A little bit about me

I’ve always had a fascination with human beings. I’ve always been intrigued to understand why we think and behave the way we do. This curiosity led me to pivot from a traditional career path to delve into the realms of psychology and sociology.

My academic journey began with a degree in architecture from the University of Pretoria in 2013, followed by a yearlong internship at GASS Architects. From 2015 to 2018, I worked at Tonic Design, a distinguished architectural design firm in Johannesburg. It was an enriching experience that give me the privilege of contributing to some remarkable projects, including the renowned FNB SLOW Lounge.

In 2018, I embarked on a new venture into UX design. This journey started with a 10-week UX Design course at UCT, followed by a 2-month Google Africa scholarship in front-end development via Udacity. Since then, I've had the opportunity to collaborate on diverse projects with clients ranging from financial institutions and startups to insurance companies. Each project presented unique challenges and complexities, providing me with invaluable insights into the industry.

In 2020, I also embraced the role of a freelance tutor, guiding students from various parts of the world through the theoretical foundations and fundamental methodologies of the UX domain as they navigated their own career transitions. This experience has not only enriched my teaching approach but has also deepened my grasp of the academic underpinnings that inform our day-to-day work.

I believe my diverse background affords me a distinctive UX perspective. Grounded in my architectural studies, my approach to problem-solving is rooted in a conceptual framework. I've found this to be particularly useful in teams where a unique viewpoint is paramount. When faced with a complex challenge, my goal is always to distill and simplify. I seek to unravel intricacies systematically, understanding them in their full context before breaking them down into manageable components. Ultimately, my aim is to enhance the user-friendliness of experiences, making life just a bit more user friedly.

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© Simoné Raaths