Digital Designer, Lecturer & Changemaker.

Berat as a clay figure with an orange beanie and a mustache

Bridging design, technology and people, based in Amsterdam.

Get in touch

Open for work

The intro

I make complicated things feel simple.

Digital designer · Lecturer · Changemaker

I’m Berat Zekaj, a digital designer, lecturer and changemaker based in Amsterdam Noord, with roots in Peja, Kosovo. I move between design, technology and education, turning complex problems into things people can understand, use and improve.

The proof

Students reached yearly
385+
Internships supervised
40+
Training sessions per month
3×
MSc · Cum laude
8.3

“We, the students of yesterday, are the changemakers of today.”

From my valedictorian speech, MSc Economic Transformation (2025). Read the speech

The human side

Outside work, I’m usually exploring Japanese streetwear, adding another pair of Salomons to the collection, or finding my way back to Kosovo. A little shy at first, probably making a joke five minutes later.

From messy problem to working service

UX/UI Design

Interfaces that feel obvious. I start from user research and information architecture, then iterate from wireframe to high-fidelity prototype and a documented design system developers enjoy using.

  • User research
  • Prototyping
  • Design systems

Service Design

Every touchpoint, front stage and back stage. With journey maps, service blueprints and co-creation sessions I align teams around the experience people actually have, and the organisation behind it.

  • Service blueprints
  • Journey mapping
  • Co-creation

Digital Innovation

Exploring what’s next, responsibly. From AI concepts to creative technology, I help teams test new ideas quickly and weigh their impact on people, organisations and society.

  • Creative technology
  • AI & ethics
  • Prototyping

Teaching, training and building

Work

  1. 2022 to present

    Lecturer, coordinator & coach

    Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA)

    • Lecturer in three Associate degree programmes: Frontend Design & Development (~80 students a year), Smart Media Production (~160) and Cyber Security (~145). I teach “The web is for everyone”: HTML, CSS, JavaScript and design.
    • Curriculum coordinator for the final (second) year of Frontend Design & Development: wrote the learning-line plan, aligned the teaching team and chaired the coordination meetings.
    • Coordinator of “Learning ability & ethics” at Smart Media Production, one of the five competencies students graduate on. I designed the learning line; colleagues now build their own lessons on it.
    • Internship supervisor and study coach: 40+ internships supervised so far. Member of the assessment committee and the programme committee.
    • Student projects with VPRO, Topnotch, Bieb in Bloei, OBA (Amsterdam Public Library) and the City of Amsterdam. Organised and led several sessions on diversity, equity and inclusion.

  2. 2024 to present

    Founder & trainer

    Berr

    • Trainings and workshops on design thinking, AI and inclusion, inspiration sessions, and “Schurende Gesprekken” (difficult conversations) as a trainer for Fawaka.
    • Groups of about 20 people, around three sessions a month.
    • Guest lessons at MBO schools, including ROC van Amsterdam, and workshops at a three-day DUO event with ~5,000 attendees.

  3. 2023 to present

    Advisor, volunteer

    DUO Youth Council

    • My feedback on how young people actually use the DUO website is now taken into account.

  4. 2024 to 2025

    Researcher, during my master

    Amsterdam Donut Coalition

    • Designed a peer-learning format that helps members speak openly and share what they learn. It is still in use.

  5. 2018 to 2022

    Earlier work

    • Front-end developer, Output4you2021 to 2022
    • Specialist, Apple2020 to 2021
    • Internship, NoProtocol: components for Royal FloraHolland2020 to 2021
    • Internship, Daily Paper Clothing: a website for photographers and the Shopify store2018 to 2019

Education

  1. 2024 to 2025

    MSc Economic Transformation (opent in nieuw tabblad)

    Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences · cum laude (8.3)

    Invited to speak as valedictorian. Read the speech

  2. 2023

    University teaching qualification (BDB)

    Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

    Also: BKE (examination qualification), assessor, and training in didactic coaching.

  3. 2017 to 2021

    BA Communication & Multimedia Design (opent in nieuw tabblad)

    Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences · minor Managing Creativity & Innovation

Skills, languages & who I worked with

Skills

Languages

Worked with