Hanna Kastrytsa
H.Kastrytsa - From design to action: creating interfaces that make a difference
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Hanna, 24 years old, attended a Bachelor of Science in Applied Informatics at the Belarusian State University in Minsk. While studying, she was already working for a European company first in Belarus, then in Georgia and now from Switzerland where she arrived to start her Master’s degree. Her hobby is hiking and she even managed to bring it into her thesis project. After her studies, she would like to work as a UX designer in the healthcare field, ideally within a medical, biotech, or pharmatech company in Europe.
Why did you choose to attend the Master of Arts in Interaction Design at SUPSI?
I decided to join the Master after speaking with my Bachelor’s supervisor. She knew my interest in working with physical interfaces and connecting the digital and physical worlds, and she told me this programme would be a perfect fit. When I looked into it, I discovered it included learning how to program Arduino for interface design, and I immediately thought, “I have to do this!”. Seeing the projects from previous students sealed the deal for me.
What impact has the Master’s program had on you as a designer and as a person?
As a designer, I’ve gained new hard skills. I’ve also learned how to collaborate with different people in diverse teams, always keeping a clear focus on the results we want to achieve. On a personal level, it’s been all about soft skills: how to communicate effectively and deliver speeches. A couple of years ago, if someone had told me I’d be giving a 20-minute presentation on a topic I know well, I would’ve said, “No way! I’m more of a behind-the-scenes person”. But here at SUPSI, you’re challenged to “sell” your projects to professors during examinations, and that has made a huge difference. And guess what? I received an invitation to deliver a pitch in Georgia in December about “UX Strategies for design products with AI implementation” at a MeetUp called “SeniorGPT”.
What is the theme of your thesis project?
My thesis focuses on supporting non-professional hikers in dangerous mountain situations. The project deals with problems caused by climate change, like landslides and rockfalls, which often catch people unprepared and put them in danger. My solution is a voice assistant that detects panic and offers a structured plan to help them stay safe.
Why would you recommend this Master’s program to other students?
I’ve noticed that many designers still believe coding isn’t important for their work, but I disagree. This Master’s program teaches designers how to approach coding from a design perspective – how to use it to bring ideas to life, demonstrate interactions, and conduct user testing. What’s more, many think that User Experience design is just about creating interfaces and graphics, but it’s much more than that. You also need to show how interfaces will behave and impact the User Experience. The Master highlights that connection.