Open Design Docs

About Open Design Docs

Free, practical resources to help designers grow their careers and managers build exceptional teams.

The Mission

Open Design Docs exists to bring clarity to design careers. Too many designers struggle with questions like "What do I need to do to get promoted?" or "How do I evaluate my team fairly?" Meanwhile, managers often create frameworks from scratch, reinventing the wheel at every company.

This site provides battle-tested frameworks that you can use immediately, whether you're a designer planning your next career move or a manager building a world-class team.

What You'll Find Here

  • Level Competencies: Clear skill expectations for every design level, from entry-level to Principal
  • Job Descriptions: Ready-to-use JDs for Product Designers, Content Designers, User Researchers, and more
  • Interview Panels: Structured interview guides with questions and evaluation criteria
  • Manager Resources: Onboarding plans, 1:1 frameworks, performance review tools
  • Case Study Reviews: Video portfolio critiques helping designers strengthen their presentations

About the Creator

I'm Jason Culbertson, VP of Design at Consensys where I lead design for MetaMask, the world's leading crypto wallet with 30M+ users. Previously, I was VP of Design at Linktree, and I've spent my career building and scaling design teams across multiple industries.

I've also served as an advisor to companies like OpenSea and Great Question, helping them elevate their design practices and build strong teams.

My background spans UX design, visual design, product, and marketing across both mobile and desktop platforms. I hold an MFA in Design from the Academy of Art University and a BA in Information Systems from the University of Kansas.

Why I Built This

Throughout my career, I've seen how unclear career paths and inconsistent evaluation frameworks hold back talented designers. I've also experienced the challenge of building these frameworks from scratch at every new company.

Open Design Docs is the resource I wish I had when I started leading teams. It's the collection of frameworks, templates, and tools that actually work—the same ones I've used to help designers get promoted, conduct fair performance reviews, and build teams that ship great work.

Portfolio Reviews

Beyond this site, I regularly publish case study reviews on YouTube where I provide in-depth feedback on real designer portfolios. These sessions help designers at all levels, from those just starting out to Staff and Principal designers from companies like Apple, strengthen their presentations and land their next role.

Why It's Free

Great career resources shouldn't be locked behind a paywall. Every designer deserves to know what's expected at their level. Every manager deserves tools that help them lead fairly and develop their teams effectively.

All content on Open Design Docs is free to use. Take what works, adapt it to your context, and share it with your team.

Get in Touch

Have questions, feedback, or want to connect? Find me on LinkedIn where I regularly share insights on design leadership and career growth.