Codename "BlueCopper"
Designing clarity in complexity
Project overview
My role & the Team
I held the role of an UX Lead on a cross-functional scrum team consisting of a PO, BA, Devs, QA, SM, and a team of scientists, researchers, and lab workers. The project type was a Platform Unification & Workflow Redesign for an Enterprise SaaS product for Internal Pharmaceutical R&D.
The challenge
A fragmented, siloed system used by pharmaceutical scientists was slowing down research and duplicating effort. One user insight captured the challenge well: "I waste half of my day chasing around tools and rooms."
This became my core insight and the driver behind a unified, intuitive platform.
Summary & impact
I led the end-to-end UX efforts to redesign and unify different platforms under one hood, resulting in major efficiency gains and high user satisfaction.
- Time/effort reduction for researchers
- Minimized context-switching steps
- 97% positive sentiment post-launch (NPS 9.7)
- Simplified workflows and minimal onboarding required
- Scalable UX system created
- Product Owner was promoted post-launch
My role & the design process
My role as UX Lead
I took on an informal leadership role to define workflows, set early rituals, and align the team during a formative phase. My responsibilities included:
- Leading UX strategy, research, and discovery
- Translating product, business, and user goals into actionable solutions
- Designing and documenting ideas to support agile planning
- Introducing a modular UX system and defining scalable design patterns
- Advocating for user experience practices across the team
The design process
The project was executed through an iterative, research-led design process with four key stages:
- Research & Discovery: heuristic audits, stakeholder/user interviews, and journey mapping to uncover pain points.
- Ideation & Validation: redesigned core workflows and introduced new features based on validated insights.
- Implementation & Measurement: supported development, tracked adoption, and refined as needed.
- Ongoing Development: aligned design work with the product roadmap, maintaining consistency and momentum.
Solution overview & outcomes
We turned a fragmented research application ecosystem into a unified, intuitive platform. Here's a breakdown of the key solutions and their benefits:
Modular UX system
A set of reusable components and repeatable patterns that scaled across modules and sped up future feature rollouts.
Streamlined navigation & IA
Reduced unnecessary clicks by surfacing relevant tasks and data contextually.
Unified experiment view
Seamless tracking of experimental lineage across tools.
No-code interaction model
Easy to learn and led to high user adoption with minimal onboarding.
Final thoughts & learnings
This project helped the product scale smarter, made people work more efficiently, and helped me grow as a systems-level UX thinker and team leader.
"Great UX isn't about making things beautiful—it's about making things make sense."
Key learnings
- Simplicity is essential in complex domains.
- UX maturity starts with structure, not screens.
- Early mutual trust empowers teams and increases velocity.
- Systems thinking + micro-precision = real value.
About me
Anna Marchwicka
Senior UX/Product Designer | 16+ years experience in various environments
A senior UX/Product Designer with over 16 years of hands-on experience in user-centered design, research, and product development. Adept at leading end-to-end design efforts, facilitating cross-functional workshops, and aligning UX with strategic business goals. I am skilled in driving research-informed design decisions, supporting agile teams in high-growth environments, and scaling design systems.
Skills & tools
- Design: Figma, Sketch, Axure, Miro, FigJam, Design Systems
- UX Research: Usability Testing, Customer Interviews, UserTesting, UserZoom, Google Analytics, Pendo, Hotjar, Dovetail
- Core Competencies: Problem Definition, UX Research, Information Architecture, Interaction Design
Experience
- Lead Product and UX Designer: 108 creations (2013-present)
- UX | Product | Experience | Research: Hazelcast (2022-2023)
- Senior User Experience Designer: 7N (2019-2022)
- User Experience Designer: GetResponse (2017-2019)
- UX Designer Expert: Fagbokforlaget V&B AS (2016-2017)
Education & certification
- Master of Science: Quality Science, Gdynia Maritime University
- Human-Computer Interaction: Stanford University (online)
Let's connect
My goal is to create great user experiences that drive business results. If you face a challenge that needs a strategic design partner, let's connect. I'm available to discuss mid-to-senior level roles and projects, and I'd love to hear about your team and product's unique opportunities.
