A service designer draws inspiration from people

Enticed by Vincit’s culture

In her current work as a designer, Anna-Maija’s job is to understand how various organizations function, examine people’s motives, analyze needs and use the gathered information to design new strategies and operating models or to provide insights for UI design, for instance.

“My background is in social psychology. I was caught to work at Nokia for more than 10 years, after which I worked in development at various child welfare organizations. I was attracted to Vincit’s culture and its fresh outlook on working and being, low hierarchy and self-directive atmosphere. I also thought the varied clientele was a plus since it constantly brings me into contact with interesting new industries, sectors and people and allows me to put my experience to good use.”

It’s all about that light bulb moment

The foundation for service design is laid when the client is genuinely invested in development. Anna-Maija says making smart and sustainable changes serves as a driving force and makes the work feel worthwhile.

“When a company has a clear need, they are willing to listen to us as well. Getting that light bulb light up above the customer’s head is such a great feeling! Hearing the client say that they hadn’t even come to think of something you just proposed or receiving kudos for the advice you give is what makes this work so rewarding.”

Raise the sails – if there’s time

Outside work, Anna-Maija’s life probably seems pretty relatable and run-of-the-mill: family, a couple of small kids and full weekly schedule. In her free time, Anna-Maija enjoys spending time in the forest or at sea.

“I think I have more interests than means of realistically pursuing them. Walking around and enjoying nature has always been close to my heart. Before, I used to go on fairly demanding mountain hikes, but today I move around at a more leisurely pace. And if I ever get the chance to go sailing, I’m happy to change the forest trails to spending time on the waves.”

Cherish your values

Anna-Maija calls her views heavily value-laden and says that she places a lot of emphasis on meaningfulness and how it is achieved. At Vincit, she’s been able to promote things that carry personal significance also in her work.

“It’s been wonderful to notice that things like sustainability and ecological thinking have been taken into consideration in most client companies. At the same time, I still see some room for improvement. Technologies can be harnessed to provide even more responsible services. Risks related to innovations can be detected earlier. And all in all, solutions, operating models and services can always be carried out in smarter ways as long as you give room for insights and inspire insights in others.”