At Studio Lenzing, we thrive on the challenge of tackling complex problems. We’ve had the privilege of working on a range of B2B SaaS products that deal with a lot of moving parts—products that require not only a stunning interface but an intuitive, user-friendly experience that makes navigating a wealth of information seamless and even enjoyable.
Designing for such environments is of course no easy feat. Besides making things look beautiful and clear, the underlying task is to create processes that empower users to handle heavy workflows, extensive data, and intricate use cases without feeling overwhelmed or lost. When you’re working with tools designed for deep functionality and heavy use—whether in finance, operations, or other data-driven industries—the user experience has to go beyond surface-level appeal. It needs to be strategic, precise, and deeply thoughtful.
Let’s explore why this matters, and how good design makes complex systems not only easier to use but more powerful in the long run.
01 The Real Challenge with Complexity
B2B SaaS products, particularly those aimed at enterprises or highly specialized fields, come with several layers of information, operations and governance. They are never one-size-fits-all platforms. They serve power users who are often dealing with vast amounts of data, complex processes and lots of requirements. The expectations are high: users need to access information quickly, make decisions with confidence, and complete tasks efficiently.
But with so much going on, things can easily become chaotic. Too much data crammed into a small space, too many actions to choose from, layers of interfaces stacked upon each other. The product can quickly start to feel like a maze, where users struggle to find the right path.
Designing for complexity, then, is about creating a product where everything has its place and every interaction is purposeful.
The key is prioritizing clarity and simplicity while handling complexity under the hood. When done right, the experience feels effortless, no matter how intricate the processes underneath are.
02 Understanding the User Journey
In complex B2B environments, it’s not unusual to forget the most important part: the user. That’s why we always begin by understanding the workflow, needs, and goals of the end-user. What are the pain points? What tasks do they need to accomplish regularly? What information do they need at their fingertips?
UX research typically accounts for just 10% of a project budget, while it represents 90% of good design work.
A deep understanding of the user journey is crucial to ensure the product meets the bar. This understanding is specially essential when working on products with multiple stakeholders or long-term use cases. If we’re designing something that people will use daily, we can’t afford to overlook established flows and make or break details. Design needs to guide the user through complex tasks in a way that feels natural, intuitive, and frictionless. So simple it feels magic, and almost automatic.
The user’s context is just as important as the design itself. Is the user experienced? How much time do they have to complete a task? Are they carrying a lot of data along process steps or rely on a handful of key transactions and metrics? All of these questions factor into the design choices we make.
03 From Information Overload to Seamless Flow
Information overload is an often overlooked problem in high performing environments. With so much data available, how do you make sure the right information is easily accessible at the right time, without overwhelming the user?
The answer lies in creating clear, logical structures. This involves organizing data into digestible sections and presenting information only when and where it’s needed. It’s about guiding the user’s attention and creating hierarchy—highlighting what’s important while keeping the rest in the background. And sometimes it is beneficial to provide a deep-dive, using content-enriching features like contextual filtering, easy navigation, and customizable dashboards, to ensure users can tap into the power of their product, at their convenience.
For Regpit’s AML app, for example, we designed a UX pattern that keeps users anchored to the main view when accessing detailed information. Instead of navigating away, an overlay presents the details while keeping the original content visible in the background. This ensures a seamless experience, preventing users from getting lost in a complex, information-rich interface.
This approach not only creates a smoother, more intuitive user experience, but it also allows for deep functionality without compromise. By focusing on the task at hand and providing users with tools that adapt to their needs, we enable them to interact with complex data without getting bogged down in the details.
04 Striking the Balance: Performance & Aesthetics
When things start to get complex often comes the risk of a product feeling cluttered or inefficient. That’s why we approach every project with the goal of balancing both performance and aesthetics. A powerful product needs to perform under pressure, but it should also feel delightful to use.
The interface is where function meets beauty. It’s where we ensure that every interaction is purposeful and feels fluid. A clean, minimalistic design ensures that users are not distracted by extraneous elements, while at the same time, thoughtful details help users understand how the system works. We make sure the UI doesn’t hide the power of the product, but enhances it.
When talking complex systems, good design doesn’t just beautify—it streamlines and refines. It ensures that even highly functional, data-heavy products maintain a human-centered approach that makes complex tasks feel easy to accomplish.
05 A Partnership for Success
For product leads and chief product officers, it is essential to partner with designers who understand both the strategic and tactical challenges of building complex products. As designers, we focus on bringing not only creativity but also a deep understanding of usability and product strategy. We know how to make things easy without oversimplifying.
Partnering with companies to design B2B SaaS products that are as powerful as user-friendly, we have learned to start by looking under the surface—we dive deep into the intricacies of a product to understand the business needs and technical requirements, while always keeping the end-user experience top of mind.
Designing for complexity is about solving real problems, making sense of vast amounts of data, while helping users feel in control, even in the most demanding scenarios. If you are building a product that tackles deep topics and massive conundrums, we’re in for the challenge. Let’s join forces to solve problems, beautifully.
