Marina Krutchinsky

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

VP, UX Design, CCB

MentorCruise

Ready for your UX career boost? Let's make it happen together. Over the years, I've helped 100+ of UXers find jobs by capitalizing on their unique strengths. They are now shaping the future of UX at Amazon, Meta, Spotify, Carnegie Mellon and many other well-known places.

As your mentor, I will help you:
- Assess your current UX skillset
- Identify your unique strengths
- Plan your career advancement in UX design
- Build a powerful portfolio that will get you hired
- Sharpen your storytelling and presentation skills
- Craft a result-driven resume and cover letter
- Prepare you for job interviews
- Help with a job search strategy and referrals

My mentoring approach, inspired by Kim Scott's "Radical Candor", is all about being straightforward, supportive, and inspiring. You'll leave each session motivated and knowing exactly what to do next. 

I offer monthly plans and one-off sessions tailored to a particular topic. 

Most popular one-off sessions--

→ UX resume revamp: crafting a high-impact, job-winning resume
→ Unlocking your UX leadership potential 
→ Ace that next-level Interview: a customized UX interview prep for experienced professionals

Book at → https://mentorcruise.com/sessions/mentor/marinakrutchinsky/

DM me if you have any questions.

Private UX Mentor + Career Strategy Coach

21.co

→ Built and managed a large high-performing design team (product design, brand/visual/content design, and design research) across Switzerland, USA, Poland, and Greece.
→ Developed a global design strategy to enhance crypto experience for users around the world.
→ Partnered with senior leaders to align on a customer-centric crypto product vision.
→ Elevated design standards to ensure a unified experience for all investors.
→ Established UXR practice to improve key customer interactions, increasing engagement.
→  Fostered a strong emphasis on design within the company, improving overall collaboration.
→ Established a robust design training and mentorship system, enabling the design team to excel.

Head of Design, Global

Webhues Solutions

Founded and led a global consultancy focused on creating human-centered experiences that improve people's relationships with technology. Our work at the intersection of technology and design was driven by the belief that technology should be intuitive, accessible, and enjoyable to use. We partnered with a diverse range of clients, including research institutions, startups, emerging e-commerce businesses, and publishers primarily in the fintech, medtech, and social good sectors. Through our expertise in human-centered design, we helped our clients prosper by developing solutions that met their users' needs, exceeded their expectations, and created long-lasting impact.

Co-Founder, Head of Design & UX

Designlab

Coached 3 cohorts of UX Academy students through 480+ hours of UX Design coursework, 100+ hands-on exercises and 4 portfolio projects. Special emphasis on design thinking, strategic problem framing, and user-centered research-driven design.

UX Academy Mentor

American Express

→ Drove UX strategy for Amex's top-tier product.
→ Audited Kabbage UX pre-acquisition for strategic alignment.
→ Led Lean UX Discovery for Amex's QSR payment re-platforming.
→ Hosted design workshops, emphasizing systematic user needs.
→ Transformed complex data interfaces into actionable insights.
→ Guided UX designers for strategic, high-quality outcomes.
→ Received a company award for Enterprise Thinking.

Sr./Lead UX Designer, Global Commercial Services

BORN Group

Conceptualized and led the creation of innovative omnichannel e-commerce experiences for the agency clients, including Nestlé Starbucks®, Intel® RealSense™, TABASCO®, Natori, Helzberg Diamonds, ALLDATA (Autozone), FEED Projects & Elementis.

Senior UX Designer

Civic Ventures

Built and led the multidisciplinary web team, provided expertise and advocacy for UX best practices, conducted user research, designed and tested HTML/CSS prototypes, coordinated external designers, photographers, videographers and web developers. Created deliverables including functional specifications, content matrices, taxonomies, personas, task analysis, user flows, sitemaps, annotated wireframes.

Director of Web Services

Experience lead and designer for all organization’s 5+ corporate and community websites built with Drupal and Coldfusion. Guided external design team. Defined, socialized and enforced user experience best practices.

Design Director

Contegra Systems

Led experience, design & front-end development for enterprise and B2B search solutions. Scoped the upcoming projects and architected the frameworks specifying all the navigational, functional and content components.

Client projects included WebMD Professional Library (Medscape), Cornell University/Albert R. Mann Library/TEEAL, Foundation Center - Fact Finder, OTIS - OtisWave 2.0, Slack Inc/ HemOnc Today, Carrier (Transicold division), Municode, BLR, and Pike&Fischer among others.

Lead Interactive Designer/ Front-End Development Consultant

freelance

Information architect, interactive designer, user researcher and front-end developer for in-house design teams. Design consultant for numerous industries including financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, consumer goods, and biomedical research.

Select Clients/Projects: FundFiling, Financial Finesse, ProteoLab, iSalary, AZvortex

Interactive/Web Designer

By day, I lead the design of financial products at JPMC. 
By night, I coach UXers on using their strengths to up-level their career, and advise startups on UX strategy. 
📌 Sign up for my newsletter read by 2,500+ UXers: uxmentor.substack.com

Over the last two decades, I’ve helped:

👉 build high-performing multidisciplinary design teams (21.co, Civic Ventures); 
👉 shape UX of the next-generation financial services (American Express, 21.co, JPMorgan Chase); 
👉 simplify onboarding experience for the mainstream crypto users (21Shares, Amun); 
👉 streamline the fundraising process with powerful search tools (Foundation Center); 
👉 design effective e-commerce experiences (Starbucks, Intel, Tabasco); 
👉 revamp a professional medical digital library (WebMD/MedScape); 
👉 modernize extranet experience for field engineers (Otis); 
👉 prototype and build a chatbot-based grad school application system, and much more.

To learn more about my experience, visit krutchinsky.com
_____________________________________
⚠️ My posts are my own and do not reflect the opinions of my current, past, or future employers.

UX is actually not that hard.
You've got to be tech-savvy.
And comprehend design principles.
And channel your creativity.
And empathize with your users.
And immerse yourself in cognitive psychology.
And be able to decipher user data.
And excel at brainstorming.
And craft prototypes.
But also not taking too long at prototyping.

You should be able to critique designs.
You should know about strategy.
And how it's different from user research.
And how that's different from information architecture.
And how those are different from interaction design.
And how all that is different from service design.
And don't forget about design thinking.
And the art of conducting effective workshops.
And a bit of usability testing.
And how all this adds up to an optimal user experience.
And how usability is not user satisfaction.
And consistency is not monotony.
But both are important.

You need to keep things simple.
But also not so simple that it feels you’ve slacked off.
And certainly not so complex that it screams self-importance.
You should be smart, but not too smart.
Clear, but not too obvious.
Creative, but not too creative.
Challenging, but not obstructive.
Articulate, but not showy.
Bold, but not off-putting.

Oh, and you need to know the difference between design, strategy, strategic design and designing strategically.
And how strategy is not tactics.
And tactics are not prototypes.
And prototypes are not final products.
And vice-versa on all the above.
Like I said.
Easy.
It's just wireframes and post-its.

#ux #uxhumor 

Inspiration -> https://lnkd.in/emtTt2ew

---

If you liked this post.

🔔 Follow: Marina Krutchinsky

♻ Repost to help others find it.

💾 Save it for future reference.

I lead the design of complex digital products, advise startups, and coach UXers on using their strengths to up-level their careers.

Over the last two decades, I’ve worked with companies of all sizes helping 👇
👉 build high-performing multidisciplinary design teams (21.co, Civic Ventures); 
👉 shape UX of the next-generation financial services (American Express, 21.co, JPMorgan Chase); 
👉 simplify onboarding experience for the mainstream crypto users (21Shares, Amun); 
👉 streamline the fundraising process with powerful search tools (Foundation Center); 
👉 design effective e-commerce experiences (Starbucks, Intel, Tabasco); 
👉 revamp a professional medical digital library (WebMD/MedScape); 
👉 modernize extranet experience for field engineers (Otis); 
👉 prototype and build a chatbot-based grad school application system, and much more.

To learn more about my experience, visit krutchinsky.com

✍️ Or, join 500+ UXers who receive my unconventional UX insights, tips and career advice direct to their inboxes every week. Subscribe at uxmentor.substack.com
_____________________________________
⚠️ My posts are my own and do not reflect the opinions of my current, past, or future employers.

Miranda Seidl

One of my UX mentees was really struggling.

Looking for shortcuts.
Jumping on every new trend.
Trying to do everything at once.

Every time he faced an obstacle, his gut reaction was:

"Maybe I'm not meant for UX."

This extreme mindset was very damaging.

A single piece of feedback felt like a career verdict.

He lacked a clear framework for his learning.

So, I introduced him to the "UX Growth Matrix".

⬇️

First, we identified 4 critical growth areas:

1️⃣ Skills Development:
↳  Sharpening both design and research skills.

2️⃣ Industry Engagement:
↳ Becoming a part of the UX community and "making friends" there.

3️⃣ Project Experience:
↳ Building a diverse portfolio of impactful work.

4️⃣ Personal Brand:
↳ Crafting a unique voice & UX presence.

⬇️

Then, we devised strategies for each of the 4 areas:

➡️ "Skills Development"
↳ Attend free workshops and courses.
↳ Practice applying design thinking outside of design.
↳ Take on micro-projects to sharpen decision-making.
↳ Communicate the rationale behind every decision.
↳ Seek feedback regularly.

➡️ "Industry Engagement"
↳ Attend local meet-ups to build community ties.
↳ Help in organizing community events.
↳ Join UX-focused groups on LinkedIn.
↳ Subscribe to UX newsletters.

➡️ "Project Experience"
↳ Volunteer doing UX for non-profits.
↳ Participate in hackathons & UX challenges.
↳ Explore inclusive design practices.
↳ Experiment with AI tools and document findings.

➡️ "Personal Brand"
↳ Participate in X/Twitter chats on UX topics.
↳ Regularly post updates and thoughts on LinkedIn.
↳ Comment insightfully on posts' of others.
↳ Start a UX blog to share experiences of his learning journey → connect with a broader audience.

The goal was to regularly touch EACH of these 4 growth areas.

⬇️

Final step: daily progress reviews.

Every night, he took stock of his progress in each area.
Evaluated his learning experiences and network expansion.
(These 2 areas he had direct influence over.)

One day, he might lag in one area but excel in another. 

He learned to celebrate these achievements as critical parts of his ongoing growth.

⬇️

The outcome:

After ~ 4-5 months of applying the UX Growth Matrix, he transformed. 

Once overwhelmed by the "pursuit of perfection" and swayed by every new trend, he found his footing.  

He became structured in his growth, accelerating his skills and understanding his strengths. 

His involvement in the UX community grew his network and established him as a sought-after guide for those who were just starting out.

And by documenting his journey, he built a personal brand that resonated with many.

⬇️

Moral of the story:

When confronted with a setback in your UX career…
...advance towards the next component of your UX Growth Matrix instead!

#ux #uxcareergrowth

VP, UX Design @ JPMorgan Chase | UX Career Coach → Follow for proven career tips for high achievers

What are the critical growth areas of the UX Growth Matrix?

How can I overcome a setback in my UX career?

💥 Harsh truth about UX ↴

Most UXers can't guarantee you the success they've achieved for other products.

UXers often have portfolios full of successful case studies.

These serve as proof that they ↴

- Understand user behavior
- Can create balanced experiences
- Can impact user retention and engagement

I’ve been a part of projects that saw 200%+ increase in user engagement.

Can I guarantee the same for you?

Honestly?

Probably not.

Because your product, target audience, and market dynamics are unique.

You might not have the resources, time, or tolerance for constant iterations and testing.

But what a UXer can (and should) do is ↴

- Save you months of making common design mistakes
- Offer a strategy to deeply understand your users
- Minimize the risk of launching a flawed product

With a skilled UXer, you'll have a user-centric design from the start.

Without compromise.

And if you do prioritize user feedback and are open to continuous iteration ↴

Your product’s UX will improve.
Far more rapidly than without expert guidance.

Many underestimate the biggest advantage of user-centric design ↴

👉 You create trust and loyalty with your users.

Which is ESSENTIALLY what good UX is all about.

Not trendy animations. Not feature overload.

Purposeful design that makes your users feel understood and valued 💥

#ux #design #productdesign #uximpact

---

✍️ Do you agree?
♻ Repost if it could help others


How does user-centric design impact product success?

What are the key responsibilities of UXers?

What is the significance of UX in product development?

🚀 Trying to land a promotion in UX?

(then it's time to elevate your game)

Negotiating promotions is about:

→ Understanding your worth.
→ Communicating your impact.
→ Leveraging your achievements effectively.

To improve your promotion negotiation skills ↴

1️⃣ Create and maintain a "brag sheet"
- Track your project outcomes and user impact.
- Gather quantitative results and/or testimonials.
- How has your work increased customer satisfaction?

2️⃣ Highlight your unique contributions
- Be clear about what sets you apart.
- How does your work solve complex problems?
- Discuss specific projects where you led or innovated.

3️⃣ Build a compelling case
- Prepare a narrative that shows your contributions.
- Include challenges, solutions, and the benefits realized.
- How have you driven a positive change or added value to your team and project?

4️⃣ Advocate for your career path
- Speak to mentors and leaders about your aspirations.
- What specific roles are you aiming for?
- Understand & align your achievements to your company's promotion criteria.

5️⃣ Engage in continuous negotiation
- Understand that promotion is an ongoing conversation.
- Regularly update your leaders on your progress/goals.
- How frequently are you communicating your career goals and achievements?

#ux #uxcareergrowth #promotiontactics #negotiationskills

---
✍️ What would you add?
♻️ Share if I got it right.

﻿
P.S. In my next newsletter (Saturday, April 27th), I'll be breaking down the concept of "brag sheets", so expect a step-by-step guide and a helpful example to get yours just right 😉 And if you haven't yet, subscribe here → https://lnkd.in/eW-ijzbW

How can I improve my promotion negotiation skills?

What are some best practices for UX professionals?

How can a brag sheet help me in my career?

Many of my mentees come to me dreading the "tell me about yourself" question in job interviews.

They often take it too literally, making their answer all about "Me! Me! Me!"

Don't do it.

This is actually a golden opportunity to align yourself with the job you're applying for.

Here are 5 tips for a memorable "elevator pitch" ↴

1️⃣ Connect your last role to the this job.

Start from the end - explain how your last position and the skills and responsibilities you have/had there are directly applicable to the new role.

→ This sets a professional tone and immediately positions you as a fit.

2️⃣ Cite relevant experiences.

Highlight specific projects (or roles) that have prepared you for this job. Use examples from the job description as a guide and match your experiences with the skills and qualifications they’re seeking.

→ This makes your past experience directly relevant.

3️⃣ Emphasize specialized skills.

Point out particular skills mentioned in the job description that you excel in. If the role emphasizes advanced experience with design systems or presenting to the C-Suite, detail your expertise and experiences in these areas.

→ This shows you're not just skilled but ideal for the role.

4️⃣ Add a personal touch that resonates.

Include a brief personal story that relates to the challenges of the role. For example, share a moment when your ability to guide a discussion helped get everyone on the same page and secure funding for the project.

→ This builds an emotional bond with your audience, making your message more impactful.

5️⃣ Discuss how this role fits your career trajectory.

Conclude by tying your career goals to the opportunities this role offers. Express how this position is a crucial step in your professional development.

→ This shows foresight and a desire to commit long-term.

Every element of your answer should strengthen the case for why you're the right fit for the job.

By eliminating fluff of unrelated details, you communicate with clarity and relevance.

Remember:

In a job interview, aligning your introduction with the job description is critical.

Relevance is your ally in capturing and maintaining the interviewer's interest.

TL;DR:
1. Connect your last role to this job.
2. Cite relevant experiences.
3. Emphasize specialized skills.
4, Add a personal touch that resonates.
5. Discuss how this role fits your career trajectory.

The bottomline:

Don't just share your employment history.
Show you are ready to make a significant impact!

#ux #uxcareers #tellmeaboutyourself

---

🚨 Next issue of my newsletter (coming out Saturday, April 20th @ 9am EST) will explore this topic even further with more tips and real-life examples. Don’t miss out, subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/ewyNsGSs

Why is relevance important in capturing and maintaining the interviewer's interest?

How can I highlight relevant experiences in my elevator pitch?

How can I discuss my career trajectory in my elevator pitch?

VP, UX Design @ JPMorgan Chase | UX Career Coach - Follow for proven career tips for high achievers

➡️ Are you standing out or blending in?

(this hits harder the longer you're in UX)

Sure, straight-up expertise is important.
But what also matters is...

- What unique POV do you bring to the table?
- How do your strengths impact the outcomes?
- What's the cost of not using your unique approach?

So here is what I recommend to all my students ↴

Identify what sets you apart
↳ that's your competitive advantage

Understand the UX challenges where you excel
↳ that's your niche

Craft your narrative around your strengths.

Connect these strengths to the challenges.

And offer your unique approach as the solution 💥

That's how you build your personal brand in UX ↴
by knowing your strengths and using them effectively.

#ux #playtoyourstrengths #personalbrandingforUXers

---
👍 Agree?
♻️ Repost if you think it's helpful :) 

 
P.S. If you need help identifying your strengths as a UXer, I'll break the process down for you in my next newsletter (Saturday, May 4th). So if you are interested in this topic, subscribe here → https://lnkd.in/eW-ijzbW

What is the significance of leveraging strengths in UX?

How can unique perspectives impact personal branding in UX?

How does crafting a narrative contribute to personal branding in UX?

Taplio

Marina Krutchinsky's Linkedin Analytics