Imagine this: You're scrolling through LinkedIn and see one of your connections announce they're starting their dream role. Keep scrolling, and someone else is sharing that their next project is a collaboration with Figma. You might be thinking, "Wow, these people are so lucky! How do I become like that?"
I'm Gage, a freelance designer who turned side projects into paid work. This idea draws from Cate Hall's concept of increasing your surface area for luck — something Michelle and I presented at UXHI Conference 2025. I want to share what I've learned about creating your own luck, including stories from Michelle, a local UX designer who found her first role through community.
The Pattern Behind "Luck"
As designers in Hawaiʻi, I've talked to many UX professionals and realized something: What they have in common isn't luck: they put themselves out there. They try new things and talk to different people. They don't just wait for an opportunity — they create conditions where luck is more likely to show up.
Think of it like growing a garden. Growth comes from nurturing your environment, giving your "seeds" more exposure to sunlight, water, and nutrients. The more you open yourself up to those conditions, the more room you create for new opportunities to take root.
What "Surface Area" Actually Means
Increasing your surface area means expanding the exposure created by visible work and connections that make opportunities more likely.
Why does this matter? It's about the rate of experimentation, the classic "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Success isn't about your hit rate. It's about how many shots you take in the first place.
Breaking into UX was Hard
Breaking into UX was challenging for both of us. Before graduating, I applied for UX roles and made it to the final interview for a dream job in Hawaiʻi.
Then came the rejection email.
And that wasn't the only one. I also applied for a UX design role for the Servco summer internship. The person who got that internship? Michelle.
Michelle faced similar struggles. Despite applying to all the available positions in Hawaiʻi, she didn't have a full-time role lined up at graduation while her classmates announced offers from Google and Microsoft.
We both had moments where breaking into UX felt impossible. It seemed like everyone else had some kind of advantage: better connections, more experience, or just... more luck.
But we didn't give up. Luckily, a nonprofit known as Piʻikū was accepting applications for their next UX design internship. This became a turning point for both of us. We not only gained valuable, real-world experience working with local startups, but learned how fulfilling it is to be involved with the design community here on the island.
Creating My Own Luck
Piʻikū ended in September 2024, but I tried to keep my momentum going by design sharing, doing side projects, and continuing to engage with the community. Michelle and I created ECPOC, our own design club where we meet monthly to learn new tools, share design findings, and nerd out about what we've been enjoying.
Now, this sounds great, but it wasn't as seamless as it sounds. As you heard, I struggled breaking into UX and finding my path. But what I realized through experiences like Piʻikū and ECPOC is that you can influence your own luck, not by controlling every outcome, but by approaching opportunities and relationships with intention.
4 Ways I've Increased My Surface Area
I want to emphasize: it's not about trying to reach an ultimate end goal or check things off a list. It's more of a mindset that stays with you, a way of approaching opportunities, relationships, and experiences over the course of many years or even your entire life.
At first, it may feel forced or unnatural. But the more you engage with what's around you, the more it starts to come naturally, and the more doors will open.
Here are some ways I've increased my surface area that helped me break into UX and continue forward.
1. Show Up Like a Pro 🗣️
Assume you're always auditioning for a bigger role.
Every interaction is an opportunity to show your skills and character. Treat small tasks like they could lead to something bigger.
I did the Piʻikū Co. merch not thinking anything would come of it, but gave it my all and treated it like a regular client. This didn't turn into paid work immediately, but it built the foundation for working with the Piʻikū core team and later led to collaboration on design projects.
2. Nerd Out 🤓
Let people know what you can't stop thinking about.
Share what genuinely excites you: a design problem you're solving, a tool you're learning, or a project you're building. When you share authentically, you make it easier for the right people and opportunities to find you.
It's under-appreciated how powerful it is to put your thoughts on the internet. After spending a while posting achievements and milestones on LinkedIn, I wanted to showcase the side projects I'd started working on. I started writing update posts sharing that my idea was very much a work in progress but I was open to anyone who wanted to offer help or advice. And I got some! People reached out with connections, technical guidance, and encouragement.
3. Get Nosy 👃
Make genuine connections.
You've definitely heard this advice before: "Networking is key." But there's much more to this than just networking to network.
Michelle's story illustrates this perfectly. During her Servco internship, she wanted to make real friends, not just professional contacts. She met Brandon, a dev intern, and kept inviting him to hang out. After graduation, Brandon invited her to a networking event where she connected with someone who referred her to her first full-time UX role. Her genuine desire for friendship led directly to her first job.
4. Give Back 💖
Build a network of people who value loyalty and would help each other.
Build this network by giving back: helping people without expecting anything in return. This could mean connecting two people, sharing a useful resource, or just being flexible with someone's schedule.
Another way to give back is by hosting events. People love the idea of community building and connection, so why not become a key player in building that scene? Just start somewhere.
Some tips:
- Start small: Just invite a couple of friends or connections to a craft day or something casual. Michelle even uses playing Minecraft online as a way to see her friends every week.
- Pair up with a local organization or group and help them if you can. Hub Coworking is always hosting events.
Questions to Guide You
Since I can't give you a step-by-step guide, here are some questions to help you think about how these examples might fit into your life:
Show up like a Pro: What small, daily ritual would a top performer in your field never skip?
Nerd Out: Are you doing work you're proud of, and how are you making that visible? If you're not doing work you're proud of, how can you start?
Get Nosy: What's one question you'll ask an industry peer this week that you can't ask ChatGPT?
Give Back: Is there anyone in your network you can go out of your way to help?
Moving Forward
I can't tell you exactly where doing these things will take you, but I hope you'll feel inspired to take small, intentional steps to put yourself out there and think about how you can start increasing your own surface area for luck.