Name: Veera Ahonen
Job description: Art Director
What is something that not everyone knows about you?
I might be more empathetic than the average person, and I have the ability to understand other people, their situation and their feelings. I see it as my strength. I have realised that it must be one reason for me to be interested in user experience design that goes deeper than the surface.
I want to believe that being empathetic makes me a better designer. Empathy also affects my skill to doubt instead of believing that everyone must think and act in a certain way. Sometimes I wonder if I’m too sensitive or empathetic. I have also understood how helpful it may be.
What was the spark that inspired you to join Identio?
I was applying for another traineeship position, and I had two choices. One was the office where I had completed my first traineeship, and the other was Identio, whose recruiting notice I found in a marketing students’ Facebook group.
I was interested in Identio because I had already noticed their great spirit through social media. I’m not ashamed to say that I was also attracted by the great number of young people working at Identio.
What drives you in your work?
The whole world of UI/UX is fairly new, especially in Finland. I’d like to guide the field in the right direction by doing my part. I’d like it to be seen as a whole and not as “sugar-coating things”. It would be great if people would associate for example research with the term right away. UI/UX design is more like a scientific field of its own. It involves different roles and designing may be a long and comprehensive process.
I’d also like to become a known designer in Finland someday. It would be great if someone would recognise my name.
What would you like to tell your future colleague?
Lately, I have been working on how important it is to tolerate mistakes. I am a perfectionist and I have learned, that tolerating incompleteness and mistakes is the only way to grow as a person and as a professional.
I would advise you to embrace mistakes and be merciful to yourself.
Are you interested in Identio as a workplace? See our open positions.
