Joel Glovier designs software.

I design workflow tools for developers.

I've worked at developer focused organizations where I've designed and built workflow tools for the humans who bring code to life.

illustration portraying me juggling user experience, technology, and business goals

Research, strategy, prototyping, design, code

Core disciplines

I use imagination, drawing, writing, design tools, and code to solve business problems with software solutions.

Design process

Product development is an ongoing cycle of identifying problems and opportunities, exploring solutions, shipping to real people, listening to feedback, iterating, and measuring results. This is how I work.

An illustration depicting the product development cycle

Work

Apollo GraphQL

Sr. Staff Product Designer • 2020 – 2021

Apollo makes tools for GraphQL developers. I led product design for developer tooling on Apollo Studio, a collaboration platform for graph maintainers and consumers.

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Illustration of a GraphQL symbol being assembled, packaged into a box, and then shipped out on a conveyor belt

Sabbatical

Human • 2019

In 2019 I took time away from my career work to focus on restoring balancing to my life, refueling my soul, face my mental health, and re-sync with the rhythm of my family.

Illustration of a sign hanging on a wall that says AWAY

Netlify

Head of Design • 2018

Netlify lets developers host static websites and hook them up to powerful backend functionality. I helped build it's growing design team, and did product and marketing design for key projects.

Product illustration for Netlify's core product concept

GitHub

Product Design Lead • 2013 – 2018

I designed and built experiences for the millions of people who use GitHub every day, including Code Review Requests, Code Owners, Protected Branches, the Package Registry, and the Checks API.

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Improving code review on GitHub

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AppendTo

Visual Design Engineer, Tech Lead • 2012 – 2013

I was a front-end developer focused on implementing designs for client projects such as the responsive redesign of TIME.com, Bloomberg.com, and others.

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Implementing the responsive redesign of Time.com

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CURE International

Principal Designer • 2011 – 2012

Web & Graphic Designer • 2009 – 2011

Responsible for design across all mediums including print, web, UX, and brand for a global network of charitable hospitals.

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workflow illustration of code review collaboration on GitHub

JAG Design Ideas

Founder • 2004 – 2016

Provided contract design and development services for NGOs, startups, and agencies.

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My clients have included organizations such as StackOverflow, AndCulture, CURE International, Spreadshirt, Papertrail, and many more.

HACC

Adjunct Professor • 2008-2012

Taught non-credit technology courses to continuing education students, including Intro to Web Development, Photoshop, Illustrator, Computer Basics, and Digital Photography.

Recommendations

Many times, Joel was able to take a functional existing view and upgrade it to a level I could not have envisioned. All of his work is extremely considered and well presented. In a growing company, Joel was able to establish patterns and principles for our design systems that we still rely on.”

Maya Koneval

Software Engineer • Apollo GraphQL

Joel is an incredibly talented designer. He's wowed us time and again with his ability to take a complex set of requirements and constraints and distill them into elegant designs. He's also technically proficient, able to comfortably jump into code to update React components and CSS where needed. As much as our toolings have improved, still nothing beats a trained eye and a skilled hand nudging the final elements into the right place.”

Chang Wang

Engineering Manager • Apollo GraphQL

Joel brings a rare blend of skills that have been hugely influential at Apollo. He was instrumental in the design of several very complex user experiences, as he took the team on a journey from concept to launch on some of our most popular features. He's also helped us level up our design system and has made a big impact on our ability to scale and collaborate across teams.”

Tim Hingston

Front-end Tech Lead • Apollo GraphQL

I would emphasize his particular thoughtfulness in producing a collaborative environment for peers to offer influence and feedback in his work. He has produced so much context around user problems that I still work off of, and the output of his time at GitHub will remain a great resource for many projects.”

Kathy Zheng

Staff Product Designer • GitHub

Watching Joel's design process unfold was a delight, and the care and mindfulness he infused in every step was inspirational. He is supremely talented, but even above that, he is a thoughtful, conscientious, open minded, positive individual that makes the work environment more inclusive and welcoming for everyone.”

Elizabeth Barron

Sr. Dir of Social Impact, Community Manager • GitHub

What stands out most about Joel is that he is an exceptional person to have on a team. People love working with him. Joel communicates well, articulates himself clearly, provides objective feedback, praises when people do well, and speaks up when things aren’t great.”

Cameron McEfee

Creative Director • GitHub

Joel is not just a gifted product designer, he also has the patience, dedication and work ethic that motivates the rest of the team. He is one of those colleagues that you wish you could have on every project.”

Jialee Chau

Product Marketing, Growth • GitHub

I consider Joel a rare and genuine soul, an incredibly capable teammate, and strong project leader. I'm thankful to continue to work with him in a volunteer capacity and would be glad to collaborate professionally once again.”

Joel Worrall

CTO • CURE Intl, HospitalRun co-founder

During his time at CURE International, Joel was a key player in transitioning CURE International's web presence from an awful legacy website to a world class platform that has received numerous awards and accolades. Given the opportunity, I would hire Joel in a heartbeat.”

John Kleinschmidt

VP of Technology • CURE Intl, HospitalRun co-founder

I'd been impressed with Joel's design talent well before he joined the team at appendTo. Once on board, his other technical skills were put to use on numerous projects. Joel's passion for his craft and enthusiasm he brought to his projects were immediately visible.”