibly grateful.

I’m grateful to work alongside a team of 16+ designers in a design-mature environment, where UX-focused leadership is visible and knowledge is shared across the organisation. Knowing that my work contributes to positive impact, even in small ways, motivates me to improve every day.

Alongside my core role, I serve as a Chair Member for our Inclusive Diversity and Belonging initiative, supporting Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion across the organisation.

As a new mother to a sweet little girl, my priorities have naturally shifted. I want to build a life and career that both my little girl and I can be proud of. Before, I was working for myself. Now, I’m working for us. I want her to grow up knowing the sky isn’t our limit, only her imagination is.

I have always wanted to be an author. I recently submitted my short story to a London magazine, hoping to have it published soon. I’m also working on a fiction novel that I started before pregnancy, and I’m hoping to finish it this year.

I learned early not to let others dictate what I could or could not do. I would offer you the same advice: don’t let anyone decide your worth or your limits, including you. Take the leap, surprise yourself, and make yourself proud first.

‘I AM BCU’ means I am brave, I am confident, and I am united!”