From game design to full-stack developer: Maria's transition to the technical side

Maria Tiagunova worked in game development as a Level Designer and 3D Level Artist, with a degree in Linguistics and Cross-Cultural Communication, before joining Lighthouse Labs. Drawn to the technical aspects of creating interactive experiences, she enrolled in the Lighthouse Labs Web Development Flex Program in 2023. This led to a back-end development internship and a Full-Stack Developer role at a startup where she works with Next.js and Express.js, enjoying the daily problem-solving challenges.

What were you up to before Lighthouse Labs?

Before joining Lighthouse Labs, I had experience in game development (level design & 3D level art) with a degree in Linguistics and Cross-Cultural Communication.

What led you to want to take a Web Development Flex Program, and why did you choose Lighthouse Labs?

While I enjoyed the creative aspects of game development as a Level Designer and 3D Level Artist, I was drawn to the technical side of building interactive experiences. Web development offered a compelling path to combine my creative problem-solving skills with the challenge of coding and building functional applications.

Lighthouse Labs' focus on practical, hands-on projects and its strong career support network were key factors in my decision to choose the program.

Tell us about your experience with the Web Development Flex Program.

During Lighthouse Labs’ 30-week part-time Web Development Flex Program, I balanced learning with commitments while gaining hands-on experience through projects.

Teamwork on midterms and finals honed communication and collaboration skills, making learning more engaging. JavaScript frameworks initially challenged me, but with supportive instructors and dedicated practice, I overcame them. The program empowered me with both technical skills and essential soft skills crucial for web development success.

How did the Web Development Flex Program impact your career?

Lighthouse Labs launched my career in web development! The program's strong foundation skills, and teamwork from projects, helped me land a back-end development internship. Shortly after, I landed a Full-Stack Developer role at a startup thanks to Lighthouse Labs’ Career Services!

Talk to us about your new job! Explain a little of what you do now.

Thanks to Lighthouse Labs, I'm a Full-Stack Developer. The program equipped me with the web development skills to tackle both the user-facing side and the behind-the-scenes functionality. I use Next.js to build front-end, while Express.js helps me handle data processing on the back-end. SQL comes in handy for managing all that data efficiently.

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What do you appreciate most about your new career or what are you most hopeful for moving forward?

I truly enjoy the problem-solving aspect of web development. Every day brings new challenges, and the satisfaction of crafting solutions is incredibly rewarding.

What’s next? Tell us about you and your future career goals.

My immediate goal is to solidify my full-stack development skills.

What advice would you give someone who wants to transition into a tech career? Never be afraid to ask questions! The tech community thrives on collaboration and learning from each other. Ask questions, seek help from mentors or colleagues, and don't be afraid to admit when you're stuck.

Sign up for the Web Development Bootcamp today

Ready to find a career in the Web Development market like Maria?

At Lighthouse Labs, we're here to help you gain the skills for your next role. Our Web Development Bootcamp is the quickest way to launch a career in web development. We offer an online 12-week, immersive, full-time Bootcamp, or 30-week, flexible, part-time Bootcamp option. The Bootcamp includes on-demand mentorship and Career Services you can benefit from for LIFE. At the end of the Bootcamp, you'll have the tools and skills to level up your resume and find a career in web development.

You can connect with Maria on Linkedin.

Read other recent graduates' stories

Learn about Xyrelle’s career transformation from Correctional Officer to Software Developer

Discover Madiha’s journey from small business support to Front-End Engineer


This and other success stories were supported by the ICT Boost initiative, funded by the Government of Canada's Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP).