Heta-Linnea Kovanen - Multidisciplinary Designer

EXPERIENCE

  • Designer — Sarake Oy (2025–present)

    I work as a UX/UI designer in a secure information management and enterprise software environment. I collaborate closely with developers, product owners, and stakeholders to design and improve complex digital systems.

    My work focuses on making structured and often complex information systems more usable, coherent, and efficient from a user perspective, while balancing technical constraints and business needs. I also focus on improving how design is practiced in organizations, not only what is designed.

  • UX / Product Designer — Fujitsu Finland (2022–2024)

    Worked in a cross-functional low-code development team (initially within a DevOps environment), combining UX/UI design with hands-on collaboration in a technical delivery context. Focus remained on user-centered design while working closely with developers and product owners.

  • Founder & Design Lead — Independent Practice (2025–present)

    Independent design practice focusing on visual and product design, concept development, and client collaboration. Combining strategic thinking with visual execution across different domains. I take ownership of design direction, prioritization, and delivery, often operating in a lead role across multidisciplinary projects.

  • Freelance Designer (2016–2025)

    Multidisciplinary design practice spanning UX/UI, visual arts, branding, and visual communication. Projects include digital services, identity systems, editorial design, and illustration work across diverse industries.

    The work required strong conceptual thinking, adaptability, and independent end-to-end responsibility across design processes.

COLLABORATIONS & TEACHING EXPERIENCE

  • Illustration Teacher — Comic Centre Finland (2023)

  • Illustration Course Teacher — Hertsikan Pumppu (2021)

  • Illustrator / Graphic Designer — Maaseudun Tulevaisuus (2020–2021)

  • Arts & Marketing Coordinator — Luova Records (2018–2019)

  • Founder & Curator — Luova Art Gallery (online) (2019–2020)

  • Performance Artist — International Poetry Festival, Eskisehir (2017)

  • Gallery Assistant — Om’Pu Gallery (2013–2015)

  • Museum Guide — Vesanto Croft Museum (2008)

DESIGN LEADERSHIP & PROJECT OWNERSHIP

Across independent and freelance work, I have taken ownership of design direction and end-to-end delivery. This includes aligning stakeholders, making design decisions, and ensuring coherence between user needs, business goals, and execution.

I have often acted as the primary design lead in projects, coordinating collaboration across disciplines and working in complex, ambiguous project environments. I am also interested in how design practices and team capabilities evolve, and how better ways of working can improve both quality and impact.

EDUCATION

  • Master of Culture and Arts (ongoing)
    Savonia University of Applied Sciences | 2025–

    Interdisciplinary studies in design, innovation, and organizational development, with emphasis on leadership and creative practice in complex systems.

  • BBA, Bachelor of Business Administration (Marketing)
    Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences | 2017

    Background in business, marketing, and organizational thinking, providing a foundation for understanding design in relation to business goals and strategic decision-making.

  • Full-Stack Developer Bootcamp
    Academic Work Academy | 2022

  • Graphic Designer / Visual Expression
    Pekka Halonen Academy of Art (Keuda) | 2021

INDIVIDUAL LEARNING & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Continuous learning in UX, service design, psychology of interaction, and creative leadership, focusing on how design connects to human behavior, systems thinking, and organizational development. Also including applied use of AI tools in design workflows (e.g. UX Pilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Figma AI) for ideation, prototyping, and concept development.

I am also interested in how design practices and team capabilities evolve, and how better ways of working can improve both quality and impact. Currently completing a Master’s thesis (M.A. in Culture and Arts, Innovation Management), focused on supporting leadership through psychological safety in organizations. The thesis includes a prototyped digital tool exploring how an interface can support leadership practices and foster psychological safety in team environments.

MEMBERSHIPS & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION

  • ORNAMO - Finnish Designers

  • Grafia Ry - Association of Visual Communication Designers Finland

  • Kuvittajat Ry - The Finnish Illustration Association

  • TEK - Traditional Ecological Knowledge student member

Selected visual works

Alongside my work in product and UX design, I have maintained a long-term independent practice in illustration, visual art, and experimental storytelling. This section brings together selected works from my independent practice in illustration, visual art, and experimental storytelling, developed alongside my work in product and UX design.

    • 2025 The Finnish Illustration Association Kuvittajat, Grant for Expenses

    • 2025 The Finnish Illustration Association Kuvittajat, Project Grant for Book Illustrations

    • 2025 Freelance Graafikot, Grant for Expenses

    • 2024 The Finnish Illustration Association Kuvittajat Grant for Expenses

    • 2024 Grafia, Educational Grant

    • 2024 JOKES, Grant for Expenses

    • 2023 The Finnish Illustration Association Kuvittajat Grant for Expenses

    • 2022 The Finnish Illustration Association Kuvittajat, Grant for Expenses

    • 2022 Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Working Grant

    • 2021 The Finnish Illustration Association Kuvittajat ry, Grant for Expenses

    • 2021 Freelance Graafikot, Grant for Expenses

    • 2021 Grafia, Grant for Expenses

    • 2021 Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Working Grant

    • 2021 JOKES, Working Grant

    • 2021 Arts Promotion Centre Finland,  Working Grant

    • 2021 Summer of the Arts by Kulta ry & Finnish Cultural Foundation, Working Grant

    • 2021 Pekka Halonen Academy of Arts, Scholarship

    • 2020 The Finnish Illustration Association Kuvittajat, Working Grant  

    • 2020 Arts Promotion Centre Finland,  Working Grant

  • Selected awards for the project Museum of Contemporary Emotions, where I contributed as an illustrator and visual designer in a team:

    • Webby Awards — 3× Winner
      GrandOne — 2× Winner + 2× Honorary Mention
      Vuoden Huiput — Silver (Experimental Design)
      One Show — Shortlist
      Clio Awards — Shortlist
      Golden Drum — 2× Shortlist

    • 2025 Cafe Bar no. 9 / Ysibaari, Helsinki

    • 2025 Telakka Gallery, Tampere

    • 2025 Kalasataman Vapaakaupunki Gallery, Helsinki

    • 2025 Designkaverit Studio, Helsinki

    • 2024 Designkaverit Studio, Helsinki

    • 2024 Round Tripla, Helsinki

    • 2024 Telakka Gallery, Tampere

    • 2024 Cafe Round Tripla, Helsinki

    • 2021 Mesta Co-working Herttoniemi, Helsinki 

    • 2021 Air Frosterus Online Gallery

    • 2020 Central Library Oodi, Helsinki 

    • 2019 Entresse Library, Espoo 

    • 2018 Luova Online Art Gallery Artist of the Month Sept

    • 2018 Om’Pu Gallery, Helsinki

    • 2018 Järvenpää Library, Järvenpää 

    • 2017 Uusi Tampere Music Festival, Tampere 

    • 2014 Vesanto Library, Vesanto 

    • 2014 Om’Pu Gallery, Helsinki

    • 2013 Cafe Lounge, Jyväskylä 

    • 2013 Kallio Kukkii Festival, Helsinki 

    • 2013 Lungberg, Helsinki 

    • 2025 Ysibaari / Cafe Bar No 9, Chicken Coriander Group Exhibition

    • 2025 Ysibaari / Cafe Bar No 9, Solo exhibition

    • 2025 LaFiaba Gallery, Jyväskylä

    • 2025 Next Step, Gallery Kookos Helsinki

    • 2023 Luonnos Gallery Group Exhibition, Helsinki 

    • 2022 Romu & Random w/ Juho Luukkainen, Tampere 

    • 2021 Cable Factory Group Exhibition, Helsinki 

    • 2021 Pato Gallery, Kouvola 

    • 2020 Cafe Talo w/ Eemi Kettunen, Helsinki 

    • 2018 Hoppa Gallery Kaleidoskooppi Festival Group Exhibition, Jyväskylä 

    • 2017 Bar Vakiopaine w/ Aura Kajaniemi, Jyväskylä 

    • 2014 Om’Pu Gallery Group Exhibition, Helsinki 

    • 2014 Window Gallery w/Panu Kivi, Helsinki 

    • 2013 Kallio Kipinöi Festival, Helsinki 

    • 2022 Screener Short Films, Hackney, London

    • 2021BALKAN CAN-KINO, Athens, Greece

    • 2021LINEA D’OMBRA FESTIVAL, Salerno, Italy

    • 2021 The Unprecedented Cinema - International Festival of Short Film, Tallinn, Estonia

    • 2021 Savonlinna International Film Festival, Video art Screenings, SAVONLINNA, FINLAND

    • 2021 huhtamo International Film Festival, Huhtamo, Finland

    • 2021 Mister Vorky Animation Festival, Official One-minute Film Competition, Ruma, Serbia

    • 2021 T-Short online Animation Festival, Out of Competition Experimental

    • 2021 Electric utility Box Art, Arabia Street Festival, HELSINKI, FINLAND

    • 2018 Electric utility Box Art, YLÄKAUPUNGIN YÖ RY & JYVÄSKYLÄN ENERGIA, JYVÄSKYLÄ, FINLAND

    • 2017 Electric utility Box Art, Yläkaupungin Yö & Jyväskylän Energia, JYVÄSKYLÄ, FINLAND

    • 2012 Electric utility Box Art, Arabia Street Festival, HELSINKI

  • 2024

    • Mimmit Koodaa Tech Program Sticker Logo

      2023

    • Loukko Zine, Alakulttuurikeskus Loukko

    • Ester Nuori Leppä: Polka Memoriam LP Cover Art, Helmi Levyt

    • Ester Nuori Leppä: Polka Memoriam Cassette Cover Art, Helmi Levyt

    • Poster Designs for Photographer Eemi Kettunen

    • SunSusu Logo 

    • Maagine: Sylityksin Cover Art

    • Maagine: Lassoo Cover Art

    • Maagine Band Logo

      2022 

    • Puistojatkot -blog illustration, Apu Magazine

    • Loukko Zine, Alakulttuurikeskus Loukko

    • Sara Kärpänen: Naisten kaupunki, Book Cover, Into-Kustannus

    • Karlo Haapiainen: Sigfried Holopaisen valitut kokemukset, Esterin Kirja

    • Harvinainen Brand Design

    • Maagine: Vanha koira Cover art

    • Maagine: Pisaroiksi Cover art

      2021 

    • Herttoniemeläinen Magazine

    •  Särö Magazine

    • Oikolukija Newspaper, Esterin Kirja

    • Vihreän Oksan Werstas Logo design

    • Ester Nuori Leppä: Rakkauden Pasila Gotham City Cover art, Alakulttuurikeskus

    • Several illustrations for Maaseudun Tulevaisuus Newspaper

      2020 

    • Atte Koskinen: Aamuun nousevat Book Cover, Esterin kirja

    • Several illustrations for Maaseudun Tulevaisuus Newspaper

      2018-2019 

    • Väkevä Feminist Magazine

    • OI-Zine #4, Esterin kirja

    • Several Illustrations for Alakulttuurikeskus Loukko

    • Niin&Näin Magazine

    • Ester Nuori Leppä: Kevään laulut Book Cover, Esterin kirja

    • Emilia Elelé: Lomalla taas, Cover art, Luova Records

    • Emilia Elelé: Lama-ajan lapset, Cover art, Luova Records

    • Unya: UNYA Cover art, Eclipse Music

    • Kynnet Band T-Shirt design

    • Luola Record Label Logo + Web Design

    • WOTISART? Magazine, UK

    • Average Art Magazine, UK

    • Not Random Art Magazine, UK

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