I'm Sarah Thauer, a Senior Product Designer focused on enterprise software, mobile apps, and design systems, with experience across discovery, research, workshops, and cross-functional delivery. As a freelancer, I lead product design from discovery through implementation, collaborating with clients to optimize and scale digital products, and mentoring teams to grow UX capability.…

Sarah Thauer

I'm Sarah Thauer, a Senior Product Designer focused on enterprise software, mobile apps, and design systems, with experience across discovery, research, workshops, and cross-functional delivery. As a freelancer, I lead product design from discovery through implementation, collaborating with clients to optimize and scale digital products, and mentoring teams to grow UX capability.…

Available to hire

I’m Sarah Thauer, a Senior Product Designer focused on enterprise software, mobile apps, and design systems, with experience across discovery, research, workshops, and cross-functional delivery.

As a freelancer, I lead product design from discovery through implementation, collaborating with clients to optimize and scale digital products, and mentoring teams to grow UX capability.

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Skills

Experience Level

Product Design
Expert
App Design
Expert
Figma
Expert
Prototype
Expert
Jira
Intermediate
Framer
Intermediate
Animation
Intermediate

Language

German
Fluent
English
Fluent
French
Beginner

Work Experience

Senior User Experience Designer at Canco AG
September 1, 2021 - April 1, 2026
Led discovery workshops and translated business requirements, user needs, and technical constraints into product concepts. Partnered with another Senior UX Designer on technical decisions and implementation across the UX process. Planned and facilitated discovery, design thinking, and stakeholder workshops with clients and internal teams. Translated complex requirements into intuitive concepts to create more efficient client processes. Responsible for user-centered conception and UX design in research projects, joint ventures, and the development and expansion of internal digital products. Lead Designer for chatbot and conversational interfaces with a focus on optimized user journeys, efficient dialogue flows, and intuitive interaction. Conceptualization and design of enterprise software, mobile applications, and innovative product solutions. Technical collaboration on a research project in a hospital setting, where an AI solution prevents critical errors and thus leads to a demonstrab
Founder & Product Designer at Pnto
February 1, 2020 - Present
Led product design work from the discovery phase through collaboration on implementation and further development. Provided long-term UX leadership for an enterprise platform in debt collection, dunning, and legal proceedings, serving multiple user groups with complex to critical requirements. Designed user interactions for electric vehicle charging stations, where a critical checkout error was identified and resolved using UX methodologies, thereby preventing potential revenue losses and incorrect transactions. Planned, conducted, and evaluated user research and usability tests, and stakeholder workshops. Consulted on optimizing existing products, identifying quick wins and opportunities for improvement. Supported startups in very early product phases, from ideation to market readiness. Conceived and developed brand identities, visual identities, and communication materials.
User Experience Designer at mogree
February 1, 2019 - August 1, 2021
Used user, stakeholder, and requirements analysis to drive user story maps, flows, wireframes, high-fidelity designs, and interactive prototypes while coordinating project work with clients, product owners, developers, and testing teams. Design of complex mobile applications, including software for field service and towing staff at a major Austrian automobile club. Prepare developer handovers and ensure consistent implementation of design concepts.
Product Designer (Internship) at HYVE
October 1, 2017 - April 1, 2018
Conducted in-depth research, user interviews, and user testing to gain relevant insights. Planned and conducted workshops with users. Conceived and designed holistic product solutions for physical, digital, and service-oriented offerings. Created 2D and 3D visualizations of concepts for presentations and pitches.
Product Designer (Internship) at Design 3
February 1, 2016 - May 1, 2016
Analyzing user needs and gathering insights; ideation and concept development for physical products; 2D and 3D visualizations for presentations and client pitches.

Education

Master of Arts - MA, Eco Innovation Design at FH Joanneum, Graz
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2018
Bachelor of Arts - BA, Industrial and Product Design at FH Joanneum, Graz
January 1, 2013 - January 1, 2016
The Human Mind and Usability – Turn User Data Into User-Centered Design; Facilitating UX Workshops at The Human Mind and Usability Program
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2024

Qualifications

The Human Mind and Usability – Turn User Data Into User-Centered Design; Facilitating UX Workshops
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2024

Industry Experience

Education, Agriculture & Mining, Software & Internet, Healthcare, Energy & Utilities, Manufacturing, Transportation & Logistics
    Debt Collection & Invoice Management Software
    Designed the user experience for a cloud-based debt collection and receivables management platform. The objective was to simplify complex financial workflows and create an efficient, intuitive SaaS product for organizations managing outstanding claims and payment recovery processes. . My Role UX Design UI Design SaaS Design Information Architecture Wireframing User Testing Dashboard Design Design Systems FinTech Mobile Application Design . The Challenge Debt collection and receivables management involve complex workflows, large datasets, and multiple process stages. Existing solutions often prioritize functionality over usability, making everyday tasks inefficient and difficult to navigate. The goal was to transform complex financial operations into a streamlined experience that users could navigate with confidence. . The Solution I designed a structured and user-centered platform focused on clarity, efficiency, and scalability. Key improvements included: Simplified information architecture Optimized dashboards and data visualization Clear process guidance throughout the collection lifecycle Consistent UI patterns and reusable components Reduced cognitive load through task-oriented workflows . The Outcome The resulting platform enables finance and operations teams to manage claims more efficiently while maintaining full visibility over ongoing processes. Key benefits: Faster navigation through complex workflows Improved usability for finance and operations teams Better visibility of outstanding claims and actions Reduced manual effort through structured process design Increased user confidence when handling sensitive financial data View Full Case Study](https://www.twine.net/signin Dashboard of the System](https://www.twine.net/signin Mobile Self-Service Plattform](https://www.twine.net/signin UX Design UI Design SaaS Design Information Architecture Dashboard Design Design Systems FinTech Mobile Application Design…
    TEDx Linz 2023 | Event Branding & Visual Identity
    Designed a flexible visual identity for TEDx Linz 2023 that translated the annual theme "To Boldly Go" into a cohesive branding system across digital and physical event touchpoints. . My Role Brand Identity Visual Design Creative Direction Graphic Design Concept Development Event Branding Art Direction Editorial Design Print Design Digital Design *Created in collaboration with Vera Tolazzi.* . The Brief TEDx Linz required a distinctive visual identity for its 2023 event that could communicate the annual theme "To Boldly Go" while remaining adaptable across a wide range of applications before, during, and after the event. The goal was to create a recognizable and flexible design system capable of supporting both digital and printed media. A strong event identity should not only capture attention. It should create a memorable experience across every touchpoint. . The Creative Process The visual concept was inspired by the idea that stepping into the unknown is a deeply personal journey. Curiosity, exploration, imagination, and individuality became the guiding principles throughout the creative process. Based on this concept, each speaker received a unique graphic representation reflecting the themes of their talk. Together, these individual visuals formed a larger, cohesive composition that represented the event as a whole Particular attention was given to creating a modular system where every graphic could function independently while seamlessly integrating into the overall identity. Illustration System](https://www.twine.net/signin . The Outcome The final branding system was successfully applied across a variety of media, including digital communication, print materials, stage visuals, and promotional assets. Its modular structure ensured consistency while providing enough flexibility to adapt to the diverse communication needs of the event. View Full Case Study](https://www.twine.net/signin Event Visual Appearance](https://www.twine.net/signin Visual Website Concept](https://www.twine.net/signin Flyer Concept](https://www.twine.net/signin branding illustrator designer…
    Shaping a New Social Media Experience
    Collaborated with an early-stage startup to transform an ambitious social media concept into a structured product vision through UX strategy, product discovery, and interface design. My Role UX Strategy Product Discovery UX Design UI Design User Story Mapping Wireframing Branding & Visual Identity . The Challenge The startup had a compelling vision for a different kind of social media platform, but the concept was still abstract and open to interpretation. Features, workflows, and the overall product experience had yet to be defined. The challenge was to align the team around a shared vision and transform scattered ideas into a product that could be validated and further developed. Great products rarely start with polished requirements—they begin with ideas that need structure, clarity, and direction. . The Approach Working closely with the founders, I facilitated collaborative discovery sessions to refine the product vision and establish a common understanding across the team. Using methods such as User Story Mapping, we challenged assumptions, identified core user needs, and prioritized the platform's most valuable features. Based on these findings, I translated the concept into user flows, wireframes, interface designs, and a visual identity that brought the product to life. . The Outcome What started as an abstract idea evolved into a tangible product concept with clearly defined user journeys, feature priorities, and a recognizable visual identity. The project provided the startup with a solid foundation for future product development while ensuring that design decisions were aligned with both user needs and business goals. View Full Case Study](https://www.twine.net/signin logo graphicdesigner branding designer…