About
I'm Julian Palhof — a hands-on design leader at MNTN, building an AI-driven ad creator and the design language behind every product we ship.
The Journey
I've spent 15 years across design, product, and engineering — mostly inside startups, building teams that ship things people actually want to use.
I started in front-end code before moving into design. Knowing how things get built makes me a better collaborator — I've never been one to throw comps over the wall.
At Dapper Labs, I led design for NBA Top Shot, NFL All Day, and Disney Pinnacle, including their first native iOS and Android apps. Now at MNTN, I lead the team reshaping our product experience and building an AI ad creator that opens Connected TV to brands of every size.
What I Do
Turning complex problems into clear, actionable roadmaps. I work with product and business leads to frame the right problem, define what success looks like, and sequence the bets that get us there.
Building scalable foundations that empower teams. From tokens and components to documentation and governance, I create systems that keep products consistent while letting teams ship faster.
Mentoring designers and fostering creative cultures. I hire, grow, and support teams through clear feedback, honest critique, and the room to do their best work.
Finding insights at the intersection of empathy and data. I pair interviews and usability testing with product analytics so decisions rest on what people actually do, not just what they say.
From rough concepts to high-fidelity experiences. I prototype early and often, in code and in Figma, to test ideas, align stakeholders, and find the details that make an interaction feel right.
Bridging design, engineering, and business. I bring partners in early, speak each team's language, and keep everyone working from a shared picture of the product.