Ninon

Ninon from France, a strategic and multidisciplinary designer who, after her internship at Ideon in Lund, secured a role as a UX designer at the company Storvix, also in Lund. 

What motivates a student from France to travel all the way north for an internship in Sweden?

For me, it was the lack of job opportunities in France that motivated me to go to another country. I wanted an interesting opportunity after my graduation. I wanted to be close to innovation and work on projects similar to the ones I aspired to create. 

Tell me about yourself, what have you studied and what were your ambitions before coming to Sweden?

I began with a bachelor’s in Product Design, which has a more industrial approach to design. After that, I completed a master’s in Global Design, focusing on social innovation. 

What is your professional role today, and what do you mainly work on?

Today, I work as a UX designer (Customer Experience Designer) at Storvix in Lund. I mainly work on the brand’s identity, but recently I have focused more on understanding and improving the customer journey. 

Have you always known that you wanted to work in communication and design?

It depends, definitely within design. Currently, I work in the IT sector at Storvix, which is a bit more IT-focused than I had initially imagined. The IT aspect wasn’t planned at all, but I’m quite happy with it because it still involves design.

Did you find it difficult to adapt to Sweden, for example, with the language and culture?

I haven’t started the SFI courses yet. It’s been very nice to learn about and experience Swedish culture, such as Midsummer. 

What do you remember most from your time as an intern in Sweden?

The most valuable experience was joining a project at Cellevate, a company located in Medicon Village. They were working with nanotechnology, which was fascinating to be involved in. 

How did you find the internship? Did it meet your expectations? Any surprises?

Before leaving France, I didn’t have much information about the internship. I had no expectations either, I was just hoping the experience would be interesting.

Sweden has a flatter organisational structure compared to other EU countries. Did you notice that compared to France?

Yes, definitely! Especially in terms of the close relationship with my supervisor at Ideon. Even within the team, there was a flat structure in how information was shared and work was divided. It’s something I still experience at Storvix.

Would you recommend the experience to other students?

Yes, absolutely! And I already have. 

Did you feel prepared enough before coming to Sweden? Anything you would change?

I felt quite comfortable in the programme. Everyone was very welcoming from the start, and things progressed gradually.

Any final words for students considering this programme?

Go for it! It’s an excellent experience to have.