
I'm Julia James
I’m a product designer in New York with 9 years of experience shaping marketplace, SaaS, and eCommerce products - built on an early foundation in brand and product strategy.
Recently, as Shiftsmart's first full-time Senior Product Designer, I’ve led end-to-end design across mobile and desktop platforms for a marketplace that connects hourly workers with leading companies. I’ve shaped critical experiences including worker onboarding, shift booking, referral and rewards programs, AI-powered support, client dashboards, and internal operations tools.
I'm passionate about uncovering insights through user research and simplifying complex workflows into intuitive designs. Lately, I’ve been deepening my skills in building complex, reusable design system components to support scalable product development.
Previously, I held roles at InfluxData, Juicyorange, M.M.LaFleur, and Whirlpool Corporation, and have volunteered my skills for IssueVoter and Berrien County Emergency Shelter Services.
Work Experience
I've worn several hats which has helped broaden my skillset and business acumen. At the core of every role, I’ve championed better user experiences.
Shiftsmart is a labor marketplace connecting hourly workers with shifts at major employers like PepsiCo, Starbucks, Walmart, and Circle K.
I lead end-to-end design across mobile and web platforms supporting 500K+ active hourly workers and enterprise clients. Most recently, I've overhauled the shift discovery and booking experience to improve worker preparedness and shift fulfillment. I also designed portals for Pepsico, Starbucks, and Circle K to provide inventory and shift insights to store and district managers, overall strengthening our tech offerings for clients. Additionally, I created a referral design that drove 46K+ app downloads and 5K+ active workers in the first 5 months, redesigned the in-app support hub with AI chatbot flows, and helped scale design processes and reusable design systems.
InfluxData is an open-source time series database built for storing and analyzing high-volume real-time data.
I designed core product features including a new code editor, automated tasks, data notebooks, and account and organization navigation. Partnering closely with product managers, engineers, and cross-functional stakeholders, I helped gather requirements and provided wireframes, prototypes, and final designs. I also evolved the design system after a company rebrand.
Juicyorange is a digital creative agency specializing in brand, web development, and marketing.
I consulted on UX improvements and designed buy- and sell-side account pages, payments tools, performance dashboards, search, news, and product pages for a variety of small business accounts.
M.M.LaFleur is a luxury clothing retailer, specializing in professional womenswear and accessories.
I led a sprint team of five engineers and one UX designer in developing ecommerce enhancements & tests, including a new mobile-first checkout design, which drove a 12% increase in revenue and 9% increase in checkout completion rate vs. the previous design.
Whirlpool Corporation is a multinational manufacturer of home appliances with a portfolio of brands including Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir, and Yummly.
As the sole UX Designer on the company-first Agile Growth Team, I drove user testing, A/B testing, design sprints, and prototyping initiatives during a transition to direct-to-consumer sales.
Whirlpool is focused on improving how families give and get the care they need by providing high-quality kitchen and laundry appliances.
I provided brand support and worked with the agency on creative deliverables including feature messaging, photography, CGI, and point of purchase materials to educate customers about Cooking and Laundry products, including the company's largest launch of IoT smart appliances.
Outside of work, I love exploring other countries, the outdoors, and the arts
I’m happiest when exploring on my own - it’s the kind of freedom and autonomy I find unmatched. Two of my favorite solo travel destinations so far: Switzerland and Japan. When I’m home, you’ll find me hosting craft nights with friends, singing at local choir meetups, or running along the Hudson River Park.







Let's get in touch
Want to work together? Reach out if you have anything in mind.
Portfolio available upon request.