Melissa H Kern
Seasoned UX design leader with 20+ years shaping B2B SaaS products. Skilled in translating complex needs into seamless, intuitive experiences.
Leveraging two decades of hands-on experience in UX design, I am a versatile design leader who excels at bridging the gap between high-level strategy and tactical execution. My expertise spans the entire product development lifecycle, from user research and journey mapping to crafting detailed user interfaces and prototyping. I bring a proven ability to translate complex requirements into intuitive and elegant solutions, all while working within an agile framework to deliver high-quality, impactful B2B SaaS products.
About me
By degree, I am an engineer. By practice, I am a designer. But what truly motivates me is understanding my users’ needs such that I can help build applications that are intuitive and useful. My strengths lie in my
ability to adapt to the ever-changing
technology landscape, my instinctive
empathy for end-users, and my drive for a consistent experience.
Perspective
What I bring to the table is rare in UX: Over 20 years of experience. I have seen this industry grow from an undefined nice-to- have in software development to a fully realized philosophy that drives desktop and
mobile application design. I have seen where this industry has come from, which enables me to understand where it needs to go.
Design Philosophy
Designers need to do the thinking for their users. When the perfect combination of research, logic, and visual appeal is infused into a design, the user’s needs will be met instantly such that they are not required to
think and instead respond, "Wow, that's exactly what I was looking for."
My work
A showcase of user-centered design solutions that solve real problems and create meaningful experiences
Professional Recognition
Feedback from managers, colleagues, and clients who have experienced my work firsthand
I’ve had the pleasure of working with and reporting to Melissa as my design manager. Melissa consistently fosters a fun, open, and collaborative environment, always pushing her team to push the boundaries of what’s possible. On numerous occasions, her creativity and leadership empowered me and provided guidance through complex projects, resulting in our teams hitting target launches with elegant solutions on often extremely tight deadlines.
Direct Report Review
August, 2025
"I was actually going to send you an email this week anyway to let you know how much I appreciated Melissa Kern. She did the round-table session that we were involved in as well as spent some quality on-one time with [my colleague] and me in the UX lab. She is always a joy to work with, but I truly appreciated the time she spent in both of those situations. You definitely have an amazing person in her."
Client Quote
July 2014
"Melissa has seemingly limitless creativity and energy. I am consistently in awe of her ability to break through complexities in everyday challenges that others might shy away from. I have never known of a design problem she hasn't been able to come up with an elegant and ideal solution for."
LinkedIn Recommendation
April 2018
"Melissa has had to step up several times during 2015 to set the priorities for the team, including setting agendas and team goals in the absence of direction from product management. She has filled those gaps with discussions about design and business strategy, efforts that have consistently landed on the roadmap rather than being passed. Her ability to keep the teams on track during planning meetings, and maintain the integrity of the sprint scheduling has been invaluable during some uncertain periods."
Manager Review
April 2016
Melissa is truly dedicated to her craft! She's built deep domain knowledge, works closely with stakeholders, and always puts users first. Whether conducting interviews, prototyping, or doing user research, her focus is always on delivering the best experience. I've witnessed her face truly gnarly and complex user needs and time and time again, she proves she can handle each challenge effortlessly, showing her adaptability. Melissa is a true professional who always brings her best to the table!
Coworker Review
October, 2024
Let's connect!
Ready to collaborate on creating meaningful user experiences? I'd love to hear about your opportunities.
