Hi, I'm Isa
I'm a user researcher with a background in design, working on digital services in the UK public sector.
I began my career designing physical products in Finland, from furniture and lighting to packaging. Over time, I became more interested in how people used the things I designed, what they needed from them, and how those things could work better. That curiosity led me into user research.
Today, I'm a Senior User Researcher at the Home Office. I lead research that helps teams build digital services that are clear, accessible and grounded in real user needs. My work focuses on understanding behaviour, uncovering barriers, and making sure people with access needs or low digital confidence are included in the design of services they rely on. I also mentor researchers and help grow the team.
Before joining the Home Office, I worked at the Parliamentary Digital Service, helping both Houses of Parliament improve digital services through user-centred research. Before that, I was a consultant at Rainmaker Solutions, working across public and private sector projects and helping teams turn research into better services.
Outside work, I'm especially interested in speculative design, sustainable design and research ethics. These are the parts of the field that keep me curious. They keep me thinking not just about what works now, but what should exist next.
Career journey
From product design to public sector research, with each step shaping how I think about people, services and the role of research.
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2011
At Innolux in Helsinki, I designed the Modulo lamp series. It was my first experience of taking an idea from sketch to finished product. It was also where my career began.
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2016 to 2017
At Stylus, I researched product design innovation and future trends. At Nesta, I explored speculative design as a tool for government innovation. Both roles gave me space to think about design in a wider way.
They shaped interests I still care about now, especially ethics, sustainability and future-facing work.
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2017 to 2019
At Rainmaker Solutions, I led user research and service design across public and private sector projects. It was a great place to build my practice. I worked in multidisciplinary teams and saw how research could directly improve services.
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2019 to 2022
At the Parliamentary Digital Service, I helped both Houses of Parliament design better digital services. I loved working in such a distinctive institution. It gave me the chance to bring user insight into a complex environment and help make important services clearer and easier to use.
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2022 onwards
At the Home Office, I lead user research for digital services that need to work for a very wide range of people. That includes people with access needs and people with low digital confidence. It is work I care deeply about.
Good research here can make services more inclusive, more usable and more effective for the people who rely on them.
Selected writing
A few things I've written about research, design, and working in the public sector.
User-centred design: how to demonstrate value
On making the case for user-centred design within an organisation and demonstrating the value research brings to delivery teams.
Read article
Giving money back: our journey to make refunds easier
A look at how we used research and service design to understand and improve the refund process at Newham Council.
Read article
Speculative design: a design niche or a new tool for government innovation?
Exploring how speculative design could be used as a strategic tool to help governments think about the future.
Read article
The leading free-to-use mentorship platform with mentors in AI, UI/UX design, product management, software development and marketing.
I've been mentoring researchers and designers through ADPList since 2021. I mentor there because these fields can be hard to break into. They can also be difficult to navigate once you are in them.
I especially enjoy speaking with people who are trying to get into user research, thinking through their next career move, or working on a project that feels stuck. I'm also happy to talk to researchers and designers who want a sounding board on portfolios, practice, public sector work, or how to grow with more confidence in their role.
If that sounds useful, you're very welcome to book a session.