Some writing keeps traveling and I can't predict which
Tactical content fades. Personal, reflective writing lasts longer – I still can’t predict which pieces will travel. On writing, coaching, the inner work.
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.
Starting over is how you find what actually matters
A corrupt file, a four-hour rebuild, and the realization that starting over is sometimes the only way to find what actually matters.
Map people by birthday parties, weddings, and funerals.
Life phases tell you more about your customer than demographics. An observation a conductor shared in passing, on a long drive to a music camp.
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.
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
What blank journal quarters show about growth, leadership, and the stories we are 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
I reserve two hours before every development talk. Here is the preparation framework that turned vague conversations into career-defining agreements.
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 what I have learned from hosting and being one.
Every design is a beautiful lie about individual genius
Edison did not invent the light bulb alone. Neither does any designer. What I learned about credit, collaboration, and the hidden work behind every product.
Fundamental skills – what they are and why they persist
What makes a skill fundamental and how to identify yours. From failed facilitations to design hiring, the skills that persist through every tool change.
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 Roots exercise from “Care to Dare” helped me see which past influences I was carrying and which ones to keep.
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
How I used lean process mapping to move a UX team from service provider to strategic partner – eliminating waste and clarifying responsibilities.
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.
How I used the VRIO framework to focus my design team
I listed every task my design team handled and evaluated each using VRIO. The analysis showed where we were wasting time and where our real advantage was.
Leading UX teams beyond measurement anxiety
Measuring UX work is necessary. The unintended cost is a team afraid to experiment. Pixar’s approach taught me how to hold both.
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 and governing dynamics
Game theory gave me a structure for organizational politics. I used it to move a design team from visual treatment service to business value driver.
Building a design team with a skill matrix
How I connected responsibilities to specific skills, evaluated team capabilities, and used the matrix to guide development plans.
Reverse patina
The things we use most get worn first. The same applies to life. The dents and scratches are signs of what mattered.
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
How I used NNG’s UX maturity model to assess our team, align on where we stood, and decide what to prioritize next.
Where are you aiming?
A simple matrix maps your skills to the positions you want. The gaps tell you where to focus. The filled cells tell you what to lead with.
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.