Who Am I?
My name is Valeria Kuskova and I’m a Product (UX/UI) designer with a background in hospitality and aviation.
I studied Hospitality Management in Greece and later joined Emirates as a cabin crew. In both hospitality and aviation, I worked closely with people with different personalities, solving problems, and staying calm under pressure. While the two fields were different, they both taught me how to communicate clearly, listen actively, and be empathetic - all of which I later realized are just as valuable in UX design.
Why UX/UI design?
First thing that actually attracted me to the UX/UI was the idea of designing with purpose - not just making things look good, but making them work better for people. The more I explored, the more I saw how naturally it matches with my skills: understanding human needs, adapting quickly, and approaching challenges with curiosity. These skills, that I developed over years of working in hospitality and aviation, became the foundation of how I now approach design that is focused on people’s needs. I saw this clearly during my very first UX/UI project. I found myself relying on empathy to stay focused on the user’s perspective, asking questions about their journey and how the product would feel from their point of view. Problem solving helped me make decisions when I faced design challenges or unexpected user feedback. And clear communication allowed me to present ideas effectively and stay open to collaboration and critique. It reminded me that design isn’t just about visuals - it’s about people.
I’m drawn to minimal, modern design with thoughtful details and a touch of character. My values include clarity, curiosity, and intentional creativity, and I would like to reflect those in every project. I’m excited to keep learning and growing as a designer and contribute to something meaningful, in order to make people’s lives better.
Cannot wait to collaborate with you! 👩🏼💻
My skills
✔️ UI & Visual Design ➡️ responsive design, style guides, design systems
✔️ Research & Strategy ➡️ user interviews, usability testing, affinity mapping, card sorting, competitive analysis
✔️ Product Thinking ➡️ user journeys, storyboarding, wireframing, prototyping,
product goals alignment
✔️ Collaboration & Tools ➡️ Figma, Miro, Adobe Suite
✔️ Soft Skills ➡️ never give up mindset, empathy, cross-cultural communication, problem-solving under pressure, adaptability, multitasking, teamwork
Outside of design I am…
🧘🏼♀️ Certified yoga teacher (yes, I can teach headstands!)
🌍 Visited 45+ countries and counting
🌋 Climbed a volcano & lived in an ashram (Eat, Pray, Love vibes)
🦈 Swam with sharks & went skydiving
🍵 Always on the hunt for the best matcha in the world

