My story
A little about how I got into design, and some moments that shaped me along the way
Hi, I’m Yuliya!
I grew up in Novy Urengoi, a small city where I always felt pulled toward creative work. Even before I knew what design really was, I loved the idea of making things that felt expressive and thoughtful.
My path did not start in design, though. I moved to Tyumen to study Economic Security, and that experience changed a lot for me. Living in a new city and meeting people with different backgrounds pushed me to think bigger about what I wanted from life and work.
Somewhere along the way, I realized economics alone was not enough for me. I started exploring different fields, and that is when I first came across UX design. At first it was just curiosity, but it quickly became something much more important.
Starting my journey
Later I moved to Rostov-on-Don to study World Economy, and that is where things really started to shift. I spent a lot of time experimenting with different skills, from 3D modeling to web development and even a bit of cybersecurity.
The more I explored, the more obvious it became that design was the thing I kept coming back to. It felt like the right mix of creativity and structure, intuition and problem-solving.
I started joining hackathons, building ideas, and collaborating with economists, developers, and marketers on different projects. Those experiences taught me how much I enjoy turning rough ideas into something people can actually use.
One of the most exciting parts of that period was working at Cratch, a two-person startup where I owned the design side of the product. It gave me the chance to explore Web3 design and work closely with a product from an early stage.
Later, I joined Accenture as an intern and worked closely with a developer on a shared project. Even after the internship ended, we kept improving and expanding what we had started together.
Exploring New Cultures & Perspectives
Right now I am temporarily based in Casablanca, Morocco, and this chapter of my life has given me a completely different perspective. Being in a new place, surrounded by new people and ways of living, has made me even more curious about how culture shapes the way we think and communicate.
A recent trip to Tunisia made that feeling even stronger. I met people from very different backgrounds, and every conversation reminded me how much context matters in the way we experience the world.
Experiences like these influence how I think about design too. They make me pay closer attention to human behavior, emotion, and the small details that help people feel understood.
Looking Ahead
I want to keep growing, keep learning, and keep building work that feels both thoughtful and useful.
For me, design has never been only about making things look good. It is about helping people feel less lost, more confident, and more connected to what they are trying to do.
I still feel like I am at the beginning of my journey, and that is what makes it exciting.
Let’s create something amazing together
yuliya.ustimenko02@gmail.com
