Ruven Riepert - Product Design Principal / Digital Transformation Consultant / Strategic Designer

Q: Where is Ruven based?

Ruven is based in Berlin, Germany and can operate in on-site , hybrid , and remote work models.

Q: What languages does Ruven speak?

Ruven speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced) .

Q: How many years of experience does Ruven have?

Ruven has at least 21 years of experience. During this time, Ruven has worked in at least 4 different roles and for 3 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 5 years and 3 months . Note that Ruven may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Ruven's latest experience?

Ruven's most recent position is Product Design Principal / Digital Transformation Consultant / Strategic Designer at Freelance .

Q: What companies has Ruven worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Ruven has worked for Freelance .

Q: Which industries is Ruven most experienced in?

Ruven is most experienced in industries like Food and Beverage , Automotive , and Retail . Ruven also has some experience in Information Technology (IT) , Professional Services , and Banking and Finance .

Q: Which business areas is Ruven most experienced in?

Ruven is most experienced in business areas like Marketing , Product Development , and Information Technology (IT) . Ruven also has some experience in Operations and Strategy and Planning .

Q: Which industries has Ruven worked in recently?

Ruven has recently worked in industries like Food and Beverage , Professional Services , and Retail .

Q: Which business areas has Ruven worked in recently?

Ruven has recently worked in business areas like Marketing , Operations , and Product Development .

Recommended expert

Berlin, Germany

Experience

Aug 2020 - Present

5 years 7 months

Berlin, Germany

Product Design Principal / Digital Transformation Consultant / Strategic Designer

Freelance

Lead strategic and operational design initiatives for consultancies, agencies, and enterprise clients focusing on design maturity, customer experience transformation, and global product expansion.
Zooplus - Role: Product Design Principal (via Etribes): Led the strategic design and digital transformation of Zooplus’ shift from a D2C model to a scalable multi-seller marketplace; defined the end-to-end strategy, aligned cross-functional teams, and facilitated C-level decision-making; delivered a modular MVP and experience framework (HEART), enabling a successful pilot launch and projected 15-20% revenue growth.
Zooplus - Role: Lead Strategic Designer (via Etribes): Led the design and experience strategy for a subscription-based Autoshipment feature to increase CLTV and repeat purchases; defined value proposition and integrated experience framework; collaborated with Product, CRM, and Loyalty teams; validated usability, trust, and adoption through behavioral research and testing.
FMCG Brand (Confidential) - Role: Design Leadership & Operations Consultant: Coached Head of Design and empowered design team by establishing DesignOps; facilitated vision and strategy workshops; drove execution; challenged the status quo; aligned design initiatives with business goals; implemented scalable frameworks to improve efficiency, collaboration, and innovation culture.

Mar 2017 - Aug 2020

3 years 6 months

Berlin, Germany

Senior UX Consultant

Freelance

Delivered UX strategy, service design, and experience consulting for mid- to large-scale digital products and transformation programs across finance, mobility, and retail.
B2B Software Relaunch - ETL Tax: Led the complete redesign and UX of ETL Tax’s B2B platform, improving workflow efficiency, usability, and scalability for tax professionals across the DACH region.
Commerzbank B2B Portal: Co-led the relaunch of the B2B section of Commerzbank’s online portal for corporate clients, optimizing workflows, enhancing usability, and strengthening the digital experience for business users.
Mercedes-Benz.com & Volkswagen WeShare: Co-led global digital initiatives, defining UX strategy, onboarding flows, and MVP delivery to enhance user experience across web and mobile channels.

Jan 2014 - Dec 2017

4 years

Berlin, Germany

Senior UX Designer

SapientRazorfish

Led high-impact UX and design initiatives for global brands across e-commerce, mobility, telecom, and logistics.
UX Lead - Swarovski: Led the global e-commerce relaunch and a cross-functional UX team, defining end-to-end experience and product architecture; improved conversion and retention through a unified design system and scalable modular framework.
UX Lead - McDonald’s Germany: Directed all digital experience and campaign initiatives, including app, websites, and loyalty programs; increased engagement and loyalty participation through cohesive, data-driven design.
UX Co-Lead - Audi.com: Led the global relaunch of Audi’s digital brand presence, driving UX strategy and responsive design across markets; strengthened brand consistency and UX quality worldwide.

Jan 2005 - Dec 2014

10 years

Experience Design & Creative Roles

Various Agencies & Freelance

Held multiple creative and experience design positions, contributing to award-winning digital campaigns and UX/CX work for major brands in automotive, FMCG, and technology sectors.

Summary

Strategic Design Leader with 18+ years of experience driving digital transformation, scaling design organizations, and creating impactful customer experiences across industries. Proven success in building cross-functional teams, defining operating models, and leading end-to-end design strategies that deliver measurable business outcomes. Trusted consultant for leading corporations and start-ups - bridging strategic vision, design excellence, and organizational growth.

Skills

Strategic Design
Design Leadership
Digital Transformation
Designops
Service Design
Product Strategy
Team Development
Customer Experience Management
Operating Model Design
Org Design
Ux Strategy
Ux For Ai
Ux Research
Facilitation & Workshops
Cross-functional Leadership
Stakeholder Management
Analytical & Strategic Thinking
Data-informed Design Decisions
Brand Experience
Innovation Enablement

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Education

Sep 2001 - May 2005

Winona State University

Bachelor of Arts · Mass Communication - Advertising · Winona, United States

Profile

Created

October 2025

Last Update

November 2025

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Ruven based?

Ruven is based in Berlin, Germany and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.

What languages does Ruven speak?

Ruven speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced).

How many years of experience does Ruven have?

Ruven has at least 21 years of experience. During this time, Ruven has worked in at least 4 different roles and for 3 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 5 years and 3 months. Note that Ruven may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Ruven be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Ruven would be well-suited for roles such as: Product Design Principal / Digital Transformation Consultant / Strategic Designer, Senior UX Consultant, Senior UX Designer.

What is Ruven's latest experience?

Ruven's most recent position is Product Design Principal / Digital Transformation Consultant / Strategic Designer at Freelance.

What companies has Ruven worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Ruven has worked for Freelance.

Which industries is Ruven most experienced in?

Ruven is most experienced in industries like Food and Beverage, Automotive, and Retail. Ruven also has some experience in Information Technology (IT), Professional Services, and Banking and Finance.

Which business areas is Ruven most experienced in?

Ruven is most experienced in business areas like Marketing, Product Development, and Information Technology (IT). Ruven also has some experience in Operations and Strategy and Planning.

Which industries has Ruven worked in recently?

Ruven has recently worked in industries like Food and Beverage, Professional Services, and Retail.

Which business areas has Ruven worked in recently?

Ruven has recently worked in business areas like Marketing, Operations, and Product Development.

What is Ruven's education?

Ruven holds a Bachelor in Mass Communication - Advertising from Winona State University.

What is the availability of Ruven?

Ruven is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Ruven?

Ruven's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.