Employee Spotlight: Navigating geographies & human-centric design
From the beaches of Australia to the tech hubs of Oslo, Kristina Hedberg has built a career defined by global perspective and continuous adaptation. After moving between hemispheres for her education and early career, she is making her latest bold leap: returning to Oslo to join Vend as a Product Designer in the Jobs Vertical.
Bringing a unique cross-cultural lens and a deep passion for human-centric problem-solving, she is now focusing her design expertise on one of life's most impactful journeys, helping people find their next career step. Her story is a testament to the fact that designing great user experiences starts with embracing your own unique journey.
Your life has spanned two sides of the world, growing up in Australia, schooled in Oslo, returning to Australia, and now moving back to Norway once again. How has navigating these distinct cultures and environments shaped your lens as a Product designer?
— Moving between Australia and Norway has made me comfortable adapting to new environments and building relationships with all kinds of people. Every move teaches you that people communicate, make decisions, and see the world a little differently. Design is really about understanding people, asking good questions, and building trust, so I’d say those experiences have shaped me just as much as my formal design training.
You’re working with the Jobs business area, a space deeply tied to major life transitions and livelihoods. From a user experience standpoint, what makes designing for the job market so uniquely challenging and rewarding?
— Designing for jobs is interesting because you’re creating an experience for two very different groups at the same time. Candidates are making important career decisions, while recruiters are trying to find the right person efficiently. Their goals overlap, but their needs and challenges can be quite different.
— What makes it rewarding is the impact. Even small improvements can make the process easier for someone looking for their next opportunity or for a company trying to build their team.
Relocating across hemispheres is a massive leap. What drew you back to the Norwegian tech scene at this point in your career, and what are you most excited to tackle at Vend?
— Moving back to Norway felt like the right next step, both personally and professionally. I was looking for the opportunity to continue growing as a designer, work on meaningful problems, and be surrounded by people I could learn from. Vend really stood out for all of those reasons.
— I'm especially excited to work on products that have such a broad reach. Knowing that small design decisions can improve the experience for thousands of people makes the work feel really exciting and worthwhile.
In UX, the goal is always to understand human behaviour and eliminate friction. How do you think your own personal experiences with major life changes, moves, and cultural adjustments influence how you design empathetic user journeys?
— Moving countries has made me comfortable with uncertainty and figuring things out as I go. It’s given me a better appreciation for how many small decisions and unknowns can come with change.
— I think that translates into design by reminding me not to assume something is obvious. The best solutions usually come from understanding the problem properly, not from having the quickest answer.
As a Norwegian-Australian designer helping build the future of the Jobs business area, what does 'building what's next' mean to you, and what advice would you give to other creatives navigating a global career in tech?
— My advice would be to stay curious and embrace the opportunities that push you outside your comfort zone! Technology will keep changing, but understanding people and designing for their needs will always be at the heart of great products.