Welcome to Talking Tuesday! With this interview series, we introduce our specialists to you every month! They give you an insight into what it is like to work at Humanoids and what they are doing now! This month, Geanne, Lead UX Designer, will be introduced.

What kind of project are you doing now?

I am working on an internal tool for developers at Rabobank that helps them comply with security requirements.

What's most interesting about this?

I like the challenge to see how we can align well with the developers' workflow, considering all the complexity that comes with various data and use cases. Designing the right flow that feels intuitive and makes their work more enjoyable and easier gives a real sense of satisfaction. Especially when this is built together with the team and we can brainstorm together about the best user experience.

What do you bring to a team?

As a person I am assertive and always have an idea of how we can approach or solve something, and if I don't have enough context yet, I ask as many questions as needed until I feel I have a good understanding of the topic and context. I also think it's important hat a team is enjoyable to work in, so I like to add some cheer to the team and meetings. Furthermore, I often come well-prepared to meetings because I think it's important to keep the pace, so I like to think one step ahead.

What tip would you like to give to someone who is just starting out?

Trust yourself and learn from others. Ask many questions and be open to the answers. Be flexible and curious in that, and dare to be assertive without being negative or judgmental. Also, be transparent and reliable; say what you do and do what you say.

Can you name a business situation or event that greatly benefited you?

For me, the diversity of tasks and projects is something I have greatly benefited from. In one project, I received full support from the Scrum team, the Product Owner, and the other designers, while in another projects, I went through the entire design process in a month, being the only designer. I find it very interesting to discover what kind of designer I am and where my strengths and weaknesses lie in each new environment. It is also instructive to see how organizations and companies are so differently structured and what suits me in that.

Can you tell us something about your growth as a specialist in recent years?

In the nearly three years I've been working at Humanoids, I have grown tremendously in self-confidence and knowledge. I am getting to know myself better as a designer and enjoy being able to pass on those lessons to the designers. Within my role as design lead, I initially guided mainly in-house projects. But currently, I am also involved in the growth paths of designers who are no longer trainees but are, of course, still developing and growing. This is also very enjoyable to do, especially to see how driven everyone is!

What do you like so much about this sector?

UX design is very broad and is used very differently within each company and project. I really enjoy that variety and tailored approach. From companies with an extensive design system, content designers, and UX researchers, to projects where you are responsible for all of that, we encounter everything!

What are you most proud of since joining Humanoids?

Out of our own needs and pain points, we conducted a simple workshop, and from that came a change in the organization's structure. I am proud of how this has turned out so far. We now have so-called "circles," where you, as a professional, have the chance to contribute a lot to the company quickly, for example, by working on the traineeship or guiding in-house projects. I find it very cool how involved everyone is and that we now have a system that supports and aligns with this.

What makes Humanoids special?

I think Humanoids has a unique mix of freedom and responsibility, and at the same time, a healthy critical note and room for feedback and improvement. We can be honest with each other and learn from each other while also having a lot of space to try things out and make mistakes. For example, I have facilitated design sprints several times, and we also give masterclasses and lectures during the traineeship and crash course together. I find that very special, besides the fact that the atmosphere is also very relaxed and enjoyable.

That was the Talking Tuesday interview again! Next month, we will introduce another specialist to you. Also, take a look at our LinkedIn page for more content and tips from our experts!