Jason Giles, Vp of Design, UserTesting

He started his career at Microsoft in the mid to late nineties, when design was just trying to get a seat at the table and came into the picture a couple of weeks before the product was shipped.

But as design grew as a discipline, Jason “grew up” alongside it—ultimately moving into design management at DirecTV, Ticketmaster, and now, UserTesting. As VP of Product Design at UserTesting, Jason leads a team of designers, writers, and researchers with the mission to enable real human insight and lead a movement for empathy.

He's joining our Main Stage to reveal how a company like UserTesting builds the product internally, in a somewhat meta-universe where UserTesting tests users with UserTesting.

Driving Business Impact Through Design in the AI Era

This masterclass helps designers and UX leaders strengthen their strategic position and clearly articulate business value in an AI accelerated environment. Participants will explore how the role of design is evolving, where it creates the most leverage, and how to move from execution to influence. Using practical frameworks and real world examples, the session focuses on positioning design as a strategic driver of transformation, not just a delivery function, and on communicating impact in a way that resonates with executives and skeptical stakeholders.

AI’s Impact on Design: A New Era of Opportunity

As AI rapidly reshapes the design and research landscape, UX leaders are navigating a new era of tools, expectations, and possibilities. This talk explores how AI is transforming workflows, enhancing creativity, and accelerating insights—while also introducing challenges around quality, critical thinking, and human oversight. Attendees will leave with a clear-eyed view of where AI is making the biggest impact and practical strategies for leading teams through this shift with confidence and intent.