Wait, have you really been a ballet dancer?
Yes! And a teacher too!
Before becoming a Product Designer, I taught mindfulness meditation on the Tuscan hills, and Italian language in the heart of Moscow.
The drive behind all of it? Curiosity, discipline, and open-mindedness.
The past
When I was 16, I started taking ballet classes to spend more time with a girl I liked. Soon, I became obsessed with it, totally forgetting about my love interest! I worked really hard and graduated from the Ukrainian Ballet Academy of Milan. I danced in many European theaters for a while, before an injury required me to put an end to my career.
After the injury though, I didn’t despair. I studied a lot, got certified as a teacher of Italian language, and found a job in the school of the Italian consulate of Moscow. There, I worked as a teacher and even got promoted to administrator of the courses for adults.
In Moscow I discovered my love for photography and meditation. I learned how to use vintage cameras and got certified as a mindfulness teacher. You can check out my photography gallery and guided meditations.
The present
During the pandemic, I discovered UX and Product Design, fell in love with it, and became a certified UX and Product Designer.
All the experiences I had (and the skills I cultivated) were pointing me in the direction of Product Design, and made me an open, curious, empathetic professional.
Steve Jobs was right; you can connect the dots of your past only when looking back.
After my experience at Dinner Circle, a startup where we harnessed the power of AI to help Ukrainian refugees find a safe haven in Berlin, I’m happily employed as a Product Designer at the scale-up Babaco Market, in addition to my freelance work.
The future
I’m looking forward to solving new interesting problems with design solutions that are loved both by businesses and users.
If you find there is a good fit between your project and my expertise, feel free to reach out.
30 min. video call
Calendly link