HEY! I’M ELINA

trend-savvy product designer based in Finland, with a passion for crafting thoughtful, user-centered solutions.

I bring over a decade of expertise in navigating fast-paced, competitive environments in the fashion industry, where I've honed my adaptability, market awareness, and ability to forecast trends while balancing creativity and user empathy with business goals. I’ve developed strong skills in collaborating across teams, leading projects under tight deadlines, and solving complex challenges with customer-centric thinking.

Along the way, I’ve expanded my expertise with certifications in UX design, Voice UI, and HCI , creating a diverse portfolio that reflects both creative vision and strategic thinking. I’ve expanded my expertise into conversational design, accessibility, and emerging technologies like prompt engineering. Additionally, I have some hands-on experience with HTML, CSS, Node.js, and the Amazon Alexa Developer Console, enabling me to collaborate seamlessly with technical teams.

I’m passionate about creating innovative solutions that not only solve complex problems but also contribute to a more sustainable, human-centered future.

My experience in high-stakes environments has instilled in me a results-driven approach and a commitment to excellence.

WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID

  • “Elina has a sense of style and constant developer mind both in creative and sales field. She has the talent of managing herself as a start up -mind driver force as well as she supports team members. Strong professional understanding of fashion and lifestyles. She has an eye for details that matter in fashion. Her tool box is modern and based on fashion driving the digital revolution. Elina is a diamond of the team. International and local contributor as well.”

    Luisa Laine, Head of Design

  • “I was able to accompany Elina in her training as a Voice User Interface Designer @CareerFoundry
    as a mentor. I got to know Elina as a creative, curious and eager-to-learn person.

    Thanks to her curiosity and her questioning, we were able to explore many new concepts in voice user interface design and apply them to the task. We were able to discuss the tasks in regular calls and Elina incorporated the new ideas into her work through direct exchange. It was an enrichment to be able to mentor her because she brought experience from the design industry with her.

    You could really see in her work that she delivered excellent work with precision and attention to detail.

    I am sure that Elina will be a great asset for her next opportunity.”

    Paulos Mesghina, Voice UI mentor

  • “I accompanied Elina as a mentor in her training to become a UX designer. She already had a great deal of expertise from her previous design career. This enabled her to quickly adapt the content of the training and transfer her previous knowledge from the conception and realization of design projects. I was always impressed with the quality and depth of her work. Since I myself completed an additional course of study after several years in the profession, I know how challenging, sometimes considered unusual, but absolutely worthwhile this step is because it keeps your knowledge up to date and enables you to think and act on a meta-level.”

    Antje Eichhorn, UX design mentor

  • “Elina is one of the most inspired people I know - Inspired about fashion and life! She worked as my junior designer for accessories and was always enthousiastic about any project. She gives that little extra which makes her a valuable part of the team. When working, she gets into a flow and accomplishes her work at good quality even at tight deadlines. Even though she is very talented in my opinion, she works without ego. In our company her talent was quickly recognized and she gained her own area where she worked indepently. I would recommend her greatly and only hope to work with her again!”

    Laura Kupari-Guise, Senior Lead Designer

  • “I have been lucky to work as Elina's colleague in Stockmann. She was definitely one of the most inspiring colleagues in my whole career.

    Elina is easy to get along and work together. She is also able to challenge people for better results and has an internal drive for development working methods as well.

    As a designer Elina is passionate. She has a great ability to identify future trends and make them into commercial products. Her know-how is excellent in many areas; materials, fit, trends, colors and general knowledge of the fashion business.

    Elina sees big picture and at the same time is able to think about finest details. This ability can be seen in her long-term commitment and good results.”

    Katariina Kulve, Senior Designer

MY THOUGHTS

  • Rolled papers and posters

    Cross-Disciplinary Thinking: How My Fashion Background Shapes My UX Design Approach

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    Learning new skills from different fields is a true asset, as it opens doors to fresh perspectives and creative approaches. My background in fashion has significantly influenced how I approach UX design, from understanding users to refining aesthetics. Fashion, at its core, is about creating wearable experiences. Here’s how my expertise in fashion design shapes my work in UX.

    Read More
  • A person with a skateboard making a turn

    The Leap of Faith: Overcoming Fear in Career Change

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    Taking the plunge into a new career can feel like standing at the edge of a cliff, peering down into an abyss of uncertainty. I’ve been there. Yet, a career shift can bring so many rewards: renewed passion, a sense of purpose, and the chance to build new skills that increase job satisfaction. It’s an opportunity to explore what truly matters now.

    Read More
  • Man standing in a minimalist stairway

    The Intersection of Psychology and UX Design

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    This post explores the significance of understanding human behavior in the design process, emphasizing how this knowledge empowers designers to create solutions that resonate deeply with users.

    Read More
  • Man with a turquoise lap top

    The Importance of Curiosity & Discovery in Design

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    Curiosity and discovery are not just optional qualities in the design process — they are essential for creating innovative, user-centered solutions.

    Read More

  • From Cave Art to Digital Design: How Color Shaped Human Cognition and Creativity

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    As human societies evolved, the ability to perceive and manipulate color became integral to cultural expression, creativity, and even technological progress.

    Click Here
  • A woman looking at a image collage

    The Power of Visual Storytelling Across Design Disciplines

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    Fashion design is an art form that has always relied on visual storytelling to evoke a narrative. Visual storytelling is a universal design language that transcends fields, from fashion and concept design to UX/UI and digital design.

    Click Here

SERVICES

  • Crafting user-centered digital solutions through innovative product design, focusing on enhancing usability and functionality for a seamless user experience.

  • Driving design decisions with data through meticulous UX research, passionately uncovering insights to create deeply engaging user experiences.

  • Designing intuitive and engaging digital products tailored to user needs, enchanting interaction and functionality across devices.

  • Creating immersive user interactions through innovative voice experiences, leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver seamless and intuitive user interfaces.

  • Creating cohesive brand identities that resonate deeply with audiences, encompassing everything from logo design to brand strategy and research, establishing a memorable and impactful presence.

TESTIMONIALS

  • "I had the pleasure of working with Elina at Massimo Dutti Boys & Girls department. A true professional is the phrase that comes to mind when I think about her. Elina is a strong team player who is always willing to help. She has strong sense of style and in business she is always trying to find the solutions to get the best profit for the company. Due to all these facts, Elina's designs achieved great sales. I wish I have the chance to work with her again someday or at least find another colleague like her! "

    - Mafalda Faro Vienna, Senior Designer

  • "It’s rare that you come across standout talent like Elina. I was particularly impressed by Elina’s ability to create and launch a new brand BEL for pre-teen girls, and succeed with tangible results and great branding, commercializing just the right trends for that target group. I still miss her charming persona to work with. Any employee would be lucky to have Elina as a designer!"

    - Anna Benami, Senior Fashion Designer

  • "Elina is one of the most inspired people I know. She gives that little extra which makes her a valuable part of the team. When working, she gets into a flow and accomplishes her work at good quality even at tight deadlines. I would recommend her greatly and only hope to work with her again! "

    - Laura Kupari-Guise, Senior Lead Designer

  • "I have co-worked with Elina for several years and can sincerely recommend her. She has very wide knowledge in fashion; Excellent forecasting skills, and "Nose" for spotting just the right things for coming seasons. As a co-worker Elina is very dependable, detail-oriented, knows how to prioritize, flexible, thorough and easy to work with. To summarize, she is ambitious professional with wide range of skills."

    - Eeva Siirama, Brand Manager

  • "Elina is one of the most talented designer I’ve worked together. Brands sold extremely well and over target every month during the whole time. Elina is strong brand developer with successful ideas. She analysis customers and trends well. Elina is very hard and ambitious worker. She’s innovative, trend oriented and interested and active in social media. I sincerely recommend her!”

    - Anna Lindh, Garment Technician

  • "Elina has a sense of style and constant developer mind both in creative and sales field. She has the talent of managing herself as a start up -mind driver force as well as she supports team members. Strong professional understanding of fashion and lifestyles. Her tool box is modern and based on fashion driving the digital revolution. Elina is a diamond of the team. International and local contributor as well."

    - Luisa Laine, Head of Design

  • "Elina is definitely one of the most inspiring colleagues in my whole career. She is able to challenge people for better results and has an internal drive for development working methods as well. As a designer Elina is passionate. She has a great ability to identify future trends and make them into commercial products."

    - Katariina Kulve, Senior Designer