viktoriia-buchynska profile photo

Creative UX designer passionate about leveraging design for social impact. Skilled in human-centered design, empathy-building, and strategic thinking, I aim to create user-driven solutions. My focus is on addressing social issues like gender inequality and inclusivity through meaningful, user-centric experiences.

Primary Project Image

EmMe –

one-stop destination digital sports consultancy that encompasses community-networking values and educational aspects empowering women in their passion for sports leadership.

It aims to foster a women-only safe environment for professional growth and self-exploration

Project Overview
Problem statement and statistics

Project Importance

The underrepresentation of women in sports leadership challenges gender equality and inclusivity thereby hindering progress in a sector that greatly influences global society. Gender equity in decision-making positions remains unfulfilled. Addressing these disparities through in-depth research and relevant solutions is crucial for empowering women and creating equal opportunities in sports leadership.

Design Process

Discover and Define

I conducted comprehensive secondary and primary research, incorporating interviews, journey mapping, narrative inquiry, and focus groups with a graffiti wall. These methods were crucial in uncovering the pain points and needs of women in sports leadership. This process led to the creation of detailed user personas and a clear UX vision, showcasing my commitment to human-centred design and strategic problem-solving.

Develop and Deliver

I incorporated creative design research methods to build empathy and gain a deeper understanding of women’s emotions in sports leadership. These were ideation sessions using brainwriting and frantic fives, experience prototyping through collaging, system mapping with a stakeholder, user testing combined with bodystorming and A/B testing. This process helped me create user-driven and meaningful solutions.

Complex Ecosystem

Multiple stakeholders were mapped to highlight their roles in the service’s ecosystem. These stakeholders, including advocacy groups, media, regulatory bodies, etc, played a key role in validating the service’s shared purpose of advancing gender equality in sports leadership.

User-Centred Approach

I prioritised communication with potential users and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to gather comprehensive insights. By actively involving users through interviews, workshops, and creative ideation sessions, I ensured the service was shaped for women around their real needs, emotions, and desired experiences.

Core Pillars

Key Features

Discover app screens

Discover

provides educational resources on courses and certifications, leadership skills, confidence building, overcoming barriers, job listings and sports events/conferences announcements

Story Hub

provides positive news about sports leadership changes that improve female representation and lists real stories of role models allowing women to learn from their experiences

Story Hub app screens
Career Goal setting screens

Career Goal Setting

ability to customise their careers in sports leadership with the milestones of the career establishment process and to set short-term goals boosting productivity and tracing the progress

Networks

ability to interact, discuss, receive support and advice and celebrate achievements with others in a friendly environment

Networks app screens

Other Projects

Developing Design System for THA

This design was created in collaboration with two other designers to develop a clear, user-friendly, and visually cohesive design system for The Human Aspect on WIX. We transferred design elements from Figma, aligning them with the brand identity while ensuring accessibility for future team members. The system was crafted to be intuitive and simple for designers.

Student Project about Sustainability

This assignment was a key milestone in advancing my user experience and research skills, shifting my approach to a more human-centred design. The app leverages smart meter data to manage household tasks and monitor solar energy production. Through gamification, it enhances user engagement, making daily routines and environmental impact more enjoyable.

Redesign of the Travel Agency Website

This personal project focused on redesigning a local travel website to enhance user experience and visual appeal. A key objective was to integrate more interactive “cards” and elevate the overall aesthetic of the homepage. This design was the final project of the 2021 “Web Design” course.

Education

  • Marketing and Advertising Business, MSc – State University of Trade and Economics (2019-2023)
  • User Experience and Service Design, MA – Loughborough University (2023-2024)

Courses

  • Python+Pascal – Summer Programming School (July 2016)
  • Digital Marketing – Google Digital Workshop (May 2021)
  • Web-Design – Powercode Academy (March-July 2021)

Experience

  • Junior Web Designer (May-August 2022)
  • Assistant of Brand Marketologist (November 2022)
  • UI/UX Designer Volunteer – TheHumanAspect (March 2024-Present)
  • Service Designer (collaborative work in a group as a part of an Industry Project) – Sparck (April-June 2024)
  • UI/UX Developer – FilmTailor AI (July 2024 – Present)