Meet User Experience Design lecturer Mazy Burns

With a career that spans household names like IPC Media, Dennis Publishing and NatWest, Mazy Burns brings a wealth of experience to the MA User Experience Design (Online) course. Her journey began with a passion for making digital experiences more intuitive — a passion that still drives her work today.

Now running her own business alongside teaching at Falmouth, Mazy shares what’s changed in the world of UX, why inclusive design matters, and how she helps students and professionals alike put users at the heart of their work.

When did you first become aware of UX design, and what makes you passionate about it now?

I first became aware of UX design (or user-centred design, as it was known then) in 2004, while studying for my MA in Interactive Media. I realised that no matter how beautiful a digital product looks, or how strong the content is, it’s not good design if people struggle to use it.

That fundamental truth still drives my passion for UX design. There's real satisfaction in making people’s lives just a little bit easier. What’s changed (and will continue to change) is the technology we use, the interfaces we design and the context in which they’re used. That’s what keeps UX exciting.

You've gained a significant amount of experience from major organisations such as IPC Media, Dennis Publishing and NatWest — what are your career highlights?

After completing my MA, I joined IPC Media, a magazine publishing company with around 80 titles including Marie Claire, NME and Country Life. I worked in teams tasked with bringing print into the digital world. It seems obvious now, but at the time it was a brand-new challenge.

Later, at Dennis Publishing, I had the opportunity to build their first UX team and define UX processes across several large projects, which was a real career high.

Most recently, I’ve launched my own business, Evolve UX, providing UX consultancy and training. I particularly enjoy the teaching side: creating educational content, running workshops and giving lectures.

You've been a trainer and lecturer throughout your career. What do you enjoy about sharing your skills with others?

I know from experience that education can change lives. It certainly changed mine. So, I'm grateful that my work gives me the chance to help others transform their lives too. It’s incredibly rewarding to see former students thrive in their careers and do interesting, meaningful work.

How has UX design changed throughout your career? Where do you think it will be in ten years’ time?

Early on, the biggest challenge was getting businesses to adopt UX principles. Many didn’t even acknowledge that usability was an issue. These days, UX is widely recognised, and some companies have large research and design teams.

That said, I often recommend early-career UX designers consider working for smaller organisations. You can have more impact there, whereas large companies can end up overly focused on micro-optimisations. In ten years, UX will likely go beyond screens: think voice, gesture-based tech, and augmented reality. That opens up exciting possibilities. UX will also be crucial in tackling some of the major issues currently facing us as a society: ethical AI, online safety for children, and designing for sustainability. These issues will only become more important.

You're particularly passionate about inclusive design. Can you tell us how your personal experience shaped this?

Breaking my shoulder and the long recovery that followed, was a major setback, especially as I’m self-employed with no sick pay. But it gave me new insight into accessibility. I had to rely on speech-to-text tools and manage devices one-handed. I’d encourage every designer to spend a day with one arm tied behind their back, it’s a powerful way to build empathy and think differently about inclusive design.

What are common UX pitfalls that brands fall into, and how does your work address them?

Often, departments are focused on their own KPIs, which can lead to a fragmented user experience. While we absolutely need skilled UX specialists, UX itself shouldn't be siloed. Everyone from designers and developers to marketers and senior leaders needs a shared understanding of UX. The user should be the common thread tying those teams together. That’s a key part of what I cover in client training.

External links

https://www.evolveux.co.uk/