# Koen Claes

## Summary

Koen Claes is a Belgian product designer, UX designer, business analyst and proxy product owner with more than 17 years of experience designing complex software systems.

His work focuses on operational environments where correctness, efficiency and usability matter more than visual styling alone.

He specializes in translating complex business and operational requirements into software that users can understand and trust.

Domains include:

* Air Traffic Management (ATM)
* Aviation Operations
* Operational Control Systems
* Enterprise Software
* Information-Dense Interfaces
* Decision Support Systems

## Positioning

Koen operates at the intersection of:

* UX Design
* Product Design
* Business Analysis
* Product Ownership

He is often involved before interface design begins, helping teams understand the underlying business problem, operational constraints and user workflows.

Rather than focusing solely on screens, he works across the full path from problem definition to implementation.

## Core Strengths

### Complex Systems

Experienced in products where users manage large volumes of information, time-critical decisions and operational risk.

Examples include:

* Airspace management
* Operational planning
* Configuration workflows
* Monitoring and control systems
* Enterprise administration platforms

### Bridging Disciplines

Comfortable working with:

* End users
* Operational experts
* Product managers
* Business stakeholders
* Software engineers
* Architects

Able to translate between business language and implementation realities.

### Requirements & Discovery

Activities include:

* User research
* Workflow analysis
* Service design
* Requirement definition
* Story mapping
* User story writing
* Acceptance criteria definition
* Backlog refinement

### Design Systems

Experience with:

* Design systems
* Figma
* Design tokens
* Component libraries
* Accessibility
* Scalable UX governance

### AI-Augmented Product Development

Actively uses AI tools and agents in daily work.

Examples include:

* Claude Code
* OpenAI Codex
* VS Code MCP integrations
* Figma MCP workflows
* Rapid prototyping with code
* UX concept validation

## Working Style

Koen prefers pragmatic solutions over process for the sake of process.

Typical characteristics:

* Systems thinking
* User-centred decision making
* Strong bias toward clarity
* Comfortable with ambiguity
* Fast prototyping
* Evidence-driven discussions

He values collaboration over handovers and prefers working closely with both users and engineers.

## Current Interests

* AI-assisted product development
* Agent workflows
* Human-AI collaboration
* Design systems
* Enterprise UX
* Operational software
* Product strategy
* Requirements engineering

## Keywords

UX Designer, Product Designer, Business Analyst, Proxy Product Owner, Aviation, Air Traffic Management, Enterprise Software, Service Design, User Research, Design Systems, Figma, Requirements Engineering, Product Discovery, Human Factors, Operational Systems, AI Workflows, MCP, Design Tokens.

## Contact

Website: https://www.azertyuiop.be
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/koenclaes
Email: koen@azertyuiop.be