Systems for Velocity
I design to reduce technical debt. My focus is on building scalable architectures and token strategies that speed up development and ensure consistency, rather than just polishing individual screens.
Product Design,
Business Strategy.
I bridge the gap between design, engineering, and business goals.
I’m a Senior Product Designer & Strategist who builds systems for velocity. Whether scoping technical roadmaps with the CTO or defining design architecture, I focus on de-risking engineering builds and shipping high-impact features.
About Me
I’m a product designer based in Malmö, working at the intersection of UX, DesignOps, and product thinking — primarily in B2B SaaS.
I’ve spent the past several years designing and improving complex B2B SaaS products — from design systems and workflows to data-heavy interfaces and reporting tools. Much of my work has focused on enabling teams: creating clarity where systems, processes, and ownership are unclear.
Alongside design execution, I contribute to product direction through discovery, scoping, prioritisation, and evidence-led decision-making. I’ve developed strong Product Owner skills through hands-on collaboration with PMs and engineers, supported by formal product management training.
I’m particularly drawn to roles where design systems, operational UX, and product strategy overlap — helping teams work better, not just ship screens.
- Design systems & scalable foundations
- Product thinking & problem framing
- Design-to-development workflows
- UX research & iteration
- Accessibility & WCAG alignment
Strategic Delivery
I partner with engineering leadership to define scope and requirements early. I work in short, evidence-based loops to de-risk builds and ensure we ship valuable software, even in ambiguous environments.
Technical Partnership
I thrive in the space between design and code. By managing documentation, naming conventions, and acceptance criteria, I ensure design intent translates perfectly into the final build without friction.
Evidence-Led Decisions
I rely on business metrics to guide design. Whether using product analytics, CS insights, or NPS data, I validate decisions early to ensure we are solving the right problems for the business.
My Approach
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1. Understand the system
Identify constraints, dependencies, and existing patterns across product, design, and engineering.
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2. Frame the problem
Clarify goals, success metrics, trade-offs, and assumptions before moving into solutions.
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3. Use evidence
Ground decisions in user insight, product data, and cross-functional input — even when discovery is imperfect.
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4. Explore and iterate
Test ideas early, validate assumptions, and refine through feedback and iteration.
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5. Deliver incrementally
Break work into meaningful steps that can be delivered, learned from, and improved over time.
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6. Align the team
Create shared understanding through clear documentation, communication, and collaboration.
Selected Work
Systems for Velocity: The Klimato Design System
Klimato needed to scale rapidly, but inconsistent UI and technical debt were slowing down engineering. My Role: As the Lead Product Designer, I partnered with the CTO to architect the company's first Atomic Design system. I prioritized "shovel-ready" components and WCAG AA accessibility to streamline the design-to-dev handoff.
Key outcomes:
- Architected a scalable token system that reduced code redundancy.
- Partnered with Engineering to integrate accessibility standards (WCAG AA) at the component level.
- Established governance and documentation that professionalized the product workflow.
Solving Retention: Smart File Management
Users were churning due to inefficient file handling. The engineering scope was tight, and the risk of "feature creep" was high. My Role: I acted as the strategic lead for this feature, collaborating directly with the CTO to define the technical scope, manage the backlog, and write acceptance criteria. We delivered a robust table model that balanced user needs with technical feasibility.
Key outcomes:
- Achieved ~90% daily adoption for search and sort features immediately upon release.
- Defined the technical scope and roadmap to ensure on-time delivery.
- Designed a scalable tagging system that replaced rigid folder structures.
Driving NPS Growth: Sustainability Reporting
Existing reports were unclear and non-compliant, causing friction for enterprise clients. My Role: I led the end-to-end redesign, focusing on data clarity and regulatory compliance. I facilitated user testing and aligned stakeholders on key metrics to ensure the reports drove customer value.
Key outcomes:
- Drove a 5-point NPS increase over six months through improved data visualization.
- Increased engagement by introducing dynamic text and clearer benchmarking.
- Ensured compliance with new industry standards for environmental reporting.
Testimonials
“Justin impresses me with his passion for understanding the purpose of the product and ensuring that everything about the product design supports that purpose.”
“He managed the full flow of a project: from early brainstorming & scoping sessions to final developer handovers, he made sure everything was aligned.”
“He’s not afraid to challenge the status quo and pre-existing believes that are hindering 1) progress on a business level and 2) value delivery on a customer/user level.”
Ready to ship faster?
I’m currently open to Senior Product Designer and Strategy roles. Let’s chat about how I can help your team de-risk engineering builds and drive business outcomes.
- linkedin.com/in/justinbauerdesign
- hello@justinbauer.design
- Malmö, Sweden