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I overhauled school management operations, replacing outdated systems with a modern, scalable solution that improved class scheduling and operational efficiency.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

Maigen Thomas is the founder of Level 11 Technology, an Apprenticeship Agency. She has over 10 years of experience in enterprise software design and product development, and almost as many years of experience teaching and mentoring. Prior to creating Level 11 in April 2024, she was a Sr. UX Designer for an HR technology company and taught 3 cohorts of the 6-month UX/UI (User Experience and User Interface Design) Bootcamp at UC Berkeley.

Maigen's specialization is in website accessibility and she focuses on helping organizations with under $25m in revenue increase their market share by reaching up to 15% more potential customers and decrease the likelihood they’ll be a target for costly digital accessibility lawsuits or fines. She gets excited to empower folks at all levels of the business (and technology experience) with knowledge to ensure inclusive experiences for all of their customers, regardless of their level of ability or disability. Not just because it’s legally required, but because it’s good business.

If organizations choose not to find and fix the accessibility issues on their website, they are potentially missing out on the $1T in spending power the 1.3 Billion people with disabilities globally have (and run the risk of expensive digital accessibility lawsuit settlements). Ultimately, Level 11 seeks to work with government agencies to ensure services are available to all constituents equitably.

Level 11 Technology is an Apprenticeship Agency, a unique business model like a “teaching hospital” where Apprentices get paid to get their first year of experience. Level 11 Apprentices spend a year learning how to design and develop accessibility-first websites that serve all customers, regardless of their level of ability or disability.

- - -

If you are an early-career UX designer, READ THIS: I teach ux designers how to assess a website for accessibility and usability and make a case study showing how they would improve the website. It can be conducted by an in-house designer (or front-end developer, actually), or by a bootcamp graduate trying to get real world experience (when they can't get a job without real world experience). ASK ME HOW, it's FREE

Maigen Thomas

If you’re an early-career UX designer or developer stuck in the 2026 job market, read this carefully.

Accessibility isn’t just “nice to know” anymore. It’s one of the few skills that actually converts to paid work right now. Here’s why small healthcare practices are such a powerful niche for you:

• They are legally required to be accessible
 • They already care about compliance
 • Their websites are usually… bad
 • And (this is the kicker) the IRS will reimburse them for fixing it

The Disabled Access Credit means many small practices can get 50% of accessibility costs back. That changes the sales conversation entirely: “This won’t just reduce risk — it’s literally subsidized.”

If you can:
 • Identify accessibility + usability issues
 • Explain them in plain English
 • Prioritize fixes that actually matter
 • Document the work professionally

You can:
 • Run paid audits
 • Offer remediation
 • Sell retainers
 • Build real experience instead of waiting for permission

Next Tuesday, I’m leading Website Accessibility & Usability Evaluation #62 — a live session where I review a real website and show exactly how I do this work in practice.

Not theory.

Actual, billable skills.

🎟 Tickets are $25

If you’re tired of being “almost qualified” and want a skill you can use immediately, this is for you. 

Link in comments

Founder, Level 11 Technology // Author of Practical UX // Accessibility and UX Design Consultant

Sticky, chewed up (probably flavorless) green gum is smeared and stuck onto the bottom of a blue shoe with stretchy strings connecting to the floor. Green text over a pink background says "Feeling a little stuck? It's time to build real experience instead of waiting for permission."

If you already follow Vitaly Friedman, you know his articles and posts share incredible value. I'm grateful to have my favorite tool mentioned in this one! 

What's your plan for 2026?

View newsletter: Interface Design Patterns 🍣

Open article: ⛳ UX and Product Designer’s Career Paths by Vitaly Friedman • 8 min read

⛳ UX and Product Designer’s Career Paths

Are you ready for the first Website Accessibility and Usability Evaluation of the year? 

Yeah, me too. It's been a while since I've seen you all. 

Get a ticket here: https://luma.com/unxx1fyt

#accessibility #usability #website #evaluation #manualReview #inclusiveDesign

Maigen is hosting another event in the Website Accessibility and Usability Evaluation series, this time is #62. 

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The Battle

Julia DeBari

Maigen Thomas

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taplio

The Battle

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Maigen Thomas

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Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Maigen Thomas's LinkedIn Performance

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