CharTaker
A TTRPG character manager for creating, organizing, and tracking tabletop RPG characters.
JavaScriptTTRPGSide Project
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> HELLO WORLD_
I'm JC Zabel_
UX leader building products that people actually want to use. 15+ years turning complex problems into simple, human-centered solutions.
Currently leading a team of 6 designers across Microsoft's Azure X, Resiliency, and Customer Health orgs. Before that, I built an IoT platform from scratch that scaled to 20M+ devices.
15+
Years in UX
3
Teams Built
20M+
Devices Managed
4
Industries
How I Lead
Grow the People
The best design orgs are built on trust and growth. I invest in 1:1s, design crits, and stretch assignments because a team that's learning is a team that delivers.
Ship > Perfect
I run my teams on a 75/25 rule. 75% speed and iteration, 25% craft. We ship working increments fast, then polish what matters. Momentum beats perfection.
Design the System
I think in systems, not screens. Scalable patterns, shared tokens, and reusable components mean the team moves faster and the product stays coherent as it grows.
Test What You Don't Know
We build confidently on what we know and test what we don't. Get it in front of users early, validate fast, and iterate. Assumptions are risks; feedback is fuel.
Building Things
Apps I've designed and built from scratch. The best way to understand engineering constraints is to ship code yourself.
Case Studies
OvrC
The Premier IoT Remote Management Platform
Hired as the lone UX team member to launch a cloud platform and ended up managing a team of designers for an IoT platform with 20MM+ devices.
UX LeadershipIoTCloud PlatformEnterprise SaaSDesign Systems
OvrC Home
Empowering Homeowners with Smart Home Control
The companion app to make our partners look good and give more control to homeowners to fix their problems on their own.
Mobile AppConsumer UXIoTWhite-LabelParental Controls