Donika Palaj

About

Hello, I’m Donika ☺ an Experience + Foresight Strategist integrating design and sociology to find creative solutions for impactful futures.

My passion lies in combining strategic research with artistic vision. I walk the earth with a slightly tilted mindset, curious to understand social behaviors, explore innovative ideas, and transform insights into future-shaped concepts and engaging experiences.

Hello, I’m Donika ☺ an Experience + Foresight Strategist integrating design and sociology to find creative solutions for impactful futures.

With a Master’s in Future Design and a Bachelor's in Social Sciences, I bring a unique ability to blend creative design skills with strategic research methods.

For the past 7 years, I’ve steered my career toward digital user-centered design, tackling complex, multi-phase projects and focusing on inclusive experiences. Now, I’m setting my sights more on innovative and research-driven work to inspire change with impact.

Recognition

Speeches

At the 'Interactive Media Design Days 2023' event in St.Gallen, I had the honor of giving a speech on "Developing Empathy: The Social Research Behind UX Design".

Article

In this Medium Article , I showcase how my social sciences background influenced my contributions to building an accessible platform, including strategies for prioritizing inclusivity in a design system.

Mentions

– PAGE mentinos my Master's –project 'Cyber Sensitve Humor' as a young talent project.

– PAGE mentions the Swiss Illustrators website I designed @ KiloKilo.

Award

Awwward Recognition 'Site of the Day' for exhibition website 'Very f***ing real' by ZiKD I co-created @ KiloKilo.

Services

Creating Systems for Future Resilience

Strategic Foresight &

Social Research

Strategic Foresight &

Social Research

Strategic Foresight &

Social Research

Strategic Foresight

Systems Thinking

Sociology

Scenario Planning

Trend Mapping

Grounded Theory

Design Ethonagraphy

Writing

AI Competence

Trend Report

Marketing

Strategic foresight is the craft of exploring and shaping possible futures through social insight, critical analysis, and imaginative scenario building. Its purpose is not to predict what will happen, but to build systems that benefit from surprise and change. Through systems thinking, this approach embraces uncertainty as a creative force, using volatility, disruption, and complexity as catalysts for learning and innovation.

When combined with social research, foresight becomes deeply grounded in human behavior, cultural dynamics, and collective values. It helps organizations align their strategies with societal transformations and technological revolutions, especially by cultivating resilience, adaptability, and optionality for emerging opportunities.

Strategic foresight is a systemic process of exploring and envisioning possible futures through social insight, critical analysis, and imaginative scenario building to make better decisions in the present. Its purpose is not to predict what will happen, but to build systems that benefit from surprise and change. Through systems thinking, this approach embraces uncertainty as a creative force, using volatility, disruption, and complexity as catalysts for learning and innovation.

Building User Connection and Growth

Digital Experience Design

Inclusive Design

Brand Strategy

UX Research

UX UI Design

Concept + Ideation

Illustrations

Happy little Accidents

Design Systems

Design Thinking

Visual Identity

Sustainability

As societal needs evolve, businesses face growing complexity in how they deliver value. People today expect personalized and inclusive digital experiences that adapt seamlessly to their needs. In this landscape, design must not only communicate trust and clarity but also feel intuitive on a personal level.

By combining visual narrative, branding, and UX expertise with research-based insights, I help organizations turn complex user challenges into inclusive, and true-to-brand digital experiences. My approach blends creative problem-solving and analytical research to create products and services that build genuine connection and sustainable growth.

Art and Illustration

When I am not photosynthesizing from the warm glow of my laptop screen, creating future-ready solutions as a strategic design expert, you can find me painting in impressionistic colors, visiting art museums in various cities, reading melancholic book classics or social studies, and coming up with jokes for comedy stand-ups I'll never perform.

Sneak peak of my works