About
Hi, I'm Justin.
After graduating from the Art Institute at San Francisco in 2004, I worked at a variety of different brand marketing agencies and apparel companies. What I realized from that experience, was that without data and a connection to the user to back up my designs, it was just my opinion. In 2009 I shifted to Visual Design, where the user played a much bigger role in my design decisions, and since 2016 I've been a Product Designer helping lead design strategy to ensure what I'm designing aligns with business and user goals.
The most important attributes I bring to the table are communication and collaboration, with a desire to learn and grow, while elevating my team to do the same.
I'm excited about utilizing AI for not only my workflows, but understanding how it can help the end user achieve their goals.
Personally, I live in Marin County (30 min north of the GG bridge) with my wife, 12 year old boy, and I'm restoring a 1976 Datsun 280z.
Philosophy
How I approach design
Communication & Collaboration
Great products come from teams that communicate well. I work closely with PMs, engineers, researchers, and leadership to build shared understanding before writing a single pixel.
User-Centered Design
I start every project by understanding the user — who they are, what they need, and where they're frustrated. Research isn't optional; it's the foundation.
Data-Driven Decisions
I use A/B tests, funnel analysis, and behavioral data to validate hypotheses and measure outcomes. Without data, a design is just a guess.
AI for Better UX
I'm actively exploring how AI can make products smarter — from personalized recommendations to intelligent automation — without adding complexity for users.
Experience
Career timeline
Art Institute at San Francisco
Graduated with a degree in Graphic Design.
Brand & Marketing Agencies
Worked at brand marketing agencies and apparel companies, learning visual identity, print, and marketing design.
Transition to Visual Design
Made the shift to digital, focusing on UI and visual design for web and mobile products.
Became a Product Designer
Moved fully into product design, combining UX research, data analysis, and visual craft.
RealPage & Hotwire
Designed property management websites and B2B hotel promotions tools.
Glassdoor
Redesigned jobs discovery, the jobs page, and built an application status tracking tool.
Upwork
Designed off-platform reputation signals and budget guidance that improved hiring rates 6x.
Evernote
Overhauled Teams onboarding and plan picker, driving 59% improvement in signup completion.
Adobe
Designed the Premium Member Hub, improving trial-to-paid conversion by 19%.
Connect