The role
Director, Product Design (AI Builder) — Registry
Hi Babylist team —
I'm Katy Harris, a product design leader in Austin. Twenty years across consumer, B2B, and enterprise software, and about ten of them hiring, coaching, and scaling design teams. I started as a front-end engineer and never really left the craft — I still write code, build my own tools, and stay close enough to the work to know when a design decision is actually a systems decision.
The part of this role I'd sign up for first is the part most postings skip past — being the durable design and experience owner for Registry, accountable for the UX, vision, KPIs and quality bar, while also leading the team's transition to AI-native product development. Those two usually go to two different people, and the second one usually gets a slide instead of a mandate. I've done both in the same job, more than once.
Here are four case studies that show you how I think:
On leading a team's transition to AI-native product development.
I built the mentor-matching software myself and ran it for a live Cisco program across three years — so this shows the AI judgment calls, not the enthusiasm.
On being the durable owner of a product area — UX, vision, KPIs, quality bar.
Founding executive team, Head of Design, and a year as interim Head of Product for a platform later acquired by RSA Archer — evidence I've owned an outcome rather than a queue.
On evolving an operating model, a hiring bar, and craft standards.
I rebuilt Carbonite's product design function after a major workforce reduction — the principles, engagement model and hiring bar written down rather than assumed.
On the consumer, multi-sided reality of Registry.
I co-founded a marketplace connecting performers, venues, presenters and audiences and shipped four MVPs in year one — the same multi-sided shape as Registry.
Thank you
If it's useful, I'd welcome a conversation. I'm especially curious whether the team grows past three or four designers as the Registry mandate does.
Thanks for reading — I know how much is in an inbox during a search like this, and I appreciate the time.
Cheers,
Katy.