Tell us a bit more about yourself

My name is Laura van Aperen, the new UX/UI designer at Orange Juice. I grew up in Schiedam, but recently moved to Druten with my boyfriend and our dog Mango. Back in high school, I already knew: "I'm going to study Communication and Multimedia Design." Even though I was quite certain, I also considered studying web development. During a trial day, I quickly realized that the design aspect suited me better, so I ultimately chose Communication and Multimedia Design. 

Ux Ui Designer Laura

Why Orange Juice?

Before joining Orange Juice, I worked for four years in aerospace software as a designer. I wasn't actively looking for a new job, but I was open to something new. I came across Orange Juice on LinkedIn, which immediately caught my interest. I sent an email and was quickly invited for an interview. The interview felt right from the start; they work with interesting clients, offer a variety of projects, and provide a lot of freedom in your work. On top of that, they have a great team! Those aspects really appealed to me.

What will you be doing with us?

At Orange Juice, I'll be working as a UX/UI designer. My expertise lies in UX/UI design, but I'll also be handling all-round design tasks. So, it's a very varied role! What makes it even more enjoyable is seeing my ideas actually come to life through the web developers, and then seeing the final results.

What are you extremely good at?

It's not that I'm exceptionally good at designing itself, but rather at empathizing with the user and the client. I always look at things from the user's perspective before starting a design. Additionally, unlike most designers and creatives, I'm good at maintaining overview and structure.

What makes you happy?

Dogs make me the happiest! I grew up with them and absolutely adore them. For a while, due to my office job, I couldn't have a dog myself—I'm not in favor of leaving a dog alone all day. During that time, I used to dog-sit on weekends to still have that connection with dogs. My boyfriend works from home as a freelancer, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, like many others, my work situation changed. That's when we got our dog Mango. My dream was to have my own dog boarding kennel, but due to regulations and costs, I had to let go of that dream.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I always find this question difficult. I'm someone who lives more year by year, seeing how things unfold. My life can be very different in a year because of experiences I've had. I don't look too far into the future; I focus more on "What do I want now, at this moment?" 

  

We're thrilled to have Laura on our team! Would you like to join us too? Take a look at our vacancies, as there might be a position that's perfect for you.