Diederick van Tellingen - Working at HeadFirst Group

"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 engage in conversation to see how people click through processes, for example when going through a contract process. You see where things go wrong and then start improving that. "Continually gathering feedback from both interviews and data and constantly iterating on that makes my work as a designer really tangible."

Diederick works in sprints and moves between two development teams: the compliance team, internally also called the Party Parrots and the activation team, the Kiwi Birds. "With the Party Parrots, we are building processes around contracting and timekeeping. With the Kiwi Birds, the focus is on rolling out the platform internationally. Previously focused on the Netherlands and Belgium, but now also the UK, US and Australia. Each country has its own working methods, I like that challenge."

Creative and technical

What Diederick enjoys most about his job? "The puzzling. Someone wants to know about everything, but how do we show that? All at once? Or step by step? For that you really have to immerse yourself in the user, but also be creative in the solution. That mix makes it fascinating."

In addition, he is not just at the concept level. "I like to work hands-on. Putting together a piece of HTML or CSS? Delightful! Finetuning together with Developers and seeing immediately what it delivers. That combo of conception and execution suits me perfectly."

In addition, he appreciates the vision within the team. "There is a clear outline for the future, no yo-yo policy. That motivates: you work toward something, and have the space to make good choices for now and later."

Why HeadFirst Group?

For Diederick, it's not just the work, but also the environment that counts. "The facilities are top-notch. The office in Hoofddorp is beautiful, the workplaces are comfortable, and everything is just well organized. That makes a big difference."

His advice to future colleagues? "If you like puzzling, understanding technology as well as people, this is the place for you. You get space, trust and the opportunity to do actual research and really build something for the long term."

Will you become Diederick's new colleague?

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"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

Creative and technical

Why HeadFirst Group?

Will you become Diederick's new colleague?

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