HELEN BENDER

A designer led by curiosity.
Through my portfolio, I invite you to explore my journey as a designer and the projects that reflect my commitment to human-centered design.

Key aspects of my working process:
COLLABORATE
Bring together diverse perspectives and skill sets to solve complex problems.
DOCUMENT
Keep track of your process and ideas so you can always revisit and reference previous steps and concepts when necessary.
RETHINK
Assess the ethical considerations and accessibility of your design. Contemplate the worst-case scenarios to prepare for potential challenges.
COMMUNICATE
Tell a story. Effectively presenting your process and rationale is nearly as crucial as the design itself.

I am currently working on my thesis at the Estonian Academy of Arts, analysing the accessibility of mental health services in Estonia.
My research explores the potential improvement through the integration of national digital solutions, aiming to guide individuals through the process of seeking help.

Based in Tallinn, Estonia.

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01 WINNERS OF THE EUROPEAN RARE DISEASE REGISTRY COMPETITION
The main challenge of the project was striking a balance between the needs of the physicians for an efficient and comprehensive registry and the needs of the patients for quicker, more accurate diagnoses and a comprehensible treatment journey.

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UX/UI
HEALTHCARE
DATA ALTRUISM




02 STUDY INFORMATION SYSTEM TAHVEL
While Tahvel contains a wealth of information to present, the use of different wording and interface elements has the potential to elevate it from a mere database into a user-friendly tool.

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UX/UI
USER RESEARCH
PROTOTYPING
TESTING




03 ELRON: PASSENGER INFORMATION DESIGN
The environment of public transport provides many, mostly visual, indications to answer questions a user might have. When and where can I take trains? When have I reached my destination? How and how much do I pay for my trip? What is allowed (or not)? Where can I ask for specific information? 

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INFORMATION DESIGN, WAYFINDING




04 THE FUTURE OF WORK ENVIRONMENTS
What if employees’ human values are disrupted for the sake of maximizing companies productivity?
This speculative design object raises a multitude of critical questions from both ethical and theoretical perspectives.  

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SPECULATIVE DESIGN




05 OUR OLD TOWN: CO-CREATION WITH RESIDENTS
How can a designer help a community?

The workshop served as a platform for collective introspection, facilitating the co-creation of a shared vision and values for the Old Town Society's future.

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CO-DESIGN WORKSHOP




06 KRAAD: INTELLIGENT HEATING SYSTEM
Kraad is an Estonian startup specializing in smart thermostats. My goal was to create and test the initial version of the device management panel.

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INTERNSHIP
UX/UI
SERVICE DESIGN




07 CITY LIFE: MUSEUM VIDEO GAME
How can I educate the visitor and give advice on nature conservation without losing the playfulness?
Through this game, players have the opportunity to explore diverse perspectives and, ideally, stimulate further discussion and debate.

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GAME DESIGN




08 ONLINE STORE FOR ASTANGU VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION CENTRE
Unity and understanding often begins from people’s personal experiences and stories.
Our goal was to develop an understanding of the skills and needs of the special needs people working at Astangu and design one physical product for them to produce and a digital one to help their endeavours.  

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SOCIAL DESIGN
WEB DESIGN




09 METATHESIOPHOBIA
The fear of change, or metathesiophobia, is a phobia that causes people to avoid changing their circumstances due to being extremely afraid of the unknown.

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ART INSTALLATION
VIDEO EDITING