My SKills

The skills I've honed to meet the demands of future technologies.

Strategy & Planning

Aligning design vision with business goals to achieve impact isn't rocket science, but it requires alignment (not agreement).

User Research

A "good enough" insight delivered quickly is infinitely more valuable than a perfect insight delivered too late. What is "good enough"?

Design Process & Execution

Acknowledge that design isn't a simple, step-by-step process, but rather a path filled with detours & unexpected challenges, requiring adaptability and a growth mindset.

Design Team Culture

Build trust brick by brick. Cultivate an inclusive team culture that fosters growth and creativity through mentorship, skills development, and a structured environment.

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JJ circling a group of sticky notes on a whiteboard.

15+ Years
leading
design

Experience

More about me

I serve as Director of Product Design at Watermark, a key player in educational technology focusing on providing insights to maximize educational impact.

My background includes teaching User Experience Design at General Assembly. Before that, I led design efforts at a consulting agency, where I crafted strategies for Stanford’s public online course offerings and Dotdash Meredith’s transition from print to online media.

I've recently received my certificate in Faciliation from Voltage Control and served as Director of Mentorship for Austin's UXPA chapter.

My Experiences

I have had the pleasure to work with product design agencies, teaching design, and scaling in-house design accross a variety of industries. I'm always interested in transforming design programs to their highest potential.

Download Resume

2018 - PRESENT

Director of Product Design

I led the strategic integration of 6 products into a unified suite, championed early discovery practices alongside SAFe adoption, transitioned design teams to a scalable embedded model, and developed talent through skills rubrics and the establishment of a junior design program.

2016 - 2017

UX Design Instructor & Agency Founder

I taught four UX Design cohorts, achieving an 85% career outcomes rate and an NPS above 55, while designing and delivering daily learning sessions, fostering an inclusive classroom, and mentoring student progress for skill development and job readiness.

2012 - 2016

Product Design Lead

I led UX design for an Austin-based digital agency, facilitating discovery workshops, and designing experiences for clients like Stanford University and Dotdash-Meredith's digital transformation, while mentoring a team of three designers and collaborating with distributed engineering teams to deliver quality solutions.

“A lot of conference talks are about concepts that sound good but aren’t demonstrated in practice. JJ Rogers’ session on delighting users stood out because he didn’t just talk about radical delight—he created it for the audience through carefully designed exercises.”

Cam Houser

Founder, Actionworks

“JJ is not only a great design lead but he knows how to sell his ideas. He has a unique ability to understand business problems, empathize with users, and work through design solutions that delight stakeholders and users alike. He's also fun to work with, bringing a mix of creativity and humor to any conversation.”

Aaron Stanush

Creative Director & Partner, Four Kitchens

“JJ is a fearless and natural leader with a warm and captivating presence. Because of him I now have the confidence to venture into a career path that I couldn't have imagined before! Above all, he inspired me to do my very best work.”