As an integral part of the DevOps team, I am actively introducing new ways of working and contributing to the ongoing development of the first digital Kruidvat Design System. I am also involved in the recruitment and onboarding of internal junior & medior UX designers as well as mentoring an external design team in London.

* Introduce a new way of working at AS Watson by implementing design tools, establishing the first design system, and implementing prototyping within the organization.

* Establish the first-ever digital design system for Kruidvat & Trekpleister brands.

* Hire the first batch of UX designers and mentor junior UX designers.

* Translate strategic business ideas into high-level design proposals.

* Create detailed UX designs for handoff to the development team.

* Leading the UX design team (based in London) for the design of the Trekpleister brand.

* Validate and communicate design concepts with business & stakeholders.

* Serve as the go-to person for UX within the DevOps department.

> "Over the past two years, we have collaborated closely with Teun as our most Senior UX Designer. Teun has been a reliable and highly skilled UX professional who has truly elevated our UX to a higher level. In addition to his creative contributions, he has provided valuable support to our junior UX designers in making the right choices. Teun effectively communicates his advice in a calm manner and is a pleasant collaborator, both within and outside the team. In every significant project, Teun has played a crucial role in terms of UX."

Kruidvat

### Simple

I like to keep life, design, products, processes, and communication simple. Complexity is the enemy of success when creating a product vision or great user experience.

### Guidance

I show guidance within multidisciplinary development teams and across the business. From (art) direction to help teams and users meet their goals.

### Listen

I love listening to customers & business to understand their problems and discover what they need. To lead and mentoring other designers starts with listening.

### Calm

Staying calm and wise in tense situations is how people will describe me. I have a low tolerance for ego and I thrive when having a strong hand in shaping long-term, strategic vision.

### Grow

I have a growth mindset to continually improve and convince people to create a better UX or try to experiment more. I love flex thinking from strategy to creative to user experience to product & team.

### Speed

I know when to go fast (high level), and when to go slow (zoom in) within my design process. Designs needs this to evolve & grow and I need this fluctuation for me to be happy.

My personal work values

Currently I am UX Community Lead Designer at Aviva Solutions, a digital agency and hands-on software expertise house in The Netherlands.

My key strengths are, critical thinking, storytelling, user experience design, visual design, writing, a strong understanding of interactive and strategic possibilities & getting things done!

I love flex thinking from strategy to creative to user experience to product & team. I am at my best connecting business, systems & people.

I want a design to look good that translates your brand to a great user experience.

Working alongside a wide range of clients, from crypto start-ups to established companies, my aim is always to be humble, be vulnerable and be courageous!

I am the father of two, I love gardening and I live in a hamlet near Delft. I have a low tolerance for ego and a love for simplicity. Want to talk growth, gardening or design?

**Don't hesitate to get in touch**

About me

### Clear objectives

For DHB Bank it was clear that design for financial trust should be drastically improved in order to have a better user experience. The website plays a vital role in the acquisition stage and it was important that creating good journeys would lead to better insights. Lots of informational clutter needed to be reduced by being clear and quick with progressive disclosure.

### My role

* Facilitating Discovery and Design workshops aiming for collaboration and innovation.

* Defining the design vision and UX strategy that aligns seamlessly with organizational goals.

* Setting design principles and standards while ensuring development team applies these correctly.

* Gather and evaluate user requirements.

* Create effective and efficient workflows for successful, high-quality project delivery.

* Representing design to broad cross functional stakeholders including productowner teams.

* Leading coordination efforts, providing clear creative direction to illustrators, designers, and frontend engineers.

### Continuous Improvement

We are not done yet. This is an ongoing project. Future improvements are in the works, enhancing the user experience even more.

DHB Bank

Projecting into 2024, the digital landscape will undoubtedly evolve, revealing new frontiers in design, technology, and strategic thinking. Your journey, deeply rooted in Design, UI/UX, Strategy, and Art Direction, primes you for pioneering these future trends. The objective? To not just navigate but shape the future of digital product design. Here’s a tailored skill set that aligns with your ethos of growth, simplicity, and radical candor, ensuring you stay at the vanguard of innovation and leadership.

1. **Ethical Design and Technology Use**: As digital products become increasingly integral to daily life, the ethical implications of design decisions will be magnified. Learning to navigate the complex terrain of ethics in design and technology means creating products that respect privacy, encourage positive behavior, and promote digital well-being.

2. **Decentralized Systems and Blockchain for Designers**: The rise of decentralized technologies and blockchain presents new opportunities and challenges for product designers. Understanding these technologies can help you explore novel ways to build trust, transparency, and user empowerment into your designs.

3. **Quantum Computing and Its Implications on Design**: While still in its infancy, quantum computing is set to revolutionize fields from cryptography to AI. Grasping its potential impacts on design will prepare you to innovate at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and user experience.

4. **Advanced Interaction Design**: As interfaces evolve beyond screens to more immersive experiences (think augmented reality, virtual reality, and voice), mastering advanced interaction design will be crucial. This includes designing for spatial computing and understanding the nuances of multi-modal interactions.

5. **Sociotechnical Systems Design**: With technology increasingly embedded within social systems, designers need to think at the sociotechnical level, understanding how digital products influence and are influenced by societal structures. This approach champions a holistic view, integrating social science insights into design strategies.

6. **Leadership in Design Thinking and Innovation**: Elevating your leadership skills to foster a culture of design thinking and continuous innovation across your organization is key. This involves mentoring future leaders, promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration, and driving strategic initiatives that align design with overarching business goals.

7. **Design for Global and Cultural Inclusivity**: As digital products reach a global audience, designing with a deep understanding of cultural contexts and inclusivity becomes imperative. This skill extends beyond accessibility to creating experiences that resonate across diverse cultural landscapes.

For resources to stay ahead:

* **Conferences and Workshops**: Attend forward-thinking design and tech conferences and workshops (both virtual and in-person) to network with and learn from pioneers in these evolving fields.

* **Online Courses and Certifications**: Platforms like Coursera, Udacity, and FutureLearn offer courses on emerging technologies, ethical design, and leadership that can keep you at the cutting edge.

* **Thought Leadership**: Engage with thought leaders on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter. Share your insights and learn from others navigating similar challenges and opportunities.

Embracing these skills requires looking beyond the horizon, challenging conventional wisdom, and continuously questioning how design impacts the broader world. Steve Jobs’s ethos of intersecting technology with the humanities and Naval Ravikant's insights into leveraging technology for better living guide this path forward. By focusing on these areas, you not only refine your craft but also contribute to shaping a future where design transcends aesthetics and functionality to become a pivotal force for ethical, inclusive, and transformative change.

Shaping the Digital Future in Design: Mastering Innovation, Strategy, and Simplicity

## **be humble, be vulnerable, be courageous**

### be humble

Someone who thinks they know it all is a liability. I have a low tolerance for ego and a love for simplicity. I am humble, I am curious, I engage with others from collaboration, my path to success.

### be vulnerable

Vulnerability is an essential ingredient  in any relationship. Being able to be vulnerable, is being able to function. Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.

### be courageous

Today, I will choose courage over comfort. I can’t make any promises for tomorrow, but today I will choose to be brave. Integrity for me is choosing courage over comfort.

What I aim for

UX & Design, Strategy & Brand

Bronze IMC Award

Kentico Site of the Month

ABN Amro Website of the Year

Silver Esprix

Kentico Site of the Year

Bruna

Suzuki

In my role at AS Watson, serving as a UX designer for various Kruidvat projects, I am focused on optimizing the shopping experience. I prioritize features that simplify and enhance the shopping process, including an easy-to-use member corner, personalized recommendations, and a streamlined checkout process.

[Read more](http://read.cv/teun/kruidvat)

AS Watson

* Collaborating across functions to integrate UX into the product development process.

* Providing clarity to complex, sometimes ambiguous projects and processes.

* Gathering and assessing user requirements.

* Developing efficient user flows and prototypes.

* Collecting and checking user needs.

* Articulating complex, sometimes abstract concepts —  explaining the rationale behind decisions and direction.

* Creating userflows for the successful delivery of UX design.

* Setting design principles and standards while ensuring the development team follows them accurately.

BNG Bank

Aviva Solutions

Blasts from the past

RBX Active

For the International Dutch based DHB Bank I was responsible for leading UX Design & Strategy - setting out design principles, visual guidelines and user experience for the digital presence of DHB Bank.

Kentico Site of the Month February 2024

[Read more](http://www.read.cv/teun/dhb-bank)

Teun Somers

2024

2023