You can be peaceful when you know that there is a person in your team who is both creative and systematic, who is detail-oriented, but also knows how to think out of the box and sees the bigger picture. Apart from being someone you would love to have as your teammate, she is also the ideal person to have coffee with, hangout or even join at a party. Let’s meet Ana.

Describe your professional path within the company. 

I joined Endava almost two years ago as a UX/UI Designer. It was quite easy for me to adjust, given that I am an architect by education and have worked as one for a long time. I was always curious about technology, so I started learning a bit of front-end, but somehow, I slipped seamlessly into design. It's just my natural environment. 

Today, in Endava, I can sum up all my knowledge and experience and do what I enjoy the most: creating a user-friendly experience, through research, prototyping, testing and working with engineers to bring life to the design of a project. I often work closely with Business Analysts and Product Owners so I can have a broader picture of the product life cycle, having in mind the business vision. Currently, I work for a client that offers multiple products on different platforms. From a designer’s perspective, this is a precious opportunity.

Tell us about what drives you at Endava. 

The position of a designer in Endava is highly valued. Colleagues from other disciplines are interested in learning what and how we do, want to understand why it matters, and are happy to work with us. 

More and more clients also realise how liberating it is to have a designer in the team, how many things they don't have to worry about and how much they can anticipate. In support of this is the fact that our design team is continually expanding, and this makes me especially happy. 

Working on products used by many customers, and have the opportunity to contribute is essential to me. It can be hard sometimes, but it's always fun, and at the end - worth the effort. 

Apart from work itself, the friendly atmosphere and healthy working environment make it more enjoyable. The friends I see every day at work make me not hate Monday's.

How would your colleagues describe you in one sentence? 

Probably as someone who makes their work easier.

Name some books/tutorials/speeches that had an effect on your career path. 

“The Design of Everyday Things” by Donald Norman was the first book I read when I started my interest in User Experience, and it had an impact on me and my career. This book is for anyone who designs anything to be used by humans. It opens our eyes to the perversity of bad design and the desirability of good design. It raises our expectations about how things should be done. 

"The Laws of Simplicity: Design, Technology, Business, Life" by MIT professor John Maeda, who offers ten laws for balancing simplicity and complexity in business, technology, and design — guidelines for needing less and getting more. We're rebelling against technology that's too complicated, DVD players with too many menus, and software accompanied by 75-megabyte "read me" manuals. But sometimes we find ourselves caught up in the simplicity paradox: we want something simple and easy to use, but also does all the complicated things we might ever want it to do. This book is excellent for understanding why we act that way. 

This one is special to me. It could be any biography book, but it’s not about the book, it’s about the figure – Walt Disney. I’m not talking about Disney’s impact on my personality when I was a little girl. I admire him as an innovator, a creative force, and a brilliant businessman. But even more than that, I consider Walt Disney the first experience designer and one of the greatest in the world. Attention to detail, a focus on immersion, and his desire to continually improve his products make his world magic and real at the same time. We should all learn from him.

What advice would you give yourself if you were starting work at Endava today? 

The things I learned about Endava during this time are not much different from what I expected at the beginning. I was highly motivated when I got a job, and even after almost two years, my motivation has not waned. When I think I have mastered a prestigious area, a new one comes up. If the job is perceived as static or immutable, it can quickly become tedious. Fortunately, the position of UX/UI designer is versatile that in conjunction with other disciplines, it brings news and excitement on a daily base. So, if today were my first day in Endava, I wouldn’t expect anything different.

Tell us more about yourself outside of work.

There is not much difference between me at work and me outside the job. The measure of my interest is the level of fun. Although I strive for routine and safety, somehow, I am always attracted to things that break everyday life. I equally enjoy going to a jazz concert or Sausage Festival at Belo Blato, because none of it is a routine and I can meet different people in both places, so the broader social picture is guaranteed. I used to do skydiving and was totally dedicated to it. More than 80 jumps from various planes implied physical and mental fitness and a complete lifestyle. Today, I diverted that kind of love and addiction to my daughter to explore the world with the same passion.

Last but not least, tell us how your passions have contributed to your day to day job.

That moment when I get an assignment, when I start making projections in my head, even before I start doing any sketches, that moment excites me. I use abstract thinking as I search solutions for future prototypes, rolling in my mind different scenarios. It’s like I need to put together a toy following the instructions I gave myself after doing the research. That moment, which is usually not just a moment, I find priceless.