It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Vicky Teinaki, a brilliant and inspiring interaction designer from Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Vicky’s career and contributions to the field of user experience (UX) design and digital services were profound, leaving a legacy of innovation, dedication, and mentorship.
Vicky was most recently working as a UX Lead at the Student Loans Company, where her expertise in designing user-centric solutions was instrumental in improving digital services for students across the UK.
Her career also included impactful roles at the Government Digital Service (GDS), Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Her ability to craft intuitive and accessible designs made her a valued member of every team she joined. Since 2015, Vicky had been embedded in the UK government sector, where she excelled as a user researcher and later as an interaction designer.
Her keen eye for detail and passion for user-centric design led her to take on the role of a design assessor in 2017, helping evaluate services against the Digital Service Standard. Her efforts ensured that critical government services met the highest standards of usability and accessibility, benefiting millions of citizens.
Beyond her professional achievements, Vicky was a passionate writer and blogger. She began contributing to the online interaction design magazine Johnny Holland in 2008 and rose to the role of chief editor, or “kahuna,” from 2010 to 2012.
Her writings were a source of insight and inspiration for many in the design community. Additionally, she served as the official blogger for UX Scotland, further showcasing her dedication to advancing the field of UX design.
Vicky’s academic pursuits were as impressive as her professional career. From 2010 to 2015, she conducted doctoral research at Northumbria University, where she explored how designers could better communicate their work processes.
This research, which evolved from her earlier investigations into the aesthetics of touch, demonstrated her intellectual curiosity and commitment to pushing the boundaries of design theory and practice.
Vicky’s background as a developer added a unique dimension to her design work. She had experience with Drupal and WordPress theming and plugin development, showcasing her ability to bridge the gap between design and technology.
Although she moved away from hands-on development in recent years, she remained an avid learner, keeping up with trends and sharing her side projects online.
Vicky’s impact on the design community and those she worked with cannot be overstated. Her talent, curiosity, and passion for improving lives through design will continue to inspire future generations of designers and researchers.
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