Product Designer Alexandra Posch shares her career journey from coding and business to design, and how communication skills and AI tools play key roles in her work.
Despite women making up nearly half of the design industry, few hold leadership positions and many still need help to be equally compensated and recognized for their work. Design is one of the few industries that offers multiple paths for entry, from earning a standard degree to being self-taught. The Women in Design series aims to highlight the unique stories and lessons of women in the design industry, across different experiences and expertise, at every stage and niche.
As a child, Alexandra Posch enjoyed playing around with HTML code and designing websites, which sparked her early love for creativity. Before pursuing design as a career, she took a detour into Business and IT, equipping her with a unique skill set that set her apart in the competitive field of design.
Now, as a Senior Product Designer at Celonis, Alexandra highlights how unexpected paths can offer surprising advantages, and she draws inspiration from domains outside of design to fuel her work.
"Don’t be afraid of taking detours; they can end up being key steps on the path to your goal." —Alexandra Posch
So, I started out being a big nerd. In the early 2000s, a subculture emerged in the German internet community where kids were coding and designing website layouts that were made available for free for others to use. It was like playing agency—some kids were even "employed" to contribute designs, and you'd curate their work. I used to copy HTML code off existing websites and played around with it. For example trying to find out what changed when I edited 'that hexcode' and by doing so I learned the basics of code. It was a lot of fun. Initially, I thought the "adult" path forward was to concentrate on the tech side, so I went on to study Business & IT.
Even though I initially pursued development, I quickly realized that my true passion lay in design. This realization led me to switch paths and start an apprenticeship at an eCommerce agency, where I was drawn to the creativity, problem-solving, and visual elements of the work. In a way, it felt like a natural progression—I spent half my childhood drawing, so turning that into a "real job" made perfect sense. Interestingly, my detour through studying Business & IT became my unique selling point and often the reason I got hired. So, don’t be afraid of taking detours; they can end up being key steps on the path to your goal.
It depends on the stage of the project I’m working on. My day usually starts with a daily stand-up where the team takes 5 minutes to explain what they’re working on, and we fix any open questions. Then I dive into designing in Figma, brainstorming, and trying out different interface solutions for the current UI challenges I'm facing. Later in the day, I might have a stakeholder alignment meeting to present the current status, ensure everyone is on the same page, and gather feedback for the next steps.
Throughout my career, I’ve had different favorite projects for various reasons. Early on, when I was still a junior, I had the chance to design the illustration for the Zugspitzbahn (The Bavarian Zugspitze Railway). Now, every time I visit the Eibsee, I see the small gondolas going up the mountain with my design on them, and it’s an incredible feeling to see something I created in the real world.
More recently, at my current role at Celonis, I had the opportunity to redesign the Custom Extractor Builder. This project was especially rewarding because I got to collaborate with a project manager and a developer who were incredibly flexible, collaborative, and committed to creating the best possible user experience. We conducted thorough user testing and managed to bring a lot of value and even some joy into what is typically a very technical process. Knowing that we made a complex tool more user-friendly and enjoyable to use was a deeply fulfilling experience.
It might sound a bit cocky, but my main source of inspiration is nature. I find joy in the small, everyday details—like the way light filters through leaves or when new flowers bloom in my favorite park. Over time, I’ve realized that in order to stay inspired, it’s often more beneficial to look outside your domain. So instead of focusing solely on digital design, I feel it helps to sometimes do something entirely different. In cases where it boils down to cold hard research on, for example, a UX behavior of a certain element I feel just iterating on a few solutions and then having a peer group review on them gets the fastest results.
I’m not sure if it’s considered a "trend," but now that we, as a digital society (mostly!) have the basics of usability and performance under control, I’m excited to see a shift toward bringing joy back into user experiences. We can now focus on those small, delightful moments that make a difference, like Slack’s playful "No unread mentions—here's a pony!" It’s these fun touches that can add personality and warmth to a product, making it more engaging and memorable for users.
As you move into more senior roles, your job becomes less about creating new designs and more about managing stakeholders, handling projects, and effectively presenting your ideas. It’s also crucial to develop strong soft skills because, at every level, you’ll need to sell both yourself and your ideas. Being able to communicate clearly and build relationships becomes just as important as the design work itself.
The most challenging part is simply being a woman in a system that wasn’t designed with us in mind. For instance, did you know that the typical 9-to-5 work rhythm is actually more suited to the male biological rhythm? Studies have shown that women’s hormonal cycles can impact energy and productivity levels throughout the month, but traditional work schedules don’t account for these natural fluctuations. This can sometimes make it harder for women to feel in sync with the demands of the workplace.
For me, the most rewarding part is having the opportunity to help other women succeed in this field. I believe that when women lift each other up, we create space for more diverse voices and perspectives, which leads to better design overall. Knowing that I can contribute to that shift, even in small ways in my everyday life, is what keeps me motivated.
Honestly, it’s ChatGPT. I know it’s a controversial topic, but I find it really helpful for getting a first outline of ideas, making sure I’m not missing any core features, and even generating rough wireframe suggestions. That said, it's important to be mindful of company AI guidelines and confidentiality policies when using it. As a tool, it’s great for jumpstarting creativity and problem-solving, but it’s crucial to use it responsibly.
Follow Alexandra on LinkedIn for more.
Discover more in Women in Design, our interview series where talented designers share their creative journeys and personal thoughts.
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