Why UX? 55# Michael McKay

We are delighted to share Charlotte Claussen's story in our newest episode of Why UX? From a background in art history and cognitive semiotics to a career spanning technical communication, UX writing, and content design across Denmark and the UK, Charlotte's journey is driven by curiosity, clarity, and a deep interest in how people understand systems. She shares how she carved out a place in UX without a traditional design title, why language plays a critical role in user experience, and how working across organisations, roles, and cultures has shaped her perspective on UX as a discipline grounded in human cognition and real-world complexity. Thanks to Pavel Bavtra and Helena Bright for making this episode!  

We are delighted to share Gonzalo Lusi Palombarini's story in our newest episode of Why UX? From a background in multimedia, visual design, and even biology in Argentina to building a UX/UI career across industries like ERP, crypto, insurance, AI, and large-scale enterprise platforms in Denmark, Gonzalo's journey is driven by curiosity, adaptability, and a deep respect for the end user. He shares how moving to Copenhagen shaped his professional growth, how he bridges UI and UX into one cohesive experience, and why designers must sometimes be bold to truly advocate for users. Thanks to Pavel Bavtra and Helena Bright for making this episode!

In this episode of Why UX?, we sit down with Gaia, a longtime member of the community and UX designer at VELUX. She shares her inspiring journey from industrial design to service design, and how curiosity, people-centered thinking, and a drive to create real impact have shaped her career. Tune in to hear Gaia's reflections on designing with empathy, driving change inside large organizations, and the evolving role of UX in tackling global challenges.

In this episode, the panel reflects on the story of a Design Manager who, despite holding that title, wore many hats: project manager, product owner, process consultant, and UX practitioner. After seven years in the role, a key question emerges: how do you carve out a UX career path that lets you focus on the work you truly love — like research, facilitation, and process design — when your experience is so broad? The panel explores: How do you translate diverse experience into a focused UX role? What does it mean to find a job where you can actually do the things you care most about? And how can you identify organizations that will help you grow toward your vision of UX practice?

In this episode, the panel takes on a case we've titled "Crash of the Titans." It's the story of a senior UX designer who believes true user-centricity requires a disciplined process. But in an organization driven by fast delivery and personal opinions, this creates friction — especially with a product manager under constant pressure to ship features quickly. The panel explores the deeper questions behind this clash: How do you balance fast-paced delivery with research-driven UX practices? How can designers advocate for user empathy without being seen as overly critical? And how do you protect motivation when your standards feel at odds with organizational reality?  

In this episode, our panel dives into the real-life story of a UX designer in a large enterprise company, where career growth feels unclear and mentorship is missing. With a supportive but limited manager, this designer faces the challenge of driving organizational UX maturity almost single-handedly — and it's exhausting. The panel explores questions like: How can a designer proactively assist their manager in shaping a career path? What does it take to lift UX maturity in an organization? And how can designers avoid feeling stranded in the "mentorship desert"?

With a background in innovation and product development, Michael has focused on implementing user centric and innovative practices in large size enterprises the last years. He has worked in Tech companies like Amazon, PayPal, eBay to understand how a large digital company works and is now implementing user centricity and design cultures and methods at scale in global enterprises. He currently drives Digital Products in a transformation team at Novo Nordisk, implementing UX Design, Strategic design, Product Managment and Product Adoption

Kevin is a globally seasoned VP of Product Design & Research, now based in Barcelona after shaping teams and products across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. With 17+ years of experience — from Booking.com to Glovo — he's led award-winning design orgs, launched innovative products, and scaled user-centered strategies at global scale. A passionate advocate for inclusive teams and cross-cultural learning, Kevin brings sharp product thinking, deep leadership expertise, and a love for turning complex problems into elegant, high-impact solutions. Thanks to Pavel Bavtra and Helena Bright for making this episode!  

Sidse is a design thinker, researcher, and educator with a deep fascination for the mechanics of creativity under pressure. With a PhD that unpacked how ideas emerge in uncertain design spaces, and a Postdoc focused on real-world business development through design sprints, she brings both academic depth and hands-on experience. Sidse thrives on helping teams move past habitual thinking, navigate uncertainty, and use design strategically to shape meaningful, sustainable change. Read Sidse's PHD here: https://explorativeinnovation.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/unfuzzing-design-how-progress-is-made-towards-unknown-goals-1.pdf Thanks to Pavel Bavtra and Helena Bright for making this episode!  

Emilie is a strategic force at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and design. With nearly 20 years of experience — and a Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction — she's led innovation across platforms like Issuu and MobilePay. Now as Director of Digital and Sustainable Innovation at FORCE Technology, Emilie champions user-centric solutions that tackle complex challenges through IoT, digital production, and sustainable strategy. Expect insights on leading with purpose, aligning diverse teams, and designing for real-world impact. Thanks to Pavel Bavtra and Helena Bright for making this episode!