Jana’s journey from hairstyling to UX design spans countries and careers, driven by her love for creativity and human connection. Now as a UX designer, she crafts intuitive and accessible experiences.
Embracing Change and Crafting Connections
Originally from Brno, Czech Republic, Jana Buchtova's journey has taken her across multiple countries and fields, from hairstyling to tech. With a passion for challenges and a love for diverse cultures, she’s embraced every opportunity to learn and grow.
UX is about understanding people’s needs, building trust, and creating experiences that feel personalized. Jana Buchtova
- Every place I've lived in has taught me something new about myself and helped me discover what truly inspires me, she shares.
After a decade as a hairstylist, Jana began craving something new. The role had allowed her to connect with people from all walks of life, understand their needs, and hone her empathy and creativity—skills that would become central to her future in UX design.
- Like hairstyling, UX is about understanding people’s needs, building trust, and creating experiences that feel personalized, she reflects.
Discovering UX Design
Jana’s interest in UX design stemmed from her personal experiences navigating confusing apps and interfaces. After exploring front-end development, she found herself drawn to the blend of creativity, problem-solving, and human connection that UX offered.
Noroff University’s online UX Design program was the perfect next step.
- I didn’t want a quick fix like a bootcamp; I wanted a proper, in-depth education, Jana recalls.
Initially skeptical about online learning, she soon found that the flexibility allowed her to study on her own terms.
The flexibility has been amazing. I’ve been able to study while traveling, but it does require discipline. Jana Buchtova
- The flexibility has been amazing. I’ve been able to study while traveling, but it does require discipline.
Through learning new languages and living in different cultures, Jana came to appreciate simplicity in design.
- When you’re communicating in a new language, you realize the importance of clear, simple language. In design, overcomplicated interfaces can make users feel lost. Effective design should be accessible and understandable for everyone, Jana says.
Real-World Impact at SkogApp
Jana’s dedication led her to an internship with SkogApp, a forestry management platform, where she designed user flows for an older audience and handled all UX and UI aspects of the project. This gave her the opportunity to gain firsthand experience working in tech.
- Working with developers and the CTO daily helped me understand the importance of collaboration in achieving cohesive design goals, she recalls.
From competitor analysis to creating personas and building a design system, Jana embraced each task. She also dedicated herself to learning Figma to deliver interactive prototypes that made the complex feel intuitive.
- Simplifying the user flow and making it accessible was key, she says, proud of the impact her work had on the product.
Inspired by the UX Community
Jana's enthusiasm for UX only grows as she immerses herself in the community through monthly Figma webinars, meetups, and volunteering with IxDA Oslo.
Being part of this community keeps me inspired. Jana Buchtova
Being part of this community keeps me inspired, she says. There’s always something new to learn in UX, and I’m excited to see where the field takes me.
Looking ahead, Jana is exploring her interests in UX research, where she can dive deep into understanding user behavior and needs.
- I’m drawn to UX research—I love diving deep into understanding users, she says. My journey has taught me that it’s never too late to pivot, learn, and grow.
In her free time, Jana has been working on a Refugee app, where she’s been honing her UX skills and delving into UI design. Through this ongoing project, she’s discovered how a strong foundation in UI can significantly enhance her work in UX.
- I've found that understanding UI is crucial for a UX designer.
Explore Jana's Work
To see Jana’s recent projects, including her work with SkogApp, visit her portfolio at janabuchtova.com.
- Simplifying the user flow and enhancing accessibility was a huge accomplishment. I’m proud of how we made a complex product feel intuitive and approachable.
Jana er currently open for both job offers and possibilities for an internship.
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