Marit van Wijngaarden is a UX researcher at Topicus’ Education division, where she works on Somtoday, an application that supports education professionals. In her role as a UX researcher, Marit serves as the crucial link between end users and the product team. “My work involves researching users’ needs and translating those insights into concrete improvements for the product. I do this through conversations and surveys with users, and ensure that the product owner (PO) and UX designers have the right foundation to build upon. That’s how I bridge the gap between the customer and Topicus.”
Why Topicus
“At Topicus, co-creation is central. We don’t develop our products for users, but with them. By actively involving them from the start, we build solutions that truly meet their needs.
I chose Topicus because of the social impact of the work. What we do really helps: we support not only students, but also teachers, mentors, administrative staff, and care coordinators. Collaborating across different disciplines makes my work very dynamic.”
The variety appeals to Marit. “If you work with the same target group for too long, it becomes one-sided. By working with different target groups, I stay sharp. I learn from every target group I research. For example, teachers have different characteristics and needs than care coordinators. I enjoy understanding the needs of all these target groups. We always put the user first; that’s truly the foundation of our work.
I’m proud of this
“I’m proud of a project focused on school communication. This initiative stemmed, in part, from research into the points of contact between schools, parents, and students. We noticed that this communication could be more streamlined. That’s why we developed a new module where all communication can be consolidated in one place, which improves usability for students, parents, and staff.”
Another topic that Marit finds particularly meaningful is the work she’s done for blind and visually impaired users of the app. “We visited schools, sat next to the students, and observed how they experienced the app. This provided valuable new insights.
I also participated in ‘Education Day.’ Together with the primary school team, I visited a school where we performed administrative tasks and observed daily operations. It gave me the chance to get to know the staff better and gain more insight into their work. Of course, that also helps us better understand our target audience and their needs.”
.svg)
