| What industry do you work in and how would you describe what you do (your elevator pitch!)? |
| I am a Senior User Experience (UX) Designer who loves crafting easy-to-use and engaging digital experiences. With years of experience under my belt, I dive deep into understanding what users need. I turn those insights into smooth, user-friendly designs. A big part of my job is doing user research, prototyping, information architecture and working with different teams to bring the best solutions to life that meet users needs and are accessible to all. My mission is to make users happy and help businesses succeed through smart design. |
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What was your favourite subject in school and why? |
| I had two! Art and English. These to me where the subjects where I could be the most creative and no one could tell me what I was wrong. An art piece or essay doesn’t need to add up to a predefined answer the way math or science do. They’re subjects where you need to be your own critic, have the freedom to make your own create decisions, and can get lost in the process for a little while. |
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How did you get into your line of work? Can you talk us through a quick overview of your career path to date? |
| Like many others, I left school without a clear idea of what I wanted to do. I knew I had a creative side, but I couldn’t see how it translated into a career. After trying a few different paths, I found myself in an Industrial/Product Design course. This not only satisfied my creative itch but also opened up new avenues in problem solving and user research. As I approached graduation, I realised that these aspects were what I wanted to pursue fully, leading me to a career as a UX designer.I got my start as a Junior UX Designer at DoneDeal, and I’m forever grateful for that kick-start into the UX world. Since then, I’ve had a bunch of different experiences, too many to list here. Right now, I’m a Senior UX Designer at UNUM Ireland, where I’ve been for over five years. |
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When do you use creative thinking and problem solving in your line of work? |
| As a UX designer, I use creative thinking and problem-solving all the time. For example, when I’m doing user research, I need to come up with smart ways to ask questions and really understand what users need. During brainstorming sessions, I get to think outside the box and come up with ideas to solve user problems.When I’m designing wireframes and prototypes, I have to balance what users want, what the business needs, and what the tech can handle. Usability testing is another big one—it’s all about figuring out how users interact with the design and finding ways to make it better.
And of course, working with different teams means I often need to think creatively to bring everyone’s ideas together and find the best solutions. So yeah, creative thinking and problem-solving are pretty much at the heart of everything I do! |
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Any top tips for young people looking to get into your area of work? |
| – Stay Curious: Always be curious about how things work and why people behave the way they do. This curiosity will drive your user research and help you create better designs.- Be Empathetic: Always keep the user at the center of your design process. Understanding and empathizing with users will help you create more effective and meaningful designs.
– Practice Problem-Solving: UX design is all about solving problems. Practice thinking critically and creatively to come up with solutions that meet user needs and business goals. – Get Feedback: Share your work with others and be open to feedback. It’s one of the best ways to learn and improve your skills. Remember, everyone’s journey into UX design is different, so find what works best for you and enjoy the process! |
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What B!G idea are you most proud of in your own life/career to date? |
| One big idea I’m really proud of in my career is when I led the initiative to implement a user-centered design approach at my previous company. Before this, our design process was mostly based on assumptions and internal opinions. I proposed that we start involving users directly by conducting regular usability tests and feedback sessions.This change made a huge difference. We saw a significant boost in user satisfaction and engagement with our products. It also created a more collaborative atmosphere within the team, as everyone began to appreciate the value of user insights. This experience reinforced my belief in the power of putting users at the center of design, and it’s a principle I carry with me in every project I work on. |
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What professional failure have you experienced that has made you a more resilient person as a result? |
| Failure might be a strong word, but a blind spot I had for quite a while was my lack of knowledge around accessibility. This meant there were times when I designed and released websites and apps that didn’t provide the best experience for all users. Since then, my knowledge and interest in accessibility have grown, and it’s now a key part of my design process. |
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What is your go-to resource to help you with creative thinking and problem solving in work? – a website, tool; app or framework – whatever! |
| The one I use most is probably a UX Decision Matrix, sometimes called a Prioritisation Matrix. (If you google that you can find examples). Essentially it’s a visual to help you pinpoint the most important problems. This objective approach makes it easier to reach a collaborative agreement while meeting the diverse needs of both users and the business. |
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If you had the opportunity, what advice would you give your 16-year old self now? |
| Embrace your curiosity and keep exploring different interests, especially in design and technology. Remember, it’s okay to make mistakes—they’re valuable learning experiences. Focus on understanding people and their needs, because that’s at the heart of great design. And don’t forget to stay open to feedback and always keep learning. Your passion for creativity and problem-solving will guide you to where you need to be. |
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