UX Design lead for the customer journey

Franziska's job takes her to unusual places from time to time: for example, right into an operating room, into a greenhouse, or onto a vegetable farm. There, she observes how agronomists make use of ZEISS technology to measure nutritional values in plants, how they use GPS devices to apply fertilizer to precise areas, and how the data is transferred from the field to the computer. This research is immensely important to find out where things are not working and what ZEISS solutions farmers would like to see to help them with their work. "I work really closely with ZEISS customers and the end users of our solutions. After all, we develop products that cater precisely to their needs," Franziska emphasizes.

ZEISS Digital Partners is a fast-growing ZEISS division with over 850 employees today – three times as many as two years ago. The team develops future-oriented business models, enterprise-wide cloud solutions, and designs for mobile and desktop applications at several locations. Franziska herself works in the Design and Business Innovation department. There, the main focus is on developing new business solutions and driving the UX roadmaps of the various divisions.

What does Franziska enjoy most about being a UX designer? "That I'm always learning about new, highly complex topics in order to forge ahead with our projects." Franziska's knowledge from her mechanical engineering studies, her understanding of user experience from her design studies and, above all, her many years of project experience in a wide range of industries – from automotive and consumer electronics to medical technology – all help her to achieve this.
And what's next? As a professional mentor, Franziska wants to pass on her design knowledge to young, talented UX designers and also further expand the exchange of knowledge between departments at ZEISS. "Our work is key to developing user-friendly products. My goal, and that of my colleagues, is to continue to raise awareness of this."