Designing for complexity
Balancing human needs, business realities, and technical constraints to create products that just work.
About me
My projects
About me
I’m Jochem Franse, a product designer with 9 years of experience tackling complex products where multiple users, systems, and business goals intersect. Over the years, I’ve learned that great design isn’t about chasing perfection — it’s about crafting solutions that work for real people, within real constraints, and in collaboration with diverse teams.
My experience spans emergency healthcare, humanitarian work, and data analytics — all environments where decisions are critical, and products must empower users to work confidently and efficiently. I approach design pragmatically and human-centered, focusing on clarity amid complexity and delivering outcomes that truly matter.
How I work
Many of the products I work on involve multiple users, interwoven workflows, and complex technical dependencies. They must work within technical constraints, business goals, and user needs. I enjoy the challenge of untangling these systems to find the core problems and craft clear, usable experiences. By breaking down complexity into understandable components, I help teams and users alike navigate chaos with confidence.
Designing in complex environments requires more than clean interfaces — it demands strong collaboration, human-centered processes, adaptability and pragmatism. These four principles shape how I work and what I bring to every team and project:
Collaboration
Great products aren’t made in isolation. I believe in building strong cross-functional relationships with product managers, engineers, sales, marketing, and end users throughout the design process. Early and frequent feedback loops help uncover hidden risks, uncover opportunities, and align everyone around shared goals.
Human-Centered Process
I design for people doing serious, high-stakes work — from doctors to data analysts. That starts with qualitative interviews, supported by quantitative data to uncover patterns and priorities. I test ideas with users throughout the process to ensure they fit real workflows and deliver real value.
Adaptability
No project unfolds exactly as planned. External factors, shifting priorities, and missing data are part of everyday life. I embrace ambiguity and uncertainty rather than resist it by using my flexibility and creativity. My process is iterative and responsive, always adjusting to new learnings without losing sight of the ultimate goal.
Pragmatism
Products aren’t built in a vacuum. They must work within technical constraints, business goals, and user needs. My design approach embraces this complexity by focusing on solutions that are achievable, scalable, and impactful. I don’t chase perfection; I design to solve problems that actually exist and can be realistically implemented. This means making thoughtful trade-offs and finding the best possible path forward within constraints.
So... what exactly do I do?
Check out my projects.
Go to projects
Designing for complexity
Balancing human needs, business realities, and technical constraints to create products that just work.
About me
My projects
About me
I’m Jochem Franse, a product designer with 9 years of experience tackling complex products where multiple users, systems, and business goals intersect. Over the years, I’ve learned that great design isn’t about chasing perfection — it’s about crafting solutions that work for real people, within real constraints, and in collaboration with diverse teams.
My experience spans emergency healthcare, humanitarian work, and data analytics — all environments where decisions are critical, and products must empower users to work confidently and efficiently. I approach design pragmatically and human-centered, focusing on clarity amid complexity and delivering outcomes that truly matter.
How I work
Many of the products I work on involve multiple users, interwoven workflows, and complex technical dependencies. They must work within technical constraints, business goals, and user needs. I enjoy the challenge of untangling these systems to find the core problems and craft clear, usable experiences. By breaking down complexity into understandable components, I help teams and users alike navigate chaos with confidence.
Designing in complex environments requires more than clean interfaces — it demands strong collaboration, human-centered processes, adaptability and pragmatism. These four principles shape how I work and what I bring to every team and project:
Collaboration
Great products aren’t made in isolation. I believe in building strong cross-functional relationships with product managers, engineers, sales, marketing, and end users throughout the design process. Early and frequent feedback loops help uncover hidden risks, uncover opportunities, and align everyone around shared goals.
Human-Centered Process
I design for people doing serious, high-stakes work — from doctors to data analysts. That starts with qualitative interviews, supported by quantitative data to uncover patterns and priorities. I test ideas with users throughout the process to ensure they fit real workflows and deliver real value.
Adaptability
No project unfolds exactly as planned. External factors, shifting priorities, and missing data are part of everyday life. I embrace ambiguity and uncertainty rather than resist it by using my flexibility and creativity. My process is iterative and responsive, always adjusting to new learnings without losing sight of the ultimate goal.
Pragmatism
Products aren’t built in a vacuum. They must work within technical constraints, business goals, and user needs. My design approach embraces this complexity by focusing on solutions that are achievable, scalable, and impactful. I don’t chase perfection; I design to solve problems that actually exist and can be realistically implemented. This means making thoughtful trade-offs and finding the best possible path forward within constraints.
Check out my projects.
Go to projects
Designing for complexity
Balancing human needs, business realities, and technical constraints to create products that just work.
About me
My projects
About me
I’m Jochem Franse, a product designer with 9 years of experience tackling complex products where multiple users, systems, and business goals intersect. Over the years, I’ve learned that great design isn’t about chasing perfection — it’s about crafting solutions that work for real people, within real constraints, and in collaboration with diverse teams.
My experience spans emergency healthcare, humanitarian work, and data analytics — all environments where decisions are critical, and products must empower users to work confidently and efficiently. I approach design pragmatically and human-centered, focusing on clarity amid complexity and delivering outcomes that truly matter.
How I work
Many of the products I work on involve multiple users, interwoven workflows, and complex technical dependencies. They must work within technical constraints, business goals, and user needs. I enjoy the challenge of untangling these systems to find the core problems and craft clear, usable experiences. By breaking down complexity into understandable components, I help teams and users alike navigate chaos with confidence.
Designing in complex environments requires more than clean interfaces — it demands strong collaboration, human-centered processes, adaptability and pragmatism. These four principles shape how I work and what I bring to every team and project:
Collaboration
Great products aren’t made in isolation. I believe in building strong cross-functional relationships with product managers, engineers, sales, marketing, and end users throughout the design process. Early and frequent feedback loops help uncover hidden risks, uncover opportunities, and align everyone around shared goals.
Human-Centered Process
I design for people doing serious, high-stakes work — from doctors to data analysts. That starts with qualitative interviews, supported by quantitative data to uncover patterns and priorities. I test ideas with users throughout the process to ensure they fit real workflows and deliver real value.
Adaptability
No project unfolds exactly as planned. External factors, shifting priorities, and missing data are part of everyday life. I embrace ambiguity and uncertainty rather than resist it by using my flexibility and creativity. My process is iterative and responsive, always adjusting to new learnings without losing sight of the ultimate goal.
Pragmatism
I focus on solutions that are achievable, scalable, and impactful. I don’t chase perfection; I design to solve problems that actually exist and can be realistically implemented. This means making thoughtful trade-offs and finding the best possible path forward within constraints.
Check out my projects.
Go to projects