About

Advanced Consultant UI/UX Design

KUKA Deutschland GmbH

03/2021 – today

At KUKA, a global leader in intelligent automation solutions based in Augsburg, I am currently involved in developing iiQKA, the latest operating system for KUKA robots designed to enhance user experience and accessibility in robotics. Our work aims to make the benefits of robot-based automation more accessible than ever to a broader range of businesses and markets, not only in Europe but across global markets. Faithful to the motto: Robots for the People!

Responsibilities

• Developing a visual programming interface within iiQKA, aiming to make robot-based automation more intuitive and accessible to businesses with limited prior exposure to robotics.
• Conducting regular testing of new concepts and interfaces with both external and internal users to ensure usability and effectiveness, gathering vital feedback for iterative development.
• Developed and implemented a token-based design system to ensure a holistic user journey and experience across customer touchpoints.
• Enhanced the designer-developer handover process by establishing a centralized repository that serves as a single source of truth for design components, significantly improving workflow efficiencies.
• Supporting research projects focused on future human-robot collaboration.

Achievements

• Transformed complex command parametrization in robot programming into easy-to-understand interfaces, significantly reducing the learning curve for users without prior robotics knowledge.
• Successfully implemented a designer-developer handover process that led to significant cost savings by providing clarity in component usage and reducing queries, thereby establishing a more efficient development environment.
• Successfully introduced other design colleagues from an international office to our ways of working, fostering ongoing collaboration and ensuring consistency in design practices across global teams.

Innovation Project Lead

KUKA Deutschland GmbH

11/2021 – 04/2022

As a Team Leader in KUKA's annual internal business innovation challenge, I spearheaded a project that was selected as one of the top 5 out of over 250 submissions. My role was to lead a multidisciplinary team with members from three different nations through the process of evaluating and validating a new automation solution to open up new areas of application.

Responsibilities

• Led an international team of three professionals from different areas of expertise to assess the market viability of our innovative concept.
• Conducted expert interviews, site visits, and comprehensive market research to gather critical data and insights.
• Engaged in an intensive learning process regarding innovation methodologies and concept validation at an innovation boot camp.
• Presented progress and findings directly to the C-level executives at regular intervals, ensuring strategic alignment and transparency.

Achievements

• Successfully managed and motivated a team to advance a complex project under tight deadlines, resulting in our concept being recognized as one of the top 5 innovations.
• Developed a deep understanding of market needs and potential application areas, significantly contributing to KUKA’s strategic innovation efforts.
• Enhanced communication and leadership skills, particularly in high-stakes environments, by reporting to and engaging with higher management.

UI/UX Designer

Zeppelin GmbH

11/2019 – 02/2021

As a UI/UX Designer at Zeppelin Digit, I played a crucial role in the digital transformation of Zeppelin, a traditional German company known for its leadership in providing Caterpillar machines across Europe and Central Asia. My work was instrumental in transitioning existing business operations into the digital landscape, enhancing both internal processes and customer interactions.

Responsibilities

• Collaborated with various stakeholders across the group to digitize business processes and enhance digital customer experiences.
• Developed and implemented a unified design system applicable across all business units within the Zeppelin Group.
• Designed and developed digital tools that support the visualization and maintenance of machinery, including the creation of digital twins for fleet management.

Achievements

• Led the development of a comprehensive design system that standardizes user experience across multiple platforms and business units, improving design coherence and operational efficiency.
• Played a key role in digital projects that transform traditional business models, such as the digital rental process for construction machinery, significantly easing operational burdens and enhancing user interaction.
• Contributed to the development of innovative tools for maintaining a digital twin of each machine, which greatly simplifies the maintenance process and enhances the lifecycle management of machinery assets.

UI/UX Designer

The Software Fanatics GmbH

08/2018 – 10/2019

At tsf., a Munich-based software company, I was integral to the design and development of a pioneering social media marketplace. My role focused on transforming creative ideas into functional, user-centered designs that enhance the online fashion shopping experience, democratizing access for both established and emerging brands.

Responsibilities

• Translated business requirements and user needs into actionable design strategies within an agile product team.
• Conducted design sprints to concept and map out new functionalities for the marketplace platform.
• Introduced and maintained a design system and programmed a Sketch plugin to ensure consistent and defined UI designs.
• Led the process of user testing, setting up interactive prototypes to validate and refine product ideas before final hand-off.

Achievements

• Successfully developed and launched multiple user-centric features that have enhanced user interaction and satisfaction on the platform.
• Played a crucial role in the iterative design process from initial concept to final testing, significantly impacting the platform’s usability and aesthetic appeal.
• Contributed to the platform's capability to provide personalized style recommendations and foster community discussions among users.

Industrial & UI/UX Designer

Magazino GmbH

05/2017 – 08/2018

At Magazino, a leading robotics company based in Munich, I was part of a versatile design department, contributing to a wide array of design needs from digital UIs to physical hardware. Our team's efforts were pivotal in developing innovative robotic solutions that enhance efficiency and reduce costs in e-commerce logistics.

Responsibilities

• Designed user interfaces of a fleet management software for mobile, perception-controlled robots, ensuring optimal usability and user experience.
• Developed hardware design elements that complemented the technological sophistication of robotics solutions.
• Collaborated closely with experts in mechanical engineering, software development, and marketing to ensure a cohesive product strategy and presentation.
• Created marketing materials, including brochures and fair booths, to effectively communicate product capabilities and benefits.

Achievements

• Successfully managed multiple design projects simultaneously, adapting quickly to the dynamic needs of a robotics start-up.
• Presented design concepts to cross-functional teams, integrating feedback to refine and enhance final outputs.
• Designed and built a complete prototype of a pick and place robot cell.
• Conception and iteration of the first version of a robot fleet management tool based on the results of user tests and support of the development by the front-end developers.