Hi!
My name is Ola Podgorska.

I’m a human centred design consultant and graphic designer. I'm inspired to create better experiences, because of my appreciation and interest in people from all walks of life - their goals, needs and aspirations. I see problems as opportunities for creative solutions.

User Experience

I support the integration of user experience and content to create digital products that are consistent and user-friendly. I enjoy working through a detailed process, to arrive at experiences which are simple for people to interact with, with equal attention given to the problem space as well as the strategy and solution space. My skills across psychotherapy, digital project management and graphic design inform my practice.

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Graphic design

I'm passionate about typography and conceptual graphic design. I have experience working in the film industry (and enjoy the fast-paced, high-pressure environment). I'm also passionate about music and the arts, but I work with a wide variety of clients and briefs, with a personal interest in promoting equality and diversity through graphic design.

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Additional skills

Without a fresh supply of engaging content, a social media/marketing plan, and considered, topical and timely visual assets (multimedia, illustration, photography) a project is in danger of losing momentum, post-launch. I can provide a variety of additional skills (including content-strategy), to help create your vision - according to your scope and budget.

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I like highly collaborative people who get shit one, even if it seems outside of their role or comfort zone.
That's you I reckon 🙂

Max MoirProduct Strategy and Research Director at Somo Global

Ola is one of the brightest UX designers I've ever worked with. She has worked with our team at Somo on several projects. She is able to dive into complicated subject matter and learn everything she needs to know about it in a very short period of time. She is a highly empathetic designer who is thorough in her work and passionate about user research. Ola consistently delivers highly intuitive and well thought out solutions to the user problems she is presented with. Aside from that she is just a pleasure to have around - and funny and fun to work with! Ola and I have worked together at two different agencies so far.

Zeina FarhaSVP, Experience Design at Somo Global

I worked with Ola on a complex website build which involved merging five separate websites into a new brand experience. Other than top-notch user research, the most exciting thing she brought to the project was working with the design and tech teams in facilitating sketching sessions to easily and iteratively develop the user experience. She championed this way of working, and the result in a better online experience – in the form of a new .com and a Company Group site. A pleasure to work with her and very creative both in and outside of work.

David WittRadley Yeldar, Senior Project Manager

We are not only very impressed by the quality of the final project, but we also think that your team had epitomized how collaborative learning can be extremely effective when done right.

Gloria ChuaNovoEd/IDEO, Product Designer and Course Administrator

Ola is super smart, disciplined and time-efficient. Her input on our project creating the sitemap, wireframes and writing the functional spec. was invaluable. Her strategic, detailed and pro-active approach ensured aligned action and helped us avoid scope creep further down the line. She carries her years of insights and gifts lightly and is incredibly generous and inclusive in her approach, taking joy in collaboration.

Gosia YoungGOSH! Wine Marketing

Ola is one of the most driven, positive and productive people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. It was a busy time for all of the team due to rapid expansion and the opening of a new office, shop and HQ, and Ola's contribution exceeded all of our expectations. I would go as far as to say that much of the progress we made within this 3 month period would not have been possible without her input. She consistently went over and above what was required of her and showed genuine passion & care for the not just the projects she was involved in, but also the team and wider organisation. She not only project managed the research, design, build and testing of the new site almost single handedly to an impressive time scale (3 months), but also made significant contributions in many other areas of the organisation including but not limited to graphic design (print and social media), planning and organisation, problem solving and people management.

Joe FallonDirector, TruTravels

Once again I want to say thank you to you and the team for a great proposal for the website pages. I just spoke to another member of my team, and he is as excited as I am. We are both happy to agree the creative brief going forward so that you can develop the SOW for the next phase.

Aoife PauleyGlaxo Smith Kline - Director of Corporate Communications, Consumer Healthcare
Aleksandra Helena Podgorska

Ola... like hello, in Spanish!

I’m currently working full time at CI&T as a Lead UX Designer, and as a contractor, I work across the film & TV industry creating graphics in my spare time. I started out working as a Graphic Designer in Port Elizabeth (South Africa). I worked at two small below-the-line agencies, eventually leading a team of five. I decided to move to the UK in 2008 to study Integrative Art Psychotherapy at IATE & London Metropolitan University. While studying I worked full-time (gradually transitioning to Digital Project Manager). After completing my MA studies, I chose to specialise in human centred design and graphics, instead of pursuing a career in psychotherapy.

I embrace visual arts and writing, and work on creative projects which allow me to explore film, fashion and music – driven by gut-feel and passion.

My favourite part of UX and graphic design lies in research, as I find work which is grounded in research is usually most effective and successful. I thrive working on projects which support the #techforgood philosophy.

You can get in touch on +44 (0)79 82996398, email me or alternatively, message me on one of the platforms below…