Successful Internship Stories at Stenik, Interview #5 - Ivelina Yordanova: "Know a little about a lot of things, just enough to make you dangerous!

From the beginning of our rubric, we introduced you to the inspiring and successful stories of our talented colleagues: Yulian - Junior Project Manager, Nikola - Front-end Developer, Nikolay – Back-end Programmer, and Stanimir Dimov - Junior Project Manager. Now, let us introduce you to a highly creative member of our design team, Ivelina Yordanova. Learn more about her story and creative contributions to Stenik's eCommerce projects. 

Focus on: Ivelina Yordanova

Ivelina is originally from the beautiful city of Burgas, but education and professional challenges brought her to Sofia. She has always been a creative person, and even before it became her profession, she was fascinated by design. At one point, she realized that this was not just a passion but a true calling and boldly decided to take the next step - turning her dream into a successful career and Stenik provided the opportunity for that.

Iv loves reading books and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. At home, PlayStation has become her new source of entertainment, helping her relax in everyday life. She describes cross-stitching as her 'most unusual' hobby, but the truth is that this activity is closely related to design and plays a key role in developing her pixel-perfect eye.

Her motto is: "Know a little about a lot of things, just enough to make you dangerous!"

>> Hi, Iva! Tell us what made you apply for an internship at Stenik? Did you know anything about the company before the internship?

Certainly! I've always had the habit, even years ago, of scrolling to the bottom of a website to see who its developer is. Over time, I've noticed that all my favorite online stores, where I regularly shop and truly enjoy the experience, are developed by Stenik. When I stumbled upon the internship announcement, I was incredibly excited – after all, who wouldn't want to work for a company they admire?

>> What knowledge did you have at the beginning of the internship?

Before starting the internship, I successfully completed several design and front-end development courses. Although these skills were an excellent foundation, real value came from my previous experience. I had a good sense of colors, fonts, and layout. So, when it came time to create a portfolio, it wasn't difficult for me to show examples that would impress. In addition to basic knowledge of designing online stores and good knowledge of working with Figma, soft skills such as being quite organized in my tasks, being able to present and adapt quickly, helped me a lot.

>> Who was your mentor, and what did you learn from him?

My mentor was the Team Lead of the design team - Zori, who has been with the company for many years. She introduced me to the work processes from the very beginning, providing valuable real-world examples. I continue to learn a lot from her and am inspired by her sense of design. I could also call Stefan Chorbanov my mentor since in the first months of my internship, he carefully monitored my progress and provided valuable guidance that helped me quickly adapt to the new work environment.

>> Describe the internship at Stenik in three words.

Exciting, dreamy, successful.

>> How do you feel as part of the successful internship stories at Stenik?

I am extremely pleased that I was able to showcase my abilities during the internship, taking advantage of all the opportunities provided, and that my potential was recognized. The support from my colleagues in the company played a crucial role in helping me integrate into the team quickly, and this support continues to this day.

>> What path have you taken at Stenik, and what is your career development up to this point?

As a design intern, I am now a UI/UX designer.

>> What are your main responsibilities in this position?

To create suitable designs for our client's online stores, we, as a team, go through several key stages – refining their specific business requirements and analyzing the needs of their users to provide a working solution. In the process of designing, we hold additional meetings with both the client and internal teams. Additionally, part of my responsibilities includes proposing UX solutions for improvements aimed at a better user experience.

>> What motivates you the most at Stenik?

The colleagues and our clients. It's wonderful to be part of a cohesive team where everyone's effort contributes to achieving a common goal. Working with great clients who appreciate the true value of our efforts makes every project particularly satisfying. The feeling when we launch a project live, see how everyone's work comes to life, and the client is satisfied is truly amazing.

>> What projects are you currently working on?

Currently, I am developing several interfaces in the very early stages, so my work involves a lot of variety – a baby products store, an agriculture store, and a store for alcoholic beverages.

>> With which colleagues/departments do you communicate most frequently?

Besides the design team, I most frequently communicate with project managers, as all tasks coming to me go through them. Of course, I also work very closely with the Front-end team to clarify details about the interfaces under development. It often happens that I communicate with the Support department to prepare additional developments for our existing clients.

>> How does a typical workday go?

I divide my day into two parts – before lunch, I'm in meetings with clients or the team, handling small tasks and planning my work. After lunch, I entirely focus on designing the larger projects, allowing me to be truly productive.

>> How do you maintain your knowledge and qualifications?

In addition to following news and trends in eCommerce design, I observe good practices in the online sphere. I participate in Bulgarian and international communities for sharing experiences and ideas, get excited every year about the development and new features in design software, and, of course, receive many insights from colleagues with over 10 years of experience.

>> What are your goals at Stenik and in your career?

I love my job and wake up every day with new energy and ideas, so my goals are to continue developing and be able to offer better solutions and contribute to the company's development.

>> How do you manage work-life balance at Stenik?

At Stenik, this is quite easy and is one of the reasons why I feel so good in my workplace. The opportunity to work remotely was very important for me, especially considering that my position requires me to be quite creative, which I achieve when I have peace and time for concentration. In Stenik, I don't worry if something unexpected comes up in my personal life because I know I can be flexible with my time.

>> What skills and qualities are needed to work as a UI/UX designer?

For any young designer, it is really important to enjoy what they do. For me, this means constantly building my skills and being inspired by best practices in the field. As basic skills, I can mention - knowing how to work with design software like Figma, being familiar with the basic principles of design, and having a good sense.

>> What is your advice to future interns in a similar position in the digital industry?

Be curious, seek, read, don't stop educating yourself, and always be motivated to give your best.