About

Skills, Capabilities & Career History


Things I Can Help You With

Strategy & Discovery

Product strategy, market research & AI value creation. It is about building the right product, not just a product. I combine user research with business reality to find solutions that actually work and bring measurable value.

Concepting & Prototyping

Agile sprints, rapid prototyping (Figma/Code) & validation. Moving from slides to software. I use modern tools to build functional prototypes that allow us to test and validate ideas before committing to full development.

Product Design

Scalable Design Systems. High-fidelity UI & Interaction. Pitching & strategic storytelling. Creating products that last. I focus on systematic design and visual quality to ensure the end result is robust, accessible, and ready for growth.

Growth & Optimization

Data-driven UX, A/B testing & accessibility. Improving based on facts, not guesses. I use analytics and user insights to identify bottlenecks and fine-tune the experience for better results.

Design Ops & Leadership

Agile coaching, team management & AI workflows. Leadership is about removing obstacles. I streamline processes and tools so your team can spend their time solving problems instead of managing administrative overhead.

Culture & Mentoring

Creative leadership, public speaking & mentoring. Work requires more than just tasks. I help build a culture of resilience and curiosity, keeping the team motivated in a changing environment.

A Digital Design Professional From Helsinki

I’m Joakim Schonert, a digital design professional from Helsinki Finland. With a quarter century of experience in the fields of digital design, strategy and advertising I consider myself a true professional with a proven record of successful projects and business ventures under the proverbial belt. I have build and led client relationships, design projects, advertising campaigns and digital strategies for numerous large national and international businesses all the while founding and managing a few design / advertising agencies, startups and other business endeavours. I am an entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for learning, networking, emerging technologies and design


Businesses I Have Co-Founded

2015
POP Table
Founded in 2013 POP Table is an online shop for customisable designer tables. Crafted with love. My role: Partner, Board member.
2011
N2 Nolla
Founded in 2011 N2 Nolla is the service design part of N2 Helsinki. N2 Nolla excels in the development of digital user experiences, innovation and user research. My role: Partner, Board member, Design Director.
2000
Ego
Founded in 2000 Ego was the digital arm of Taivas Group. Over the years Ego grew to be the biggest company within the group and was finally merged to advertising agency Taivas in 2008. My role: Partner, Board member, CEO, Client Service Director.
2001
Sulake
Can’t take too much credit for this because a lot of talented people contributed to the founding of Sulake – internationally known for Habbo Hotel. My role: Partner, Board member, Managing Director.
1998
RE:Media
Now known as the host of Grand One awards RE was also an editorial website covering digital, interactive media and advertising. My role: Partner, Board member.

Companies I Have Worked With / At

2017-
Futurice
#1 Lean Service Creation agency. I currently work here as Design Director. Design team management and client work.
2013-2016
Ottoboni
Ottoboni is a pan-nordic customer experience agency. I’ve worked there as Service Design Lead for various clients and sectors.
2013
D11 Helsinki
D11 is a consultancy focusing on digital disruption. I’ve worked there as a Strategist for the financial client sector.
2010-2013
N2
N2 excels in advertising for the digital / social era. Before founding Nolla I worked at N2 as an Strategy Director.
2000-2010
Taivas
Once ranked as the #1 agency in Finland Taivas was the fastest growing agency in the Nordics circa 2002. I worked in Taivas as a Director looking after some of the biggest clients within the group.
1995-2000
Visual Systems
Starting in ’94 as employee number three, I watched this company grow to 150+ people over a period of five years and then merge in to the finnish IT giant Tieto. Over the years I acted in multiple roles and positions: Designer, Group Director, CTO etc.