Transition from QA to UI/UX Design with Cognitive Science Degree

You possess a Bachelor's in Cognitive Science with a specialization in Design and Interaction from UCSD, which is an excellent foundation for UI/UX roles. Your current QA experience, while not direct design, provides valuable insights into user flows, product quality, and identifying pain points – all relevant to user-centered design. It's definitely not too late to transition. Leverage your academic background in human cognition and interaction with your practical understanding of software quality from QA. Focus on building a strong portfolio to showcase your design skills and thinking.