About this Episode:

Enterprise product design is never simple. In this episode of Creating Better Products, I talk with Melanie Dreser, Senior Director of Product Design & Design Operations at Celonis, about designing for complexity in enterprise software.

We explore how to break down complex user journeys, design AI enabled experiences, and lead in fast changing enterprise environments.

What you’ll learn:

• How to map micro user journeys and make complexity actionable

• Balancing novice and power users without oversimplifying

• Building trust in AI enabled experiences

• Leadership rituals to stop gaps at team handoffs

One takeaway: Map one micro journey, define success and friction, ship one improvement, then reconnect it to adjacent journeys.

Pro tip: Think in systems, not screens. Align product, design, and engineering early and launch for learning.

Connect:

• ⁠Melanie Dreser on LinkedIn⁠

• ⁠Sabrina Mach on LinkedIn⁠

Call to action:If you enjoyed this conversation, please follow and share it with a colleague. Your support helps amplify the voices of product leaders like Melanie.

Timestamps:00:00 Why we need to help users navigate complexity01:54 Meet Melanie and the Celonis context03:02 What complexity means in enterprise design10:43 Breaking down journeys into micro user journeys14:52 How to design when variation is overwhelming20:51 Where innovation comes from in process mining29:41 Bridging team handoffs and avoiding cracks36:49 Hiring and onboarding for complex domains43:49 Making implicit knowledge visible47:13 Designing AI enabled experiences with trust52:35 Leadership in complex product environments57:31 First steps and pro tips for tackling complexity1:03:21 Principles that make design leadership effective1:06:36 Why navigating complexity is key to creating better products1:08:41 Books and podcasts that inspire Melanie1:12:10 Where to connect with Melanie