Justin Delabar

Design leader, systems thinker, builder.

I've spent 22+ years building and leading design organizations, shipping products used by millions, and thinking critically about how technology shapes people's lives. I write about all of it.


Designing at the intersection of systems, technology, and people

I lead large design organizations and build the platforms they work on. My background in political science gives me a systems-thinking lens that I bring to everything from product strategy to organizational design to the ethics of the tools we build.

Design Systems

Built and scaled multiple design systems from the ground up, evolving them from component libraries into strategic infrastructure that accelerates product delivery.

UX Leadership

Led teams of 75+ across product design, design ops, and experience production. I focus on building healthy teams that do their best work without unnecessary friction.

Digital Strategy

Omnichannel experience strategy, e-commerce product leadership, and the kind of cross-functional work that connects design decisions to business outcomes.

Writing & Thinking

Author of Systems & Signals, a newsletter for practitioners who think critically about design, AI, technology, policy, and the systems that shape human experience.

Accessibility

Integrated accessibility as a first-class design concern, not an afterthought. Inclusive design at scale requires systemic commitment, not checklists.

AI & Design

Actively exploring how AI reshapes the design discipline, from generative UI tooling to design systems as machine-readable infrastructure.

What I'm building

Writing, community, and infrastructure — all focused on how design shapes the broader world.

Platform

Sonderbridge

Visit

An early-stage platform connecting values-fatigued senior designers with mission-driven organizations in civic tech, healthcare, and education. Not a job board — trust-based matchmaking infrastructure with community and transition support built in.

01

Community & Content

Research, real stories, peer connection, and editorial content for designers navigating the transition.

02

Vetted Pipeline

A curated network connecting senior designers — pre-qualified by values, not just skills — with organizations building for impact.

03

Transition Support

Cohort programs, peer networks, and structured guidance to make the move with clarity and confidence.


Career highlights

20+ years of building products, leading teams, and shaping how organizations think about design across retail, finance, healthcare, travel, and higher education.

View Full Profile on LinkedIn
Kroger Technology & Digital 2021 – 2025
Head of E-Commerce Product Design

Led design, product management, and digital operations teams delivering e-commerce experiences for a $12bn+ business. Built Kroger's enterprise design system and content management platform. Rose from Group Manager to Head of E-Commerce Product Design across nearly four years.

Fifth Third Bank 2018 – 2021
VP, Head of Digital Product Design & UX

Led the Digital Product Design practice across consumer, commercial, and enterprise banking experiences. Grew from UX Manager to Vice President over three years.

GE Digital 2017 – 2018
Staff UX Interaction Designer

User research and design for data-intensive, mission-critical industrial applications. Conducted interviews, developed personas, and ran moderated usability testing.

University of Cincinnati 2015 – 2017
Manager, User Experience

Managed design and development for the Academic Health Center and Office of Research websites. Ran the App Lab on MainStreet, a mobile-focused technology incubator.

Earlier Roles 2004 – 2015
Product Management, Design & Strategy

Technical Product Manager at Hobsons (ed-tech). EVP of Digital Strategy at Mauiva (travel). Director of UX Design at Tourico Holidays. Agency work at Purple, Rock, Scissors! and Rise Creative Group. Started in web design at the University of Central Florida.

Delabar Design 2023 – Present
Founder, Writer, Speaker

Founded Systems & Signals, a twice-weekly publication on design leadership and how design shapes our broader world. Create newsletters, videos, and online courses for designers and technologists.


Let's connect

I'm always interested in conversations about design leadership, civic technology, and the systems that shape how people experience the world.

Thanks — I'll be in touch soon.