Joining Data Interchange: My lockdown experience

Heya, I am Hannah and I joined Data Interchange as a UX Designer at the start of March 2020. Up till this point, my career was within the creative and advertising sector where my main roles were creative strategy, brand management, and design. During this my focus was B2C, servicing the likes of Bavaria beer Global, Molson Coors, Derby football club, and a variety of SME and challenger brands. Outside of work I like to spend my time doing DIY projects such as upcycling, interiors, and crafts. I seek the outdoors, so spending time with the horses or visiting heritage sites is a great way for me to relax and unwind.

Why did you choose Data Interchange?

Advertising itself is on a shift. People increasingly are becoming so desensitised to brand-centric media or don’t see it at all due to the rise of ad-free subscriptions (Youtube premium, Netflix, amazon prime video, Spotify premium, etc) that without that big media budget it is near impossible to get cut through. And so, this led me to want a new challenge, I wanted to shift my focus to digital platforms, where we as humans are becoming more and more dependent. I wanted to expand on my existing expertise by channelling my problem-solving skills into UX (User Experience) design. Data Interchange were looking to expand their UX team, so it seemed like perfect timing. Plus, when I went for the interview, I really hit it off with the Head of the UX team. Knowing I would have a line manager that I could work well with was such an important factor for me.

“I was looking for somewhere I could make a change that mattered to people and provide value that could be measured. Enter Data Interchange, with the opportunity that ticked all those boxes and more.”

What was your first month like?

I started in March, managed a strong 5 days in my new role in the office, and then…Lockdown hit. If starting a new role was not already a challenge, try doing it remotely. However, with Data Interchange this was almost seamless. The infrastructure in place made working from home and adapting to my new role minimally different than if I was in the office. (I just wished I had remembered to pick up my mouse before we all left to embark on this new normal!) Everyone I have met in person and increasing via ‘Teams’ has been nothing but friendly and helpful. Swiftly being added to Teams groups for social interaction whilst working, where I was able to meet more people that were not necessarily in my department and bond on daily topics and discussions. 

Clear communication was evident

From the very start, I noticed the leadership team has a strong involvement throughout the company and are very transparent to all. Our CEO, Robert, is very friendly and has ensured that all employees across Data Interchange are kept up to speed on any changes happening through-out the company with full transparency. From monthly company updates to company drop-ins where employees get to have their say, ask questions, and get answers there and then, has shown me that Data Interchange is a company that cares about its employees and this works its way down through management.

My first immersive project at Data Interchange was the creation of a component library and design studio to be used across the company and its evolving products moving forward. This began with the new dashboard prototype on, for example, Data Interchanges DiNet product.

My line manager, Andy, has been nothing but supportive and on hand from the moment I started. Working from home can have its challenges when you cannot simply pop by someone’s desk to ask a question. However, Andy has always been approachable and available whenever I have needed help or guidance and I have felt very settled in my role early on.

“In short, my first month was met with a variety of challenges outside of anyone’s control but was smooth sailing and a pleasant one for sure.”