Confident and wrong – NNG UX certification
Ten years after NNG’s UX certification, I can see it actually gave me a map of my own blind spots – and why structured learning accelerates a design career.
Writing
I mainly write about UX design careers, leadership in design, and self-development. Much of my content is based on the struggles, lessons, and experiences I’ve accumulated throughout my career. I occasionally update some articles to keep them relevant and helpful.
AI in design work and decisions
AI will not care about the outcome. It will not face consequences. On AI delegation in design – and the decisions that must stay yours.
Judgment cannot be prompted
AI tools now produce junior UX designer output from a single prompt. What never changes is design judgment — and judgment requires direct human contact.
What my journal doesn't say about my life
The quietest pages in my journal mark the loudest chapters. What blank quarters show about growth, leadership, and the stories we’re not ready to keep.
Measuring UX maturity is a yearly practice
Measuring UX maturity once gives you a snapshot. Doing it repeatedly reveals progress, patterns, and the reasons behind change.
Close door button
The most worn button in our elevator is the close door button. Every morning, someone positions themselves at the panel and presses it with quiet conviction.
We're not speaking the same language, and it's costing us time
Unclear terminology erodes trust between designers and stakeholders. Shared design language reduces friction and keeps teams moving in the same direction.
Stop waiting for your manager to develop you
Stop waiting for your manager to guide your growth. A systematic preparation framework turns development talks into strategic career accelerators.
I've made myself replaceable in every role
It’s how you grow. Share your thinking and methods openly – it reduces bottlenecks, builds trust, and creates space for your next challenge.
How shadowing turned a sketch into org change
Why I keep my calendar open to shadows — and how leadership transparency through shadowing builds organizational capacity.
Every design is a beautiful lie about individual genius
Design is collaboration, not individual genius. Generous design cultures share credit freely and create lasting innovation through teamwork.
Fundamental skills will always serve you well
Fundamental skills remain constant while tools and technologies rapidly change. The capabilities you develop now will serve you across every role and context.
In between red and blue
When perfectionism paralyzed my project, I tried proving it would fail. This revealed opportunities and restored my conviction. Always invert.
A trinity of metrics for measuring design's business impact
Measure design impact by mapping experience, business, and technical metrics across customer journeys. Move from “poor UX” to precise, actionable insights.
The hidden influences shaping your leadership style
The Leadership Root from “Care to Dare” helps you identify unconscious influences and transform them into practices that align with your values and goals.
Three areas that catalyzed UX maturity
By focusing on three key areas of UX maturity – awareness, processes, and outcome measurement – we created a powerful catalyst for organizational change.
Eliminating waste in UX workflows with lean process mapping
Transform UX team from “beauty parlor” to strategic partner with process mapping. Eliminate waste, clarify responsibilities, and adapt to changing priorities.
Impact Day 2024
Evolve from accessibility to digital inclusivity. Practical approaches create better experiences for all while unlocking new business opportunities.
Tallinna Ettevõtluspäev 2024 – kolm võtet kliendi mõistmiseks
Kolm lihtsat ja mõjusat tehnikat klientide mõistmiseks. Kaardista klienditeekond, loo empaatiakaart ja sorteeri kaarte tootearenduse täpsustamiseks.
Leveraging VRIO framework to boost UX team strategic impact
Elevate your UX team’s strategic impact with the VRIO Framework. Analyze capabilities, optimize resources, and prove design’s tangible business value.
Leading UX teams beyond measurement anxiety
Free your team from measurement anxiety by fostering playful experimentation. Pixar’s approach shows how to balance creative risks with business outcomes.
Refresh Conference 2024 – measuring change in years
Refresh Conference 2024 talk – how to communicate design’s value, align UX with business metrics, and drive organizational change as a design lead.
How to get noticed by design leads on LinkedIn
What I look for as a design lead reviewing LinkedIn profiles and cover letters – from headlines to experience descriptions that win design roles.
How to get what's available - Game theory
Master politics with game theory. Map stakeholders, uncover rules, and create win-win solutions that elevate your team’s position and deliver strategic value.
Unlock your design team's potential with a skill matrix
Manage team with a dynamic skill matrix. Set clear expectations, assess capabilities, and guide targeted development to unlock your team’s full potential.
Reverse patina
Reframe life’s imperfections as catalysts for growth. Viewing the “dents” in your life as signs of value transforms setbacks into opportunities for resilience.
Redesign your leadership using McKinsey's 7-S framework
Develop your leadership with McKinsey’s 7-S framework. Analyze Strategy, Staff and more to identify gaps, prioritize actions, and build a high-performing team.
How the UX maturity model drives strategic decision-making
Use the UX maturity model to gain team alignment, uncover improvement areas, and make strategic design leadership decisions backed by structured insights.
Where are you aiming?
Students can target internships by mapping their skills to desired positions. This approach helps identify opportunities and gaps in your career planning.
IT-ametite päev 2023
Kolm lähenemist disainitöö tutvustamiseks TalTechi IT-ametite päeval. Sõnum, mis haaraks nii gümnaasiumiõpilasi kui ka üliõpilasi, võtab kolm mustandit.
Äripäeva Raadio - Minu karjäär
Kuula, jagame Kristina Lilloga Äripäeva Raadios nõuandeid IT- ja disainikarjääri alustamiseks SEBs. Räägime praktikaprogrammidest ja oskuste arendamisest.
Updated and restarted
I embrace imperfect action in content creation. Inspired by thought leaders, this post marks my first step towards regular writing and idea-sharing.
Refresh Conference 2023 – showing meaning, not effort
My Refresh Conference 2023 talk – four frameworks I used at SEB to assess UX maturity, identify leadership gaps, and lead with measurable results.
Using CodeKit 3 with PatternLab 2
Outdated (2016): Integrate CodeKit 3 with PatternLab 2 to control CSS generation, streamline development, and use CodeKit as a debugger, processor, and server.