Katrina Dedele is a Helsinki-based UI/UX designer focused on creating clear, structured, and user-centered digital experiences. Having started exploring web design at just 14 years old, she gradually developed a strong interest in UI/UX and product thinking, becoming especially interested in how interfaces function, how users move through products, and how design decisions shape the overall experience. Through independent projects, UX/UI case studies, and continuous hands-on learning, Katrina developed an approach centered around clarity, usability, and thoughtful product structure. In this interview, she reflects on growing into design at an early age, learning to prioritize usability over visuals, and why she believes strong digital products are built through logic, structure, and understanding real user behavior.
“Strong design comes from clarity, structure, logic and solving real problems.”
What originally pulled you into design – was it a conscious choice or something that gradually shaped itself over time?
I got into design first when I was about 14 years old. My dad got me into web design, I just started looking into it because I was curious. YouTube tutorials, trying things, figuring out how websites are made.
And then at some point I found UI/UX and it really clicked. I became obsessed with interfaces, how they look, how they feel, how small details change the entire experience.
It was not always easy. I tried to get into design seriously quite early, but at 16 it’s hard to be taken seriously – especially with school taking most of the day and a lot of competition around. I definitely had moments where I was stuck, or I doubted myself.
But I kept going and it stopped being just something I liked and became something I was committed to. It doesn’t feel like a phase anymore, it feels more like a direction I’ve been building towards for years.
Can you describe a moment when you realised a design you created truly “worked”? What made it click?
One moment that really stayed with me was during a university project where we redesigned a student app. Someone in my class said, “I couldn’t imagine Tuudo being better after their update, but this version feels so clean and intuitive.”
That stuck with me, because it was about the experience actually feeling better.
In general, those are the moments when it “clicks” for me: when a design stops feeling like just screens and starts feeling natural to use.
Where do you tend to get stuck in your process – and what do you usually do to move forward?
I get stuck at the beginning, mostly – figuring out structure, how everything should be organized.
It’s that stage where you have lots of ideas but nothing feels “right” yet.
I like to get away from the visuals and work on flows, hierarchy and logic first. Once I get the structure, everything else is much easier.
How do you balance making something visually striking with making it easy to understand?
Visual design should be in aid of clarity, not in competition with it.
My approach is always structure and usability first, then build the visual layer on top. If something looks interesting but makes the interface harder to understand, I take that as a sign to simplify it.
I think the best designs are the ones that feel clear and intentional – not cluttered.
Tell me about a time when your design missed the mark – what changed in your thinking afterwards?
I paid more attention to how things looked previously, instead of how they worked generally. Some designs looked good from the outside, but they didn’t really solve the real usability issues.
That realization changed my way of thinking quite a bit. I pay a lot more attention to structure, flows and making sure design decisions are grounded in how people actually use the product.
What do you feel is currently shifting in design culture, and how are you adapting to it?
The rise of AI is one of the biggest changes happening right now. Tools like Claude and others are getting very powerful and are already changing the way designers work.
I don’t think AI can replace designers, though. People are still the best at understanding other people, their behavior, and how to make products that make sense. Design is about making choices that are good for users.
I think of AI more as a tool than as something that can replace people. I use it a lot in my work to speed things up, come up with new ideas, and get unstuck more quickly. I still make my own decisions about structure, flows, and products, though.
What would you do differently if you were starting your design journey today?
I would focus earlier on understanding users and product thinking, not just visuals.
At the beginning it’s easy to get caught up in aesthetics: choosing colors, fonts and style, but over time I realized that strong design comes from clarity, structure, logic and solving real problems.
Starting with that mindset earlier would have made my learning process more focused.
Key Facts
- 6 years of UI/UX design experience
- Started designing at 14 years old
- Focused on product thinking and user-centered design
- Experience with UX research, interface systems, and mobile app design
- Strong skills in Figma, wireframing, and responsive layouts
- Currently studying at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences
- Based in Helsinki, Finland
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