Our Awards Jury Knows Great UX Design

Esther Constantin is a Senior UX/UI Designer at wirDesign, specializing in the design of complex digital products and services. Her work is guided by the belief that good UX creates a sense of calm: helping people understand where they are, what matters, and what to do next without sacrificing visual character.

She approaches design as an advocate for users, translating technical and business requirements into clear, accessible experiences. Collaboration is central to her work. The exchange of perspectives, combined with testing and evidence, helps her challenge assumptions and arrive at better solutions.

Her experience spans B2B and service environments, from industry and energy to finance, insurance, and public mobility. Across these contexts, she develops digital products and design systems that bring together usability, accessibility, and strong visual design.

Janina Forberger joined Miele in 2025 as Vice President of the Design Center, bringing with her a wealth of experience spanning over two decades in industrial design, product design, and UX design.

She began her career as a product and user interface designer in Germany and Japan, expanding her expertise from the automotive industry to beauty care tech brands. In 2007, she co-founded her own studio in Munich, where she developed diverse projects in product, graphic, and exhibition design.

In 2009, Janina moved to BSH Home Appliances, where she worked across different offices and countries within the design division until her appointment as Head of Bosch and Thermador Design for the North American region.

Her comprehensive background underscores a career dedicated to design leadership and innovation in multiple industries and international locations. At Miele, Janina leads the Design Center and fosters the brand’s belief that products should complement the functionality of a home and support the way people live. These products are not to be considered as isolated objects, but rather as a genuine part of the domestic environment.

Franziska is a seasoned UX Design Lead with over 14 years of experience in Human Centered Design at ZEISS and leading agencies. Her interdisciplinary background in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Design bridges design, technology, and business in complex industrial contexts. Her expertise includes UX and Interaction Design, Usability Engineering, and Service Design, with a focus on integrating software and hardware for holistic user experiences.

Collaborating with business experts, scientists, developers, and marketers, she drives innovation across ZEISS's business units and industries. Franziska has led UX-driven initiatives and contributed to over 15 innovation projects at ZEISS. As a recognized role model and mentor, she fosters an inclusive environment and supports designer development.

Her industry experience spans Consumer Products, Mobility, Vision Care, and Manufacturing. Passionate about enhancing design maturity and customer experience, she aims to deliver seamless, efficient, and enjoyable experiences across the entire customer journey.

Yijian is a product strategist with versatile experience shaping digital and physical products across consulting, manufacturing, and startup environments.

His background spans UX, user research, product strategy, and design leadership, with experience at frog and PHOENIX Design working with global companies to turn user insights and complex opportunities into clear product directions.

Yijian connects customer needs and business ambition with product vision and design execution. Drawing on experience across digital experiences and physical products, he is most interested in the decisions made before a product takes shape: what it should be, who it should serve, and why it deserves to exist. His work turns these early choices into clear concepts—and strong ideas into tangible products and experiences.

Christoph Ortmann is a design leader with 19 years of experience in Industrial Design, UX and Design Leadership. As former Global Head of UI/UX Design at Bosch Home Appliances, he built and led the global UX organization, shaping the company's UX strategy and creating a globally consistent brand experience across physical products, user interfaces and connected services.

Today, he advises international organizations on human-centered product development, UX strategy and digital transformation. His expertise lies at the intersection of physical and digital design, creating seamless product experiences that integrate Industrial Design, UX, UI and brand into coherent product ecosystems.

Christoph is passionate about unlocking the business potential of design by translating user needs into meaningful experiences that create value for both people and organizations. Alongside his professional practice, he contributes to design education with a focus on Human-Centered AI and the future of design.

Filippos Petridis is a designer, entrepreneur, weekend rower, and curious by nature.

He has led design and product teams, authored product strategies, and continuously explores new interaction paradigms. His work focuses on research and product discovery, with a strong emphasis on data- and AI/ML-driven experiences, grounded in deep expertise in user experience design.

At Siemens, he heads a team of designers and technologists building next-generation experiences. He has driven AI/UX initiatives and programs that have shaped new experiences, moving from R&D to revenue-generating customer value and patentable IP. His work centers on industrial solutions and systemizing outcomes for scale.

He has held roles at Mendix and Sapera, focusing on AI, automations, and SaaS products. Earlier, he worked on transformation projects at Publicis/MetaDesign for multinationals and startups.

Filippos studied at the University of St. Gallen and the UdK in Berlin, where he is based. He is particularly interested in bringing user understanding, technology, and products together in unique ways.

Ranjeet Tayi is an award-winning leader in AI experience design with 20+ years of experience designing intelligent enterprise experiences and AI-powered products. Based in Silicon Valley, he is Senior Director of User Experience (AI) at Salesforce, leading AI experiences for Agentic AI and data management that advance Human + AI collaboration. Previously, he held leadership roles at Informatica, SumTotal, and PureIT Usability Research, and co-founded Mind Visions.

Honored with the Indian Tech Icon Award 2025, he is an Extraordinary Ability recipient and holds eight patents. He serves on nonprofit boards and global design councils. A speaker, author, juror for leading design awards, venture partner, and mentor to AI startups, he holds an M.Phil. in Mass Communication, a Master of Arts in Advertising, and was trained in Design Management at PARK.

Bernd Wiesenauer serves as the Director of User Experience Enabling at Bosch, driving the company's transformation into a human-centered organization. He is responsible for the UX Maturity Model and Assessment, UX Networking, the UX Convention, and UX Knowledge Transfer, as well as overseeing the Bosch UX Academy and its curricula.

Prior to Bosch, he was Head of Design at User Interface Design GmbH for over six years, where he integrated user-centered design for clients like Jura and Vorwerk.

Bernd studied product and environmental design at the University of Applied Sciences in Potsdam and has held various roles, including designing ergonomic driver information systems for automotive giants such as Daimler and Porsche, and developing furniture for brands like Thonet and Cor.

Rasel Ahmed is a product and design leader with 18 years of global experience creating impactful, scalable, and sustainable digital experiences. He has worked with organizations including Telenor Group, Delivery Hero, AirAsia Group, and Central Group, driving UX, customer experience, and product strategy across telecom, retail/e-commerce, fintech, EdTech, aviation, and AI.

Bridging UX, AI, and business impact, Rasel helps companies build human-centered products that deliver measurable outcomes. He emphasizes designing with empathy, making data-driven decisions, and crafting experiences that are effective, scalable, and sustainable for both users and businesses.

His work spans large enterprises and innovative startups, improving conversion, retention, and Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV), as well as NPS, while launching omni-channel services and AI-driven products. He is also passionate about mentoring the next generation of designers and product leaders to grow with clarity and purpose.

Carolin Barisch is a UX designer and project lead with nine years of experience in strategic digital product design. At Manyone, she works with her team on a complex modular digital ecosystem for Deutsche Telekom. Her previous experience spans aviation, energy, finance and social media. Beyond that, her focus extends to how AI is changing design workflows and how teams can adopt it in reflective and practical ways.

Her approach is grounded in thorough research and a careful engagement with the environments in which designs operate. In her view, great user experience requires a deep understanding of how people, systems, technology and context relate to and shape one another.

In addition to her project work, Carolin teaches UX Design, UX Research and Design Strategy at the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf.

Sandra Brügmann brings extensive expertise in user-centered innovation and digital product development. As part of Intuity’s leadership team, she heads the Hamburg office and shapes impactful DX portfolios for international clients.

With a strong foundation in human factors, strategic leadership, and cross-functional collaboration, she drives forward-thinking design systems that enable meaningful digital transformation.

By working closely with R&D teams, Sandra explores AI-driven solutions that redefine human-machine interaction, helping organizations anticipate market shifts and create compelling user experiences.

With a forward-thinking mindset and a commitment to sustainable growth, she consistently delivers high-caliber digital products that resonate on a global scale.

Philipp Busse is a User Experience leader with more than 17 years of experience building and leading multidisciplinary design and research teams. With a background in design, he has worked across publishing, e-commerce and marketplace businesses, consistently shaping high-reach consumer platforms. A common thread throughout his career is the ambition to connect user needs, business strategy and technology into coherent, scalable product experiences.

Today, his focus is on the circular economy. He specializes in embedding UX at the core of product strategy, scaling high-performing teams, and delivering measurable business impact through design.

Alicia is a Senior UX Concept at Scholz & Volkmer, specializing in developing digital strategies and information architecture for leading brands.

In her role as a project lead, Alicia adeptly balances strategic vision with a keen focus on user-centric needs. She likes to improve the collaboration between different disciplines, such as design, concept, and technology, utilizing the ever-evolving tools in our industry.

With a strong foundation in classic design and smart digital systems – gained through her studies in Design at the Bauhaus University in Weimar (B.F.A.), Elisava University in Barcelona, and Hochschule RheinMain (M.A.) in Wiesbaden – she prioritizes "classic clarity and unambiguity" in user interfaces.

Her work focuses on rethinking common components with our evolving technological advancements such as AI and simplifying digital interactions, subtly modernizing systems while retaining classic structures. The goal is to make users feel comfortable amidst rapid changes and maintaining their ease of use.

Noelle is a design leader and entrepreneur at heart, currently Head of Design at Revolut, where she shapes experiences used by 70+ million people globally. With over 12 years of experience across fintech, healthtech, and startups, she has built and scaled products in highly regulated environments across Europe and the Middle East.

Prior to Revolut, she led product and design at Medicus AI and Ada Health, where she helped grow teams, launch AI-driven healthcare products, and patent new technologies. A two-time founder, Noelle brings a sharp product mindset to design, combining strategy, execution, and intuition.

Beyond her role, she mentors, speaks, and actively contributes to the global design community.

Grace currently serves as Head of Design at Taskrabbit, where she leads product design, research, and content across the two-sided marketplace. She works at the intersection of responsible AI, intelligent matching systems, and scalable design frameworks — ensuring innovation drives measurable business growth while strengthening user trust and clarity.

Her leadership career spans some of the world’s most influential technology and commerce companies, including TikTok, Pinterest, Meta, Amazon, and BlackRock. She has built and scaled high-performing design organizations, launched 0→1 products to millions of users, and led monetization platforms that delivered meaningful revenue impact through structured experimentation and data-driven strategy.

Grace is deeply committed to elevating the role of design in shaping responsible AI systems and sustainable digital ecosystems — blending systems thinking, craft excellence, and strategic vision to build products that feel intelligent, human, and enduring.

Jürgen Gehm is a design, brand, and innovation leader with over 20 years of experience, driving transformation and measurable business impact in global organizations.

At Bosch Power Tools, he led the Design Standard Initiative, establishing a unified product design language that strengthened brand consistency and accelerated market success. At Hugo Boss, he drove the adoption of user-centered ways of working across a 19,000-employee organization, embedding a global innovation culture and accelerating digital transformation. As Managing Partner of an international agency, he built and led high-performing teams while securing major international clients.

He drives cross-functional transformation, building design capabilities and aligning teams around customer value, brand excellence, and business impact. With a Diploma in Industrial Design and a Master of Business Administration, he connects user needs, brand, and business performance.

Tae Young Kang is a Director of Director of Design Platforms and Product Lead at Deutsche Telekom with roundabout 20 years of experience in UX and service design. Currently, he focuses on streamlining and digitizing Deutsche Telekom's customer-centric innovation process, leading a team to implement a corporate-wide collaboration platform that accelerates idea collection, target customer validation, and data-driven concept prioritization.

Previously, he worked at Samsung Electronics for over 15 years, where he cultivated extensive hands-on experience in the end-to-end product innovation process – leading diverse projects from new product development to production model enhancement and shipping to global audiences, including the Galaxy Smartphone series.

Tae Young studied Service Design (M.A.) at the Royal College of Art in London and Visual Communication Design (B.A.) at HongiK University in Seoul.

Tim Kern is a design lead with more than 20 years of global experience across Europe, Asia, and the US. He is passionate about creating desirable brand and product expressions – from outdoor power equipment across sports industry and consumer electronics.

Tim combines creative vision with insightful analytical thinking, striving to turn opportunities into relevant design strategies across categories, products, and disciplines.

Alexander Livigni is Partner and senior UX/UI expert with 14+ years' experience designing B2B/B2C systems at forwerts. He enables design leadership and empowers cross-functional teams through creative direction, agile methods, and user-centered strategy. His work for brands like Audi and Deutsche Bahn reflects excellence in both execution and team-driven innovation.

Ramesh Manickam is a Senior Key Expert in Experience Design at Siemens, renowned for his profound expertise in crafting immersive experiences at the intersection of digital and industrial design. He is a driving force at the forefront of cutting-edge research in Advanced Experience Design, constantly raising the bar and pushing the limits to elevate design.

With over 28 years of experience, he meticulously shapes human-centered autonomous systems, primarily focusing on intelligent buildings, by seamlessly translating complex intelligent technologies into trustworthy, intuitive, and delightful human experiences.

An esteemed IIT Delhi, India alumnus, Ramesh is celebrated for designing the legendary Royal Enfield's iconic Thunderbird motorcycle. He further demonstrated his entrepreneurial spirit by founding Centroid, a successful Design Consultancy, delivering over 450 innovative products. He also expertly scaled his startup Cozart, which was subsequently acquired by the prestigious Dalmia Group.

As a distinguished TED Fellow and recipient of multiple coveted design awards, including the Good Design Award, Ramesh's pioneering work consistently pushes the boundaries of design at the dynamic intersection of business, technology, and human experience.

Alekhya Paruchuri is a strategic leader focused on bridging the gap between complex technical ecosystems and intuitive human experiences. With a background spanning Information Technology (B.S.) and Human-Computer Interaction (M.S.), she brings a distinctive blend of technical architecture expertise and behavioral science insight.

As a Senior Design Manager at HP, Alekhya leads a global design team driving strategy and execution across Product Setup, Customer Onboarding, AI, and Print and Scan Solutions—shaping seamless, intuitive experiences for more than 50 million customers worldwide. She thrives at the intersection of Design, Development, R&D, Business, and Product Quality, balancing high-level business objectives with deeply human-centered principles.

Atike is a seasoned UX professional with nearly two decades of experience crafting human-centered experiences across telecommunications, e-commerce, automotive, and healthcare. For the past 12 years, she has brought her expertise to Philips, taking on roles as a UX designer and design director.

With a deep passion for improving lives, Atike has worked for innovation projects in the medical field, focusing on patient engagement, neuroinformatics, sleep and respiratory health, remote patient monitoring, and digital diagnostics. Her curiosity about human behavior drives her design approach, and she enjoys sharing her expertise with the community.

In her current role as lead designer at Philips Experience Design, she is committed to fostering a strong design review culture, empowering teams to create high-quality, inclusive and safe healthcare solutions.

Atike holds an MSc in Digital Media from Bremen University, Germany, and an Engineering Doctorate (EngD) in User System Interaction from Eindhoven University, Netherlands.