I am a multidisciplinary digital product designer with a passion for technology, nature, and music. My curiosity, humility, and meticulous attention to detail drive my approach to UX design. I approach UX holistically by harmonizing design-driven problem-solving with a profound empathy for users. I am capable of delivering this through a diverse range of methods, even though I like to follow the UX “sacred“ process, over the years, I have learned and developed my skills in adapting and finding compromises, allowing me to navigate challenging situations effectively. I thrive in collaborative environments, working closely with the entire product team in an agile setting but I am highly flexible and can readily adapt to specific requirements.
Work Experience
Exploradome and Apple France (via partnership)
September 2000 - December 2003
Paris - France
Lecturer / Graphic & Web Designer / Artworker
Exploradome is an Interactive Centre for Science, Arts and New Media based in Paris. Activities were very varied: Illustrations, web design, flash animation, Publishing, photo retouching, and film editing. I took part in setting up all interactive graphic displays for exhibitions. Flash animation, interactive illustrations and artwork layout.
In 2002 and 2003 I also was lecturing at the apple expo Paris event presenting new teaching techniques (to kids) on Final Cut, iMovie, and iDVD.
NM Creative Design Ltd - Concept design agency.
July 2004 - April 2006
London / Paris
Freelance Web and Graphic designer
Independent design agency specialised in anything from Brochures to entire stores' interior design. I was mainly involved in every Graphic and Web design project, including animation with Flash / ActionScript. Advanced photo retoucher for art events in London.
NM Creative Design Ltd / Visual identity & website (Flash).
Clients included Agnes B, Royal College of Arts, Götebörg Posten
PHP
July 2004 - June 2006
London - United Kingdom
In-house Senior designer Web & Print (Generalist)
Design of Artwork catalogues and direct mail pieces, Design and production of corporate literature, Creation of new corporate identities, Working together with a Web Developer to create a new corporate website using HTML, CSS, Flash/action script with PHP / MySQL technologies. Exhibition stands, Vector Illustrations, Packaging, Photoshoots (product and fashion), Advanced image retouching…
The Trinity Mirror Digital Recruitment - Trinity Mirror Group
July 2006 - December 2006
London - United Kingdom
Consultant Web Designer - Front End Development and HTML / CSS Specialist.
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Design and advanced HTML/CSS development work on 20 different TMDR websites based on the same templates (content management system)
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Each website had individual visual identity and specifications
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Faced numerous challenges in UI design and CSS techniques to comply to standard usability and accessibilty.
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Addressed unforeseen problems daily for cross-browser consistency and bug-free web interfaces.
Endemol - Teachers TV
January 2007 - October 2007
London - United Kingdom
Consultant Web Designer / Front End Developer / Thorough Usability & accessibility
Following a re-branding of the Teachers TV Channel, I was hired to apply the new visual identity to the online environment and design a brand new website according to very tight branding guidelines.
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Worked closely with Senior Web Producer and Lead Developer to deliver a cross-browser website complying with web standards, using advanced HTML / CSS / Javascript development techniques and an agile approach to the project.
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Applied a hard-boiled design method where I was "designing" directly in the browser, crafting HTML / CSS templates.
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Delivered cross-browser website compliant with web standards
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Utilized advanced HTML/CSS/Javascript development techniques
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Agile approach to the project
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Project-based on the Drupal content management system
blinkbox Entertainment
(Talk Talk tv after Tesco PLC acquisition)
November 2007 - August 2011
London - United Kingdom
Head of Design (Onsite)
blinkbox was a start-up launched in 2007 and was the first independent Movies and TV on-demand service in the UK, competing with Netflix in the UK when it was still sending out DVD rental.
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Initially created company’s visual identity and branding
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Designed and develop the first version of its website and video player.
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Worked closely with Product Director and Product Manager and continuously meeting evolving business needs, strategies and objectives.
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Over the years I have designed a dozen versions of the website and apps for multiple devices ( Apple iPad, Samsung, LG internet TV’s and numerous mobile prototypes)
Blinkbox grew to more than 2 million unique users per month (January 2011). In June 2011, Blinkbox was bought by Tesco PLC (http://www.tescoplc.com/), and so decided to move onto a new adventure.
Arkkeo Oy
August 2011 - May 2012
Helsinki - Finland
"Hands-on" Head of design (Onsite)
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Responsible for early branding work and UX/UI design of the product (Web + mobile) for a newly founded startup
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Contributed to define early product strategy through user and market research.
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Engaged in user testing, depth interviews, prototyping, and HTML / CSS (SASS) coding user interfaces.
Akvo Foundation
May 2012 - November 2022
Amsterdam - Netherlands / Stockholm - Sweden
Design & UX Lead (fully remote)
I joined the organisation in the early startup phase as Lead design generalist, responsible for UX / UI to frontend development.
Over the years, Akvo has transitioned from a SAAS organization to a Data and software consultancy
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Led design across the organisation, including digital product R&D, internal product design, and digital product design consultancy.
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As a team lead, I managed teams of up to 6 UX/UI designers and front-end developers.
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As a pivotal advocate for user-centricity within the organization, I played a significant role in facilitating the transition from a purely engineering-driven culture to one that prioritizes the voice of the user.
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Advocated for and Implemented Lean UX principles and promoted a user-centric mindset across the organisation.
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Pushed for recurrent validation and research through the creation and maintenance of personas, prototyping, user-testing and depth interviews.
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Collaborated and led design projects with notable clients such as The Dutch government, EUTF, Plan Finland, Nuffic (NL), UNICEF, and the UN Environment Program.
Nicely Design (Freelance)
November 2022 - Ongoing
Helsinki - Finland
Studying & freelancing
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I pursued and completed two university degrees and other online certifications.
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I also freelanced on several creative projects.
Litefarm Project
University of British Columbia
September 2023 - Ongoing
Helsinki - Finland - Remote
Lead Product Designer
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User research, interaction design
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Design system, UX and UI designs of the app across all devices.
Approach
My curiosity, humility, and meticulous attention to detail drive my approach to UX design. I believe in a holistic approach that combines design-driven problem-solving with a deep understanding and empathy for users. I am capable of delivering this through a diverse range of methods. I am pragmatic, even though I like to follow the UX “sacred“ process, over the years, I have learned and developed my skills in adapting and finding compromises, allowing me to navigate challenging situations effectively.
When it comes to process methods, I am highly flexible and can readily adapt to specific requirements. However, I thrive in collaborative environments, working closely with the entire product team in an agile setting. I find that a lean design process allows for optimal results, fostering efficiency and innovation.
In this digital era, with a profusion of office and communication tools, I am equally happy working from a shared office space surrounded by the entire team, or delivering the same quality of work remotely from my own office, as long as I communicate regularly with my colleagues.
Education and certification
UX Management: Strategy and Tactics
Interaction Design foundation - IxDF
2023
Professional diploma in UX Design
UX design institute - Glasgow Caledonian University
Dublin - Ireland / 2022 – 2023
Diploma in Computer programming
C.N.A.M (Conservatoire Nationale des Arts et Métiers)
Paris - France / 1998 - 2001
Deug A Maths / Science
University of Science
bordeaux - France / 1995 - 1997
Ongoing certifications
Interaction Design foundation - IxDF
Online / 2023
Design skills
User research
UX Design
UI Design
Prototyping
Wireframing
Mockups
User testing
Sketching
User flows
Journey Mapping
Affinity Diagrams
Persona / empathy maps
Heuristics
Tools
Figma
Adobe XD
Pen and Paper
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Github
Trello
Miro
Mural
Screenflow
Reflector
Other skills
Budgeting
Leadership
Creativity
Attention to detail
Communication
Collaboration
Empathy
Problem-solving
Coding
HTML
CSS3
SASS / LESS
Javascript
REACT
Language
French
English
Finnish
Photography
Advanced retouching
Documentary
Portrait Photography
Photo Editing
Storytelling
Advanced studio lighting