"What does a user think? That's where it starts for me."

Diederick van Tellingen | UX Designer

After years of working externally through agencies, Diederick was ready for a place where he could really contribute, grow and build something for the long term. This he found at HeadFirst Group. About his work he is clear: "I love the puzzle. What does the user need, and how can we make that as intuitive and pleasant as possible?"

The road to UX Designer

Diederick studied Communication & Multimedia Design, a course that pairs creativity with technology. "That's where my passion for UX began. Interfaces are everywhere, from ATM to platform. You learn how to create user-friendly digital products."

After eight years working at an agency, for clients ranging from agricultural products to addiction services, he discovered that he preferred to work long-term on one product within one domain. "I was hired as an external by HeadFirst, I saw potential and then knew pretty quickly: this is where I want to stay."

UX: the mix of psychology and design

At HeadFirst Group, Diederick is responsible for the entire user experience of Striive. He does this both on the front end for external users and on the back end for internal colleagues. "For me, UX is psychology and creativity all in one. It's about understanding what users want and how they want it. What's going on in their heads and how do you translate that into something visual and working?"

He works closely with Product Owners and Developers. "We design interfaces that help users get from A to B in a logical way," he says.

Build, test, improve

An important part of his work is usability testing. “We talk to people to see how they navigate through processes, such as when going through a contract process. You see where things go wrong and then work to improve them. “Gathering continuous feedback from both interviews and data and constantly iterating based on that makes my work as a designer truly tangible.” Diederick works in sprints and moves between two development teams: the compliance team—also known internally as the Party Parrots , and the activation team, the Kiwi Birds. “With the Party Parrots, we’re building processes around contracting and time tracking. With the Kiwi Birds, the focus is on the international rollout of the platform. Previously focused on the Netherlands and Belgium, but now also the UK, the U.S., and Australia. Every country has its own ways of doing things—I really enjoy that challenge.”

“I love getting my hands dirty. Putting together a bit of HTML or CSS? I love it!”

Creative and technical

What does Diederick like best about his work? “The puzzle-solving. Someone wants to know all kinds of things, but how do we present that? All at once? Or step by step? To do that, you really have to get to know the user, but you also have to be creative in finding the solution. That mix is what makes it fascinating.” Besides, he doesn’t just work at the conceptual level. “I like to get hands-on. Putting together a bit of HTML or CSS? I love it! Fine-tuning it with the developers and seeing the results right away. That combination of coming up with ideas and executing them suits me perfectly.” Diederick appreciates the vision within the team. “There’s a clear roadmap for the future—no back-and-forth policy. That’s motivating: you’re working toward a goal, and you have the freedom to make good choices for both now and the future.”

Why HeadFirst Group?

For Diederick, it’s not just the work, but also the environment that matters. “The facilities are top-notch. The office in Hoofddorp is beautiful, the workspaces are comfortable, and everything is just well organized. That makes a big difference.” His advice to future colleagues? “If you enjoy solving puzzles, love technology, and understand people, then this is the place for you. You’ll be given the freedom, trust, and opportunity to actually conduct research and make a real, long-term impact.”

Will you be Diederick's colleague?

View vacancies

"What does a user think? That's where it starts for me."

Diederick van Tellingen | UX Designer

The road to UX Designer

UX: the mix of psychology and design

Build, test, improve

“I love getting my hands dirty. Putting together a bit of HTML or CSS? I love it!”

Creative and technical

Why HeadFirst Group?

Will you be Diederick's colleague?

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US

Get the monthly update

Menu

Vacancies

Headquarters