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I overhauled school management operations, replacing outdated systems with a modern, scalable solution that improved class scheduling and operational efficiency.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

Moody College of Communication

Design Research Associate

The University of Texas at Austin

MKT 382.37: Strategic Branding (Fall 2022)
MKT 372.11: Brand Management (Fall 2022)

MKT 360: Information and Analysis (Fall 2021 and Spring 2022)
MKT 372: Reputational Risk and Crisis Management (Fall 2021)

Graduate Teaching Assistant

- Performed Heuristic evaluation to uncover 10 errors on the HookedIn homepage and redesigned the webpage, rectifying the issues.
- Maintained the integrated marketing calendar, while ideating social media content and managed 17 career workshops.

Graduate Assistant

Visa

Master's Design Intern

WNS Global Services

- Worked closely with project stakeholders to design a web application with 3 different views, for an AI-assisted insurance website.
- Conducted user research with a total of 46 participants, using card sorting and user interview methods, and prepared wireframes using the insights for a variety of websites and apps for the digital transformation vertical.
- Led 3 workshops to help employees use the design thinking process.
- Created a design system for MT Showcase, an interactive presentation tool, to display various WNS products and solutions.

User Experience Research and Design Intern

Quasar

- Managing the social media accounts for a string of brands such as Schwarzkopf Professional, SAB TV, and Money Control.
- Ideated and conceptualized digital brand campaigns which increased brand awareness from 1800 followers to 3250 followers. 
- Prepared reports which led to the modification of brand positioning strategies and content, executed using social media platforms.

Account Management Intern

Sqwik

- Worked in cross-functional departments ranging from business expansion to digital media campaigns.
- Created a total of 30 posts for the brand’s social media handles.
- Designed multi-city campaigns to drive awareness, engagement, and interaction with PR activities.

Business and Digital Management Intern

I've been living with what I call the "curse of UX", and let me tell you, it's both a blessing and a curse. 

So what exactly is the curse of UX, you may ask? Well, it's the constant awareness of every bad user experience that you encounter, and the urge to immediately start brainstorming ways to make it better.

From poorly designed websites to frustratingly complicated mobile apps, my curse of UX has me constantly evaluating and critiquing the user experience of everything around me. While it can be a bit overwhelming at times, I actually find it quite engaging and rewarding.

By identifying and analyzing these issues, I'm able to come up with innovative solutions and design experiences that truly meet the needs of users. So, while the curse of UX can be a bit of a burden, it's also what drives me to create meaningful and impactful designs.

If you're interested in discussing how we can improve the user experience of your product or service, I'd love to chat! Let's work together to break the curse of bad UX and create amazing experiences for users. Thanks for stopping by!

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The Battle

Julia DeBari

Nidhi Shah

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