What is your story?
My journey into UX design began in Darmstadt, where I studied communication design. During my studies, I realized that user experience is a fascinating field that I am passionate about. My diploma thesis was about designing my first app - "Tinder with dogs," with the aim of increasing the placement rate in animal shelters. This experience really ignited my passion for UX design and opened me up to the fascinating world of human-technology interaction.
In my first agency job, I had the pleasure of working on exciting projects for renowned companies in the technology, finance and sports sectors. My focus was on experience design and product design. This included, for example, creating connected product experiences at trade fairs to create an overall experience. This experience opened up completely new dimensions for me in the field of UX design.
In 2020, I took the plunge and joined MOSAIQ, moving from my previous field of experience design and product design into a new direction of UX design. A lot of it was unfamiliar to me at first. But I had a lot of fun with my new tasks right from the start.
Just as I started at MOSAIQ, the coronavirus pandemic broke out. Suddenly I was a junior working from home and worried about losing touch. But the MOSAIQ team was fantastic - they helped me get up to speed at lightning speed and made me feel really comfortable.
Since then, I've been tinkering with concepts and strategies to improve websites and always have an eye on what's good for my customers and their target group.
How did you come to MOSAIQ?
My path to MOSAIQ began in a rather unconventional way, which in hindsight turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. It all started with my husband working in Stuttgart, and the distance between Frankfurt and Stuttgart made our long-distance relationship increasingly impractical. In a bold move, I decided to quit my job at the time without a concrete new position. For me, this was the starting point for a new beginning - without the usual support of family and friends and in a completely new city.
Looking back, it was an exciting time that gave me valuable experiences. Not only did I find great colleagues at MOSAIQ, but I also made new friends that have made my life even more enriching. Over the past few years, I've had the chance to learn a lot and the freedom to work creatively in my job. These experiences have led me to take both Stuttgart and MOSAIQ firmly into my heart.
On some days, when the hectic pace takes over, deadlines are pressing and motivation takes a break, my choice would definitely be teleporting. I would use my superpower to teleport my colleagues to a relaxing place so that they can take a deep breath and recharge their batteries.
To be honest, I don't have any super innovative tricks up my sleeve. For me, the old-school pen and paper works really well. It may sound old-fashioned, but sometimes the simplest tricks are the best.
"Imagine, grandma, my work as a user experience designer is a bit like planning and building a house. Think of a house that you like and feel comfortable in.
First, we think about what the house should look like so that it is comfortable and pleasant for the people who live in it. We make sure that the doors are easy to open, the furniture is well arranged and the light is just right so that you feel comfortable inside.
In my work, I think about how people will use a website. I make sure they easily understand how to use it and that they feel comfortable on it, just like you do in your cozy home. That means I put the buttons in the right places, choose colors that are easy to read, and make sure everything works smoothly, just like a well-designed house.
When I do my job well, people feel as comfortable and happy on the website as you do in your beloved home. And that's why I love doing this, Grandma."
IF YOU COULD SPEND A DAY WITH A COLLEGE:IN - WITH WHOM AND WHY?
If I had the opportunity to swap a day with someone, my choice would be Andy. I mean, who wouldn't want to know what it feels like to be as smart and intelligent as Andy for a day?
Team office or team home office?
I'd say I'm both: I've found that I can now concentrate better on my work and especially in meetings when I'm at home.
But there are also times when I prefer the office, especially when I'm looking for company and enjoy meeting my colleagues in person.
What are your biggest challenges in everyday life?
I often come up against the challenge of reconciling user requirements, customer expectations and developer needs. Sometimes it feels like I'm walking a fine line. But when I manage to unite these different aspects, the success feels all the more gratifying.
What did you think after your first week at MOSAIQ?
"S***, I have to learn Swabian. I don't understand what they're babbling!"
What does a typical working day look like for you?
My day starts with a walk in the morning, where I accompany my dog "Bolo" and get in the mood for the day. As soon as my laptop boots up, I often start by checking my emails and team news.
Then there's the to-do list waiting to be completed. In between, I attend meetings to present my concepts, for example. At the end of the day, I plan the coming days and sort through my emails. And after I shut down my laptop, I head straight to the gym.
It may sound like a lot of routine to some at first glance, but for me, every day has its little surprises. There are often the funny gifs from colleagues that make me smile, and especially the witty comments from Eva and Marcel that can sometimes throw me for a loop. These little things ensure that my everyday life is lively and varied.
My personal secret recipe for staying productive at work is to plan 'deep work' times. For me, it always feels really good when I consciously schedule a window of time in which I can fully concentrate on a task.
What I find particularly cool about MOSAIQ is the freedom I enjoy as a UX designer. Here, I can fully utilize my creativity and expertise to develop user-friendly concepts. That's just mega, because it allows me to create innovative solutions and be really creative.
And the best thing is that despite all this creativity and freedom, there is still a clear structure and organization to ensure that our projects run smoothly. That's the perfect mix for me.If our office was on a desert island, who would be the leader?
The idea that only one person would be in charge on a desert island sounds more like an adventure movie to me. If anyone is going to lead anything, it has to be a trio: the 3 angels for MOSAIQ: Anna, Andy and Tobi.
What's next for you?
What adventures, missions and plans do you have for the future?
When it comes to the future, I like to be surprised. Life often has its own plans that I can't always foresee.
Let the good times roll!