Hi! I’m Olena

I'm Olena (you can also call me Alyona!), a Senior Interaction Designer at Google. My specialty is untangling messy, complex problems and making them feel simple and obvious. I love jumping into those big, foundational challenges—especially when there’s no roadmap to follow.

I’ve worked on everything from consumer apps to enterprise tools, spending a lot of my time lately on Generative AI, streamlining team workflows, and mapping out strategy. I started my career as a developer, and that engineering mindset is still my secret weapon for thinking systematically about design.

Add in years of living and working around the world, and you get a design approach that’s less about theory and more about how different cultures, cognitive science, and real human needs connect.

Outside work

When I’m not untangling complex design problems, you can usually find me exploring New York City. I feel lucky to be surrounded by so much culture and art—whether that means finding a tiny jazz club in the Village or getting lost in the Guggenheim.

My passion for art, especially music, often takes me around the world. What excites me most about traveling is the chance to dive into a new culture or pick up a few phrases in a new language. I like to say I have the curiosity of a child, and I'm constantly excited to learn something new, both in my work and in life.

Want to connect? Let's be in touch.