Navigating complexity. Building design cultures that hold.

With more than 16 years in digital product and experience design, I work across disciplines – from strategy and systems thinking to team leadership and product development.

My practice is shaped by listening, asking questions, and helping teams find clarity in the right moment. I lead by framing direction, holding tension, and creating space for collaboration. 

What I’ve learned: structure and trust are not opposites. Teams can handle ambiguity, when they are aligned, supported, and focused.

Picture of Thomas Otto

Current Work

Wandelbots — Industrial robotic automation redefined by software

Thomas is responsible for leading and coaching the Product/Marketing Experience team, orchestrating UX, Product, Marketing topics across different digital and hardware products, leading product discovery, and supporting c-level leadership to provide clarity.

Sharing and exchange is inspirational, sparks creativity and growth.

As part of my work, I had the chance to share experiences from design leadership, evangelize for a better data-future for professionals and academic fellows alike at conferences, events:

Clients & Product companies

I worked with teams for a variety of clients, from startups to enterprises, from private to public clients. Most of my work is NDA protected. Therefore, you find here some clients I worked for and companies I worked at. If you want to dive deeper into discussions. Please reach out.

Some of my stations

01/2024 — now
Wandelbots, Dresden

03/2023 — 12/2023
Wandelbots, Dresden

03/2022 — 03/2022
upper.co, Berlin

11/2021 — 03/2022
icon impact, Berlin
Senior Director Strategic Design

11/2020 — 11/2021
Head of Design
at OVIAVO, Berlin

11/2019 — 11/2020
Design Director
at MVPF Technologies, Berlin

08/2017 — 09/2019
Senior User Experience Designer
at Aperto – an IBM Company, Berlin

2015 – 2017
User Experience Designer
at Useeds, Berlin

2008 — 2016
Freelance Interface Designer
Working for various clients 

2020
Design MBA
6 weeks Business course for designers
d.MBA

2016 — 2018
Master of Arts in Design 
at the University of Applied Science Potsdam

2011 — 2016
Bachelor of Arts in Interfacedesign 
at the University of Applied Science Potsdam

2008 — 2011
Digital Media Designer – Design and Technology 
at the Multi Media Berufsbildende Schulen, Hannover