# ►Julia Bu > Lead Product Designer at IBM Z (AI on z/OS) Location: Greater Seattle Area, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/juliabu When the environment changes, so do I. I’m here to lead your teams and users through experiences with a focus on business need, resulting in solutions that are detail-oriented, yet minimalist, applying my breadth of product skills, ethics, human-interaction experience and leadership roles. I am the secret ingredient to any successful collaboration. "The postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent IBM's positions, strategies, or opinions" ## Work Experience ### Lead Product Designer for IBM AI on Z @ IBM Jan 2024 – Present | Seattle, Washington, United States As the lead of a magnificent band of designers, I focus on aligning Machine Learning for z/OS with technical requirements and the organization’s North Star for the AI on Z portfolio, while keeping our user at its heart. I am keeping our inherited design debt on track, while building a roadmap from research based findings well into the future. I am passionate about expanding what users can accomplish on their mainframe environments within their team personas, starting with Machine Learning and AI. ### User Experience Designer at IBM Z @ IBM Jan 2021 – Present | Seattle, Washington, United States User Experience Designer as part of IBM Z AI on z/OS. -Modernizing the IBM Mainframe Z operating system (z/OS) and z technology -co creating with IBM mainframe clients to produce design research informed enhancements to z/OSMF plug in, AI Control Interface. -running international release beta programs -successfully own and execute product features which provide value and increase adoption - Representing Design Thinking in discussions with prospective clients, assessing design needs for projects, working with development leads to scope and craft proposals. - Discovering and Aligning User and Business needs through Design Thinking workshops. - Working with multi-disciplinary teams. ### User Experience Designer @ Self-Employed Jan 2019 – Present | Snohomish County, Washington, United States Solo project to successfully bring local store online in times of Covid to realize a 10% increase in Sales. Performed User Research through qualifying interviewees, Writing and synthesizing Surveys, Wire framing, Lo Fi and Hi Fi Design and Prototyping using Figma, Collaboration with business owners and remote User Testing. Projects received VC interest. ### UX Designer @ General Assembly Jan 2020 – Present | Seattle, Washington, United States 500+ hours of intensive, remote training of full-cycle UX/UI methods with an emphasis on UI Design, User Testing, and rapid iteration. Implemented web and mobile design solutions for clients, individually as well as collaboratively. Projects: "Beame" a Peer to Peer Payment mobile app utilizing data over audio transfer, Beame brought us an MVP which we breathed new life into, with design decisions supported by solid industry and user research and future strategy road map for scalability. "Treasure Chest" a responsive E-commerce website, designed for a local store affected by Covid shutdowns. "Navi Gate" a way finding mobile app where my responsibilities were User Research, Interaction Design, User Testing and Interview, Presentation, Product Management and strategy. Tools used: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Invision, Webflow, Excel, HTML, Python This 4 month long program taught the fundamentals of UX design, taught by industry professionals. "Learning by doing" the foundational techniques of UX design; practicing the entire UX process including user research, wire framing, prototyping, and usability testing; and collaborating on work with real clients. ### PTA President-Volunteer @ Everett Public Schools Jan 2017 – Present | Mill Creek, Washington, United States Oversaw transition to remote work for a team of 16, leading to an award and recognition for: maintaining contact and experiences for the school community during the summer, solidifying the community understanding of what the PTA does, and advocating for students and teachers creatively developing activities. Developed new and updated old communication processes and strategy via team collaboration with PTA chairs to organize online activities for 650+ children Oversaw two board members, ensuring that they contacted leads for student activities, developed the social media presence on Facebook, created a newsletter. Provided content after liaising with principals. Created and implemented community outreach activities, charity events and the Art Docent Program, resulting in a 15% increase in PTA membership even with the restrictions of COVID. ### Group Exercise Instructor @ The Y (YMCA) Jan 2017 – Jan 2020 | Greater Seattle Area ACE Certified Personal Trainer Pilates Instructor MOSSA Instructor: Active and Fight Tiny Tots class Instructor: 2 classes per week: Promoting and Engaging kids and parents to keep active safely with an emphasis on lifestyle change. Strong Nation Instructor: Deliver pre choreographed instruction full hour HIIT program: 1 class per week while engaging and promoting the format through promotional event organizing. ### User Experience Design Consultant and Technical Support Officer @ Centrelink Jan 2006 – Jan 2007 | Perth, Western Australia, Australia As a design consultant on a system interface update relaunch for voice user workflows, I provided 24 new CSOfficers with technical support and guidance as part of the launch for a new interface our team designed following an established design system. Completed testing and reporting to support design decisions. Managed schedule for my team of 12 CSO’s, resulting in a more productive and happy team. Facilitated 3 groups of 12 temps for customer queries and monitored subjects of privacy, NDAs, offer support and expertise in the system and oversee the level of customer service provided resulting in a top performing team. ### B2B Communications and Content Strategist @ The Sunday Times Jan 2003 – Jan 2006 | Perth, Western Australia, Australia Managed communication content and PR material for statewide distributors of Sunday Times and The Australian, resulting in a rise in sales for central WA by 2% in one month. Manage communication and national reporting system for sales and returns reducing returns by 3% working with sales team. ## Education ### Bachelor of Arts - BA in Mass Communication/Media Studies Curtin University ### User Experience Design Immersive in User Experience, Research, Product Management General Assembly ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/juliabu - Website: http://uxfol.io/JuliaB --- Source: https://flows.cv/juliabu JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/juliabu/resume.json Last updated: 2026-02-23