Skills
I work mainly with design related tasks including DesignOps, Design Systems, Process Design, UX & UI design, facilitation, planning, organising, leadership, UX writing, Content Design, research and website production. Soft skills, SEO and photo production are also part of my skill set.
UX & UI DEsign
UX & UI Design for mobile devices and desktop (e.g. apps, software, platforms, websites). My skill set includes leadership, design systems, workshop facilitation, design thinking, problem solving, feature ideation, design ideation, desktop research, user research, user testing, wireframing, UX & UI design and prototyping and also leading piloting/testing processes. I work mainly with Figma, Sketch, Adobe Xd, Miro, FigJam, Jira, ProductBoard, InVision and Zeplin. I’m specialised in UX writing. Read more about my UX & UI mindset here.
Currently I am working as a Senior Design Consultant at Gofore, and for our client DVV I work as a Design Lead and DesignOps Manager.
Previous Products
Procountor - Software
Wowanders - App (iOS, hybrid)
Record Union - Desktop Platform
“As a UX Designer, Anna has a comprehensive knowledge on all parts of the process, from the user research to the pixel-perfect detailing. She always has ideas on how both the process and the end product could be improved, and she is truly passionate about constantly learning new.
While working with her in the same project at Accountor Finago Oy, I have had the opportunity to learn particularly about UX writing from Anna - an area where she is extremely skilled, and always ready to help others. I have also worked in a design system project that Anna has been responsible for, and it has been a pleasure, as everything is always clearly planned and well facilitated.”
Workshop facilitation for my Scrum Team at Kraków in Poland. Photo by Alicja Jakubas
Facilitation
I’m skilled to do facilitation remotely or at the office. I enjoy planning workshops and meetings and facilitating them. My style to facilitate is to create safe environment to let creativity flow. I aim to have a clear agenda, schedule and well planned steps. I focus in making sure that each participants have a say on each steps and make sure that we stay in our schedule not to forget the importance of breaks.
I use Miro for online facilitation. I enjoy creating templates for reoccurring meetings and workshops. I like to use tools and methods which I learned while stying at Hyper Island in Stockholm.
“As a facilitator Anna is adaptive and ready to improvise. She always puts effort on background work and preparation damn well! If needed she is ready to fix the plan on the go. She has always instructions and makes sure that all the participants are onboard.”
Draw an Apple exercise for creativity.
Soft Skills & Creativity Tools
I aim to create psychological safety in each team I work with. I see the importance of check-ins and check-outs for meetings, workshops and even for a work week. Check-ins are important part of starting the day/week/project together with the team. It gives us a chance to set the mood and get ready for the upcoming work.
I have planned and facilitated feedback sessions with different styles and tools. I like to teach the importance of direct positive feedback for empowering each other as well as constructive feedback to guide individuals growth.
I have different kind of tools to be used for the teams and individuals growth and team building. Everyone can be creative, sometimes a little help is needed, that’s why I like to use different kind of tools and methods to bring the creativity out of my team members.
I am endlessly curios on psychology and team dynamics. Because of my analytical thinking I like to observe what can be improved in each team.
“Anna facilitated a team development session called SWOB for our Data Team in 2020, where she provided us with safe space for sharing our thoughts and feelings to improve individual goals by support from each team member. It was creatively organized, well-planned and open-minded.”
Website Design & Production
Website Production includes the ideation, choosing the right template for you, technical work and polishing all the details. Add-ons are e.g. briefing a graphic designer for visual identity or logo, briefing a photographer, producing all the texts or parts of it, editing the text and SEO (Search Engine Optimation). Update sercives for websites are also provided. I work mainly with Squarespace (and sometimes with WordPress). Read more from here.
Previous Projects
Raseborgs Fermenteri, mllmtr, Tuuli Nilsson, Pihasali, Fine & Dandy, Yoga Base Helsinki, Sandhja, Wowanders, Tasty Living Helsinki
Updating Skills | Recent Courses & Conferences
I like to update my skills continually. I take online courses and participate in conferences and webinars besides my everyday work.
Recent Courses & Conferences:
Leading Complex Projects by IDEO U (2022)
DesignOps Summit by Rosenfeld (2021)
Lean IT Foundation by Tieturi (2021)
Design System workshop by Eficode (2021)
UX Management: Strategy & Tactics by Interaction Design Foundation (2021)
Certified Scrum Master (CSM) by Tieturi (2020)
Scrum Basics by Tieturi (2020)
Facilitating Change by Aalto University (2020)
Enterprise Design Thinking - Team Essentials for AI by IBM (2020)
Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner by IBM (2020)
Elements of AI - Introduction to AI by Helsinki University (2019)
SEO Online Course by Wilder Mind Media (2019)
+ Various online design webinars and conferences e.g. yearly Config by Figma and Adobe MAX.
On-going Course:
Product Management by Aalto University (2022)
Next up:
Accessibility in Graphic and UX Design by Erto (2022)
Photo Production & Photography
Photo shoot ideation and briefing the selected photographer. If needed I work with Adobe PhotoShop and Lightroom. Occasionally Photography.
I have a long experience (2008-2014) as a Photo Journalist, Photo Editor, Photographer and Reprographer for Helsingin Sanomat, Alma 360 (cur. Otavamedia OMA) and Sanoma Pro.
Prices
Prices are always customised for a specific project.
