//g'day
I've designed stuff for humans at Instagram, Amazon, Airbnb, Uber, eBay and Microsoft. Thanks for stopping by. Take me to the new site!
This site’s not fully up to date—I've yet to add my most recent work. Think of it as a glimpse, not the whole picture. If you're curious, I’m always happy to share more when we connect.
After two meaningful years at eBay, I’m taking the summer off to travel with my family and recharge. Starting August 2025, I’ll be getting back to hands-on, remote roles focused on making, building, and creating.
That said, I haven’t gone totally offline—I recently partnerd with ChatGPT to design, build and launch a Chrome extension that breaks down pricing on e-commerce sites to highlight hidden costs like tariffs and fees (because clarity is good design too). It took half a day!
I’ve spent 20+ years designing thoughtful, human-centered products across companies like Airbnb, Uber, Amazon, Microsoft, Instagram and eBay.
I’ve led teams across cities and continents, from building the first Design orgs at Uber and Airbnb in Seattle, to guiding Cortana’s Experiences team at Microsoft, to managing Product Design and launching UX Labs (“Darkroom”) at Amazon Photos.
I hold a Master of Digital Design (HCI) from Griffith University, and I specialize in native mobile—though my work spans UX, visual, interaction, motion, IA, prototyping, research, and more. Lately, I’ve been exploring design for AI/ML, voice, and devices.
At the core, I care deeply about building useful, beautiful things—with happy, diverse teams and a strong design culture behind them. Oh—and while the portfolio’s still catching up, at least the photo from a recent road trip to Death Valley with my sons is fresh. You're looking at Artist’s Palette...
Derek Orr
Full-Time Dad Mode / Career Break
Designer, Builder, Proudly Neurodivergent
LinkedIn | Download CV
Amazon
Senior Product Design Manager, Amazon Photos
Team Management & Leadership, Strategy, Storytelling, Creative Direction, Motion Design & Prototyping, Labs Team Co-Founder, Hiring, Design Sprint Facilitator, Hackathon Finalist & More!
2019 – 2022
Illustration by Lynn Scurfield for Photos DLS
What are your favorite memories? How do you recall them? How do you tell stories to others? To yourself? How do you keep your most precious memories safe? These are the ideas that inspire us at Amazon Photos, where our goal is to be the simplest, most natural connection to your memories.
In addition to managing the Amazon Photos' Product Designers across all verticals of the business and helping grow the Design capability holistically, I was instrumental in kicking-off a net new, system-wide re-design of Amazon Photos, across iOS, Android, desktop, web and devices. While there's just a taste of this work below, I look forward to sharing the full narrative when we connect.
"Derek's full of great ideas, and has the skill, expertise and taste level to express them in their best form, whether as a prototype for testing by customers, or a brief he gives to someone on his team. He selflessly promotes, mentors and credits his team and collaborators often downplaying the impact his contributions make to the team and customers."
Kevin Ellis, Head of Design and Research @ Amazon
Airbnb
Group Product Design Manager, Head of Design, Support Products
First Design Manager (PNW), Seattle Site Co-Lead, 'Group' Team Management & Leadership (SF, SEA & PDX), SuP & GCX Design Leader, Vision, Storytelling, Creative Direction, Org-Wide Workshop Facilitation, Site Expansion, Hiring, Design Sprint Facilitator, Direct Report of AIrbnb's Head of Design, Hackathon Finalist & More!
2017 – 2018
Illustration by Alice Lee for Nova
The Support Products Team (SuP) across Portland, Seattle and San Francisco leads the creation of world-class experiences that enable customers and agents to quickly resolve problems the right way, every time. On a more visionary level, the team redefines "the future of help."
"I worked closely with Derek when he was the Design Group Manager at Airbnb. Derek stepped into the role when team morale was low due to a team reorganization and lack of clarity on vision, but he played a critical role in guiding the team to a better place. With his leadership, the team drove huge impact for Airbnb (both top and bottom line) and became an example of focus, motivation and positivity. Derek is an inspirational leader, one that helps his team do their best work."
Shirley Lin, VP of Product @ Divvy Homes
Uber
Head of Design, Seattle
First Design Hire & Design Manager (Seattle), Team Management & Leadership, Uber Family Design Lead, Vision, Storytelling, Creative Direction, Org-Wide Workshop Facilitation, Expansion, Hiring, Design Sprint Facilitator & More!
2015 – 2017
A scene from Uber Family's television commercial
Constantly rushing from place to place to keep the family moving can be a daunting experience for any parent. We all wish we could be in multiple places at once. Uber's Family offering connects teens to a safe, reliable ride in minutes. They stay on the go. You stay in the know. And everyone gets more from their day.
In addition to the net new UberFamily & Teen products, the Seattle team also worked on Scheduled Rides, Airports and Movement.
"Derek was the first Product Design hire in our Uber Seattle Office. When we set up shop in Seattle and started recruiting, I asked a colleague for referrals of awesome design talent. Their response was essentially, “just hire Derek Orr.” His impact on the team and growing office was immediate. Derek is a triple threat: excellent designer, outstanding storyteller and collaborator, and inspiring leader. He helped establish design for multiple teams, and within the course of a year, it was clear he should manage and help continue to scale the Seattle design team. He thrived as a Manager and was a driving force not just as a leader for the Design Team, but the office as a whole. I would hire him again in a second."
Christine Fernandez, VP of Product Design @ Stitch Fix
Microsoft
Director of Product Design, Microsoft AI
'Group' Team Management & Leadership (Bellevue, London, Tel Aviv, Hyderabad and Suzhou), Presenter To CEO & Microsoft LT, Design Leadership Across Xbox, Windows / Hardware & Devices / Teams / Outlook, Vision Video Coordination / Storytelling / Creation / Roadshows, Company-Wide X-FN Collaboration, Creative Direction, Org-Wide Workshop Facilitation, Hiring, Design Sprint Facilitator, Direct Report Of CVP and more!
2018 – 2019
Presenting to Satya Nadella, CEO
Microsoft AI learns, connects and addresses different aspects of your whole life to help focus time, energy and attention on the activities and people who matter most to you.
I led the Experiences Design team across five countries, at a time when we were looking to reimagine Cortana, taking her from a vertical product to ecosystem connector. I was also at Microsoft for 2 years back in 2013, leading New Category Apps teams on Office 365, where I was awarded an interaction model patent and shipped a handful of natively developed iOS and Android 'snacky apps'.
"Derek is a very talented Design leader with a wide array of skills and great experience in designing for mobile devices. I have seen first hand how his calm and mature leadership style brings a team together and elevates their collective talent. I would highly endorse Derek for a Design leadership role."
Samuel Moreau, VP of Product Design & Research @ Coursera
One more thing...
When I'm not spending time with my wife and 4 kiddos, I also dabble with GenAI, overlanding, painting and photography...
Thanks.
For confidentiality reasons, case studies and other work examples will be reserved for remote screens and interview loops.
Let me know when you'd like a walkthrough!