Tj Pitre

About Tj Pitre

Design systems weren\'t built for AI. The tokens, components, and metadata that power most enterprise design systems today can\'t be read, queried, or reasoned about by the AI tools teams are already adopting.I\'m working to change that.Most enterprise systems weren’t structured to support the AI tools teams are already deploying. So when organizations try to integrate LLMs, agents, and automation, things break. Context is missing. Governance weakens. Outputs become unreliable.I’m working to change that.At Southleft, we help enterprise product teams make their design systems AI-ready. We structure tokens, components, and documentation so they can power modern AI workflows without creating technical or organizational debt.Our work includes AI-readiness audits, context-based design system workflows, and open-source tools like Figma Console MCP that give AI agents structured access to design data.This approach is grounded in real enterprise experience. Over 20+ years, I’ve led front-end architecture and design systems for teams at IBM, Google, DocuSign, Condé Nast, State Farm, Ulta Beauty, Toast, PetSmart, Caterpillar, and others. I previously directed front-end development at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, overseeing 13+ properties and leading their mobile-first responsive redesign.I’ve seen how design systems fracture at scale. I’ve also seen what it takes to make them resilient.We’re now collaborating with Brad Frost on an AI & Design Systems course to bring these practices to the broader community.Based in New Orleans. Member of Entrepreneurs’ Organization.If your team is working through how AI fits into your design system strategy, I’d more than welcome a conversation.

Experience

1. Founder & CEO

   Southleft, Llc

   Mar 2012 — Present · New Orleans, LA, US

   Southleft partners with enterprise product teams to build, scale, and modernize design systems for an AI-driven future.We help organizations move from fragmented components and disconnected tokens to structured, AI-ready systems that can support LLM workflows, automation, and long-term product velocity.Our work includes:→ AI-Ready Design System ArchitectureAudits, restructuring, and implementation that align tokens, components, metadata, and documentation for modern AI workflows.→ Context-Based Design System WorkflowsOperational models that allow design knowledge to flow cleanly between design, engineering, and AI tooling.→ Component Library ArchitectureScalable, accessible, production-grade component systems built for enterprise environments.→ Enterprise Front-End EngineeringAdvanced JavaScript architecture, native web components, headless and decoupled systems, and large-scale application modernization.→ Generative AI ConsultingPractical integration of AI into design and development workflows without sacrificing governance or system integrity.We also build open-source infrastructure, including Figma Console MCP, to give AI agents structured access to design data.Clients include IBM, Google, DocuSign, Condé Nast, PetSmart, Cigna, State Farm, Toast, Ulta Beauty, Caterpillar, and CHUBB.Our focus is simple: make design systems resilient, operable, and ready for what comes next.

Education

• Tulane University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Media Arts

  2001 — 2006

Skills

• Mobile Design
• Web Development
• SEO
• E-Commerce
• Semantic Html
• Jquery
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Web Analytics
• Vue.js
• Mysql
• Cms
• Xhtml
• Usability
• User Experience
• Content Strategy
• Css3
• Graphic Design
• Front-End Development
• Web Design
• Php
• Digital Illustration
• User Experience Design
• Mobile Devices
• Sass
• Responsive Web Design
• User Interface
• Illustration
• Drupal Theming
• Google Analytics
• Html
• Photoshop
• Lamp
• Front-End
• Mobile Applications
• Wordpress
• Drupal
• Mobile Web Design
• Git
• User Interface Design
• React.js