Built for people. Backed by giants.
Where human insight meets heavyweight tech. I design end-to-end — from systems to stories, prompts to products — to move people and move the needle. Ready for what’s next. Open to IC and leadership roles from August 2025.
Microsoft
Product Design, UX/UI, Motion, Prototyping, Team Leadership (5 Countries), Multi-Modal, Hardware & Industrial Design, Vision & Storytelling, AI, Voice, Sprints, XFN Collaboration, Hiring Manager, CVP Direct Report...
Director, Product Design
Cortana, Reimagined
Led a global design team across five countries to evolve Cortana from assistant to ecosystem connector — turning AI potential into tangible, cross-platform utility.
Snacky Apps & Smart Surfaces
Previously led design for new-category Office 365 mobile apps on iOS and Android. Shipped fast, playful tools and earned a patent for interaction design.
Quiet Visionary Strength
“Derek’s calm, mature leadership elevates teams. Talented, versatile, and deeply experienced.”
— Samuel Moreau, VP Design, Coursera
Airbnb
Product Design, UX/UI, Motion, Prototyping, Team Leadership (SF, SEA, PDX), Seattle Site Co-Lead, Vision & Storytelling, IVR, Service Design, CX, Sprints, Hiring Manager, Mobile, Tools, Direct Report to Head of Design...
Rethinking the Future of Help
Led design org across SF, SEA, and PDX to redefine “the future of help” — delivering support experiences that resolved issues clearly and quickly for both customers and agents. Spanned Service Design, IVR, Agent Tools, and Cross-Channel.
Building Teams, Scaling Culture
First Design Manager in the PNW; co-led the Seattle site and helped grow a thriving design presence. Scaled teams across SF, SEA, and PDX, and drove vision, storytelling, and creative direction across SuP.
Leadership, Lived Experience
“Derek is an inspirational leader who helps his team do their best work — he guided us through change and led us to high impact and positivity.” — Shirley Lin, VP of Product @ Divvy Homes
Uber
Product Design, UX/UI, Motion, Prototyping, Team Leadership (SF,SEA), Site Design Lead, Vision & Storytelling, Roadshowing, XFN Collaboration, Hiring Manager, Family / Airports / Scheduled Rides, Sprints, Cross-Platform...
Designing for Real Life
Led design for Uber Family & Teen, helping parents stay connected while teens move independently. Focused on trust and usability. Also contributed to 0-1 products like Scheduled Rides, Airports, and Uber Movement.
First Hire,
Fast Scale
First Product Design hire in Seattle. Built and managed the local design team, set early vision and storytelling, and helped establish design for multiple new initiatives across the studio.
Called Out
by Name
“Just hire Derek Orr.” That was the referral. He’s a triple threat: excellent designer, outstanding storyteller, inspiring leader. His impact was immediate.”
— Christine Fernandez, VP Product Design @ Stitch Fix
Amazon
Product Design, UX/UI, Motion, Prototyping, Team Leadership, Creative Direction, Vision & Storytelling, XFN Collaboration, Labs Co-Founder, Cross-Platform Redesign, Multi-Modal, Voice, Hiring Manager, Hackathon Finalist...
Connection to Memory
Led design across all verticals of Amazon Photos, guiding a system-wide reimagining across iOS, Android, web, desktop, and devices. Inspired by one core question: How do people truly connect with their memories?
Built Teams & Launched Labs
Managed and scaled the design team across the org. Co-founded UX Labs (“Darkroom”), brought motion, prototyping, and storytelling to the forefront. Hackathon finalist, design sprint facilitator, and culture-builder.
Craft, Care & Confidence
“Derek’s full of great ideas — and the taste, skill, and empathy to bring them to life. He uplifts others, mentors generously, and often downplays his own deep impact.”
— Kevin Ellis, Head of Design & Research @ Amazon
eBay
Product Design, UX/UI, Motion, Prototyping, Team Leadership, Creative Direction, Vision & Storytelling, XFN Collaboration, Hiring Manager, Head of Design (Motors, Refurb, VAS), GenAI, Org-Wide Design Initiatives & Sprints...
Redefining Vehicle Shopping
Led design for eBay Motors across core flows and 0–1 features like Mod Mode and Smart Offers. Shaped nav strategy, pushed prototyping, and unified fitment and sizing across the experience.
Scaling Culture
& Craft
Built and led a high-performing team. Hired, mentored, launched “Critapalooza,” ran offsites, led multi-week design sprints with Frog, and repped Design in key decisions and GenAI summits.
Connecting
the Dots
Launched a live-coded Design Ops hub, prototyped GenAI product reviews in a week, and visualized 2025 roadmaps with storytelling. Helped unblock work with hands-on making.
Thanks for stopping by.
If Ted Lasso and Roy Kent had a design love child, it'd probably be me. Equal parts heart and grit.
This site is just a glimpse of my work — and still a bit of a work in progress. I share deeper case studies during interview loops.
After two great years at eBay, I’m taking the summer to travel with my family and recharge. I’ll be open to remote / hybrid / in office roles starting August 2025.
While I’m currently focused on senior IC opportunities, I’ve led teams at places like Airbnb, Uber, and Instagram — and I’m always open to leadership roles where I can stay close to the work. Player/coach is my happy place.
Recently, for fun, I built a ChatGPT-powered Chrome extension that surfaces hidden e-commerce fees — designed and shipped in half a day.
My background spans mobile, UX, visual design, motion, prototyping, and more, grounded by a Master’s in HCI. I care deeply about useful, beautiful products — and the teams and culture behind them.
Oh, and regarding Instagram, I was hired by Duolingo’s now–VP of Product Experience, Mig Reyes, to lead Instagram’s Design Systems, Web, and Accessibility teams—but stepped away shortly after to (awkwardly) focus on a family move to Australia. No hard feelings. Just timing.
Derek Orr
Full-Time Dad (for now) / Career Break. Designer, Builder, Painter, Coffee Snob, Overlander, Photographer, Musician...
Proudly Neurodivergent.
Derek is irreplaceable, as a coworker, and as a manager. I’ve never seen a manager care so much about their reports career and personal goals, always uplifting and challenging his designers to think of where they’d like to see themselves in a year, two years, five years. Derek is also a champion of team culture. By identifying when teammates are stressed, seeking collaboration opportunities, fostering an environment of belonging and fun, Derek really shapes the environment of not only his team, but in the case of Seattle Airbnb, the entire office as well.
Justin Danks
Head of Design,
Banking at Cash App.
Formerly Apple, Airbnb
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