Hey, I'm Josh. I lead teams that architect design systems for global products. ✨💀

Josh Mateo

What I do

I lead teams who pioneer the intelligent systems that anchor brand vision with product execution to create a shared language that allows a story to scale without losing its soul.


My approach to leadership is simple: stay close to the craft, lead with transparency, and clear the path so my team can innovate. Whether we're architecting infrastructure or redesigning our brand or driving AI enablement, I am dedicated to fostering a culture of ownership where we solve complex problems with confidence. I ensure a brand's integrity remains vibrant at a global scale, building the structured excellence that allows our product connections to reach everyone.

It's been a journey

2019 → Present

Netflix / Product Design Manager


I lead the teams responsible for Netflix's Consumer Design System and our global accessibility strategy. Our work anchors the product experience across TV, Mobile, Web, and Email, ensuring millions of new and existing members have a cohesive and inclusive experience. I started my time as a Staff Product Designer, architecting the foundations for our system, before moving into a leadership role overseeing Design Systems.


As a Leader / 2024 → Present
I've scaled our organization 6x to expand our impact across infrastructure, motion, accessibility, and AI-enablement. I focus on building a culture of ownership and trust — from promoting internal talent into management roles to coaching designers through senior and staff levels. By staying close to the craft, I empower my team to solve global challenges with confidence and purpose.


As an Architect / 2019 → 2024
I pioneered our "code-as-source-of-truth" approach, serving as the design architect for the Hawkins API to automate and synchronize design tokens and assets across every platform. On the Enterprise side, I operated as a creative director to define the original design language and navigational architecture for over 150 products, bringing a cohesive Netflix brand sentiment to the studio ecosystem.

Netflix logo

2016 → 2019

Spotify / Senior Product Designer


Led the creative strategy behind Spotify's Encore design system, helping establish the centralized team and operating model for design systems across the company. Design System Lead for the Web, focused on advertisers, growth, artists, labels and marketing.


Created, documented and delivered a unified set of guidelines, toolkits, and accessible components for Spotify web products across Consumer, Enterprise and Marketing. Art directed a design team for Spotify Premium seasonal and evergreen campaigns and integrated with our payment product team.

Spotify logo

2015 → 2016

Square / Product Designer


Launched a beta for Online Store and built workflow optimizations for search and scan interaction patterns for Square Retail POS.

Square logo

2013 → 2015

Amplify / Senior Visual Designer


Led design for Amplify Market to deliver content, lessons, and apps for teachers. Modernized our web and tablet visual direction and developed character animation system.

Amplify logo

2011 → 2013

Barbarian / Designer


Worked with clients: GE, Bacardi, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Samsung, Facebook, Sears and Dos Equis.

Barbarian logo

Elsewhere

📍 Seattle, WA

Willow Glen, CA

Brooklyn, NY

I live in Seattle, WA with my wife and daughter, where we spend the days watching it rain and longing for summer. We're typically travelling the world in search of good food and good vibes.


I have a fairly large tattoo collection with a general theme of death and nature by artists Victor Webster, Ray Hauer, Erik Jacobsen, Damien Thorn, Hon Gak and Sue Jieven. One of my pieces by Ray even made it to the top page of Reddit.

Tattoo by Victor Webster
Tattoo by Ray Hauer
Tattoo detail

I love a good sing along, but expect it to be with metal overtures. Here's a peek at what I'm currently listening to with a good friend, Tyce Clee: