UXMA

What UXMA does

UXMA GmbH & Co. KG is a German user-centered software and product development firm headquartered in Kiel with additional offices in Hamburg and Dresden and a wholly-owned Greek subsidiary (UXMA Greece MON. IKE, established 2021). Founded in 1985 by Michael Arpe as the industrial design studio ma design, the company has expanded over four decades into user interface design (1996), software development (1999), innovation consulting (2005), embedded systems (2015), test management (2017), and data science/AI (2018), rebranding to UXMA in 2019. The firm operates an interdisciplinary product-team model that integrates UX/UI design, research, software engineering, embedded systems, and accessibility (WCAG-compliant, CPACC-certified) under one roof, applying a proprietary Double Diamond UX-driven Development methodology packaged partly through its MethodMate app and physical Method Cards.

UXMA primarily serves large enterprise clients and global market leaders across Smart Home (BSH, Bosch), Industrial Manufacturing and Agriculture (Claas, KION, Stihl, fischer, Ima Schelling, Kroenert), Audio (Sennheiser), Energy (Green Planet Energy, Sokratherm), Public Sector (Nah.SH, Amt Süderbrarup, MyRon/FNR), Education (University of Zurich, CAU Kiel), and Healthcare (UKSH). Notable engagements include the Home Connect Plus smart-home platform (Red Dot Award 2021) and KION's design system "Parcel." The company is privately held under continuous Arpe-family ownership, with founder Michael Arpe and Susanne Arpe-Darwisch as Owner & Managing Director, alongside CEO Tim Baasch (appointed 2026).

UXMA's business model is professional services — project-based, custom-quoted engagements with multi-year contracts — augmented by niche product revenue from physical Method Card Sets and free MethodMate/Carbster apps distributed via app stores. The firm holds ISO 9001:2015 certification (TÜV NORD, 2018), won the German Innovation Award Gold in 2024, and reports a 60 Net Promoter Score across 250+ cumulative customers. No external funding rounds, acquisitions, or revenue figures are disclosed; the firm operates from three German locations plus its Greek subsidiary with a 70+ person team averaging 6 years of tenure.

Name

UXMA

Legal name

UXMA GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://uxma.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UXMA is a founder-owned German UX/UI design and software development firm serving enterprise clients across industrial, smart home, agriculture, and public sectors with interdisciplinary product teams from offices in Kiel, Hamburg, Dresden, and Greece.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

UX Design and Product Development Services

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Graphic Design Services (541430), Industrial Design Services (54142), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

UI/UX Engineering & Front-End Modernization (BPAEAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX) (MPAAAAAD), Brand Experience (BX) & Service Design (BPAFAEAI), Enterprise Application UX, Portals & Low-Code Extensions (BPAEAGAM)

Keywords

• UX design services
• Software development services
• Digital accessibility services
• Human machine interface design
• User research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Services – UX/UI Design: User experience design, user interface design, research and testing, and industrial/product design engagements billed as project-based professional services.
2. Professional Services – Software Development: Custom software development including mobile apps (iOS/Android via React Native, Flutter, Kotlin, Swift), web development, Human Machine Interface (HMI) development, and embedded systems development billed as project-based services.
3. Innovation & UX Management Consulting: Process-oriented innovation consulting, architecture and development strategy consulting, and accessibility consulting engagements.
4. Method Cards Product Sales: Sale of physical UXMA Method Cards sets through the company shop. Digital templates accessible via purchase of physical sets with 6- or 7-digit access codes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

UXMA is a user-centered, design-driven software and product development firm providing Experience Design (UX research, UI design, industrial/product design, innovation and UX management), Software Development (mobile, web, human-machine interfaces, embedded systems, architecture strategy), and Accessibility Services (WCAG-compliant inclusive design). The firm serves enterprise clients through interdisciplinary product teams and also sells the MethodMate digital method app, Carbster nutritional app, and physical UXMA Method Cards sets.

Product overview

UXMA is a user-centered software and product development company offering a comprehensive portfolio of services including UX design, software development, and accessibility services. Their product offerings include MethodMate, a digital method card app, Carbster (a nutritional tracking app), and physical Method Card Sets. The company provides services across research & testing, UI design, industrial/product design, innovation management, mobile development, web development, human machine interfaces, and architecture strategy. Their approach is UX-driven with interdisciplinary collaboration in product teams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MethodMate: Digital method cards app with 40 methods for project development, featuring step-by-step guides, timer, and notes functionality
• Carbster
• MethodCards
• UXtrablatt

Products and services

• Research & Testing

Quantifiable outcome

• 60 Net Promoter Score (NPS)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CAU zu Kiel (Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe university founded in 1665 with 27,000 students and ~3,500 employees is the oldest, largest and best-known university in Schleswig-Holstein. UXMA collaborates with the Institute for Innovation Research to advance the design and implementation of innovations. Joint projects include Moin CAU app and CO-RIO digital learning platform.
• DiWiSH (Digitale Wirtschaft Schleswig-Holstein)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiWiSH brings together companies, science, institutions and politics. As a member of the association, UXMA contributes to actively shaping and sustainably strengthening the IT and media industry as well as the design economy in Schleswig-Holstein.
• Fachhochschule KielminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWith more than 7,900 students, Fachhochschule Kiel is the largest university of applied sciences in Schleswig-Holstein. In the degree programs in Computer Science and Media Engineering, UXMA enables the processing of practical projects and provides mentors.
• WTSH (Wirtschaftsförderung und Technologietransfer Schleswig-Holstein)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremium partner. WTSH and partner companies strengthen and communicate the many advantages of Schleswig-Holstein as an economic, work and living location in order to attract skilled workers and retain them long-term.
• Technische Universität DresdenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the largest technical universities in Germany and one of the leading and most dynamic universities. UXMA maintains a close relationship with the Saxon university through specialist lectures and job datings. Collaborated on CO-RIO digital learning platform.
• Charta der VielfaltminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Diversity Charter advances the recognition, appreciation and inclusion of diversity in the world of work. By signing, UXMA is committed to a appreciative and prejudice-free working environment.
• Erfolgsfaktor Familie NetzwerkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe company program 'Erfolgsfaktor Familie' is the central platform on the topic of compatibility of family and work. UXMA is committed to making family-friendliness a trademark of the German economy.
• WissensfabrikminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA nationwide network of around 130 companies and foundations from all industries and sizes, as well as numerous actors from science, politics and civil society, aims to inspire children and young people for STEM subjects. UXMA supports the common goal of sustainably securing Germany's innovative strength.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves19 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uxmagermany
• Facebookfacebook.com/UXMAgermany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uxma
• Instagraminstagram.com/uxma_de

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UXMA