DIA Design Guild

I formalized the program structure, introduced scalable processes, and implemented a CSAT measurement system to improve program effectiveness and participant satisfaction.

Key achievements include:
• Scaling the Apprenticeship Program: Formalized a structured 9-month mentorship model, improving project outcomes and skill development for junior designer apprentices.
• Mentorship & Talent Development: Recruited and managed senior designers to provide high-quality guidance for junior designers.
• Improved Project Management & Client Satisfaction: Developed formalized project management processes, leading to clearer expectations and increased satisfaction from client stakeholders.

Design Program Manager

Design Evangelist

Design Mentor & Instructor
Combining both teaching and mentoring, I have over 10,000 hours of experience.

• Served as an instructor at leading institutions, such as General Assembly, GrowthX Academy, Flatiron School, Seattle School of Visual Concepts, Product School, UC Berkeley, and Academy of Art University
• Developed curriculum for top programs, including Springboard, GrowthX Academy, Interaction Design Foundation, IxDF Bootcamps, Flatiron School, Product School, UC Berkeley, and Chegg
• Mentored through various community, bootcamp, and organizational programs

Design Educator

Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design

I overhauled school management operations, replacing outdated systems with a modern, scalable solution that improved class scheduling and operational efficiency. I also optimized design tooling and software resources, reducing costs and improving data accessibility.

Key achievements include:
• Scaling Course Offerings: Implemented a new school management system, enabling the organization to increase concurrent class capacity by 300%.
• Cost Reduction: Standardized design tools and software, eliminating inefficiencies and saving $100K annually.
• Data & Process Improvement: Applied information architecture principles to improve data accessibility and reduce data duplication by 90%.

Design Operations Manager

The Hired Guns

Worked in a fast-paced agency environment, specializing in design recruiting while also improving knowledge management for the team.

Key achievements include:
• Candidate Evaluation: Reviewed and evaluated 100+ UX designer candidate profiles and portfolios, assessing qualifications and fit for various design roles.
• Process & Knowledge Management: Built a Notion-based knowledge management system to document onboarding, create consistency in projects, and streamline the recruiting process. This significantly reduced the time required to train and onboard new employees.

Design Talent Partner

LinkedIn

I redesigned and standardized LinkedIn’s UX Design onboarding program, ensuring new UX designers could seamlessly transition into any product team and become productive faster.

Key achievements include:
• Onboarding Standardization: Designed and implemented a new UX designer onboarding program to improve ramp-up time and team integration.

IxDF - Interaction Design Foundation

• Led daily operations and strategic initiatives, implementing best practices to optimize the UX Design Bootcamp program 
• Increased member insights by 5% by instigating a regular research program
• Improved project planning and scheduling for UX Design boot camps, strategized new educational initiatives and created original UX course content

Flatiron School

I led Flatiron School’s San Francisco UX program, managing faculty and ensuring the successful graduation and job placement of cohorts of 20 design students. I introduced a cross-disciplinary collaboration program between UX and software engineering students, giving them hands-on experience working together.

Key achievements include:
• Student Success & Placement: Led Flatiron’s San Francisco UX program, ensuring strong job placement outcomes.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Built a structured program for UX designers and software engineers to collaborate on projects.
• Curriculum Improvements: Implemented course changes that led to a 20% increase in exercise scores.

Design Program Director

GrowthX Academy

I built and scaled GrowthX Academy’s UX design program from the ground up, designing an industry-aligned curriculum that prepared students for real-world careers. The program achieved a 90% job placement rate, and I oversaw the development of 40+ functional prototypes for web, mobile, and IoT clients through hands-on, project-based learning.

Key achievements include:
• Program Creation & Growth: Designed and launched an industry-aligned UX design program, achieving a 90% student placement rate.
• Client Project Experience: Guided student teams in developing 40+ functional prototypes for real clients, reinforcing practical UX skills through hands-on client collaboration.

Epsilon

I led a cross-functional team of 8, including UX designers, UI designers, and content strategists, delivering solutions for 10+ B2B and B2C clients annually, including Wells Fargo, American Express, Apple, Google, Cisco, and Genentech.

Key achievements include:
• Enterprise UX Leadership: Managed UX strategy and execution for Fortune 500 clients across finance, tech, and healthcare.
• Design Systems & Efficiency: Created scalable design systems, style guides, and component libraries to improve consistency across projects.
• UX Training & Advocacy: Led client workshops to strengthen teams' understanding of customer experience best practices.

Design Manager, Digital Design

TripIt

Drove mobile and web design for a top travel app. Implemented data-driven design practices and led design reviews to ensure high-quality releases.

Lead Product Designer

I'm a design program manager with a background in UX, interaction design, and education. I bring structure to design teams and help programs run smoothly.

I've worked across both industry and education, and I’m especially drawn to roles that support design teams building thoughtful, education-focused experiences. I thrive in environments where I can contribute behind the scenes—helping teams stay aligned, focused, and connected to the needs of users and businesses.

Over my career, I've built and led design operations initiatives, UX education programs, and onboarding optimization at organizations ranging from startups to global tech companies. I’ve formalized design processes, standardized tools, and improved cross-team alignment, helping companies scale efficiently while maintaining a strong design culture.

I’m passionate about solving organizational challenges that impact design teams, whether it’s streamlining workflows, improving collaboration between teams, or developing scalable solutions for talent growth.

Always open to connecting with others (include a note) working at the intersection of design, education, and impact-driven work.

Julia DeBari

Kendo Brands, Inc.

- Supporting the Fenty Beaty, Fenty Skin, Ole Henriksen, KVD, + Liplab brands as an Executive Assistant for 3 VP's and their entire teams based in SF, LA, NYC, + China

Executive Assistant to VP's of Fenty Creative, Fenty Brand -North America Sales, & Lip Lab

San Francisco AIDS Foundation

Clinical Assistant / HIV Counselor

ONE Jeanswear Group

- Mastered product lifecycle management software to to alleviate operations responsibilities from individual contributors on the design team

- Trained and onboarded design intern resulting in their conversion to full-time employment

- Created comprehensive email templates for Senior Designers to utilize in daily correspondences with external vendors and factories

- Managed all calendar requests for men’s design team and applied updates where needed

- Transcribed all meetings into comprehensive minutes and communicated across all teams

Executive Assistant to Design Director / Apparel Designer 

Oved Group

- Designed bottom styles across categories for COSTCO resulting in 100,000 unit orders per style 

- Overhauled sample tracking processes and created centralized system to house all updates 

- Absorbed all daily communications with external partners to free-up senior designer’s workflow 

- Prioritized multiple work-streams, due dates, action items, and targets of projects within fast-paced high pressure work environment on-site

Executive Assistant to Design Director / Associate Designer

Perry Ellis International

- Performed daily brainstorming rituals with the denim wash team to generate rapid ideation for upcoming seasons 

- Partnered with Senior Design Managers and denim production teams to define best practices and processes 

- Facilitated design meetings across teams to promote and visualize creative direction for  future seasons

Executive Assistant to Senior Designer / Associate Designer

Macy's

- Launched first sustainable denim jean program across the nation in all 508 Macy’s stores 

- Formed internal processes for documenting design prototype comments to collaborate  with vendors to decrease physical sampling by over 50% 

- Articulated rolling design changes to design managers and stakeholders to clearly communicate and reinforce expectations 

- Reconciled damaged work relationships with internal support (fabric/color) teams by fostering  a transparent division of responsibilities resulting in higher output of design deliverables

Executive Assistant to Senior Designer / Assistant Designer

Levi Strauss & Co.

- Identified design bottlenecks and created centralized visual guide to implement streamlined processes 

- Supported and aligned high-performing teams w/ external vendors to move work forward

- Facilitated onboarding of design contractors and fostered their development to full-time conversion

- Illustrated and communicated detailed apparel garment blueprints to factories for bulk production

Executive Assistant to Design Director / Assistant Designer

Chrome Industries

- Conducted all verbal and written communications with overseas/domestic factories daily while mediating with senior designers and senior product developers 

- Liaison for cross-functional teams, freelancers, stakeholders, vendors, and all third parties 

- Collaborated with brand creative team to ensure cohesive messaging for all deliverables

- Aligned and communicated with stakeholders weekly to communicate design team’s progress and goals

Executive Assistant to Design & Development Manager

UCLA Community Programs Office

- Collaborated with over 25 different campus organizations to effectively clarify and formulate their overall messages to entire student body

-  Promoted and publicized major campus-wide events held by the office through social media portals

- Facilitated and arranged photography equipment and backdrops for large-scale networking events

- Aided in the hiring ,training, and transitioning of entirely new team members to the office’s technology team

Graphic Designer

UCLA Arts

- Executed and printed large-scale poster requests on Epson Stylus Pro 11880 printer

- Maintained and fixed daily errors and glitches on Epson inkjet and laser printers

Print Lab Technician

I take pride in sitting parallel to Design and Creative teams to provide overall support and follow-through. I've worked with designers in packaging, fashion, graphic, content +UX/Product and understand the nuances for each concentration. I am a powerhouse that enjoys all things related to the practice of DesignOps.

taplio

The Battle

Julia DeBari

Jed Bass 🏳️‍🌈

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