TJ Pitre — Founder

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.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a SaaS-focused design systems architect with extensive experience in AI integration.

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Experience: 22 yrs 8 mos

Skills

Design Systems
Artificial Intelligence (ai)

Career Highlights

Pioneered AI-ready design systems for enterprises.
Led front-end development for 13+ high-traffic websites.
Collaborated on AI & Design Systems course with industry experts.

Work Experience

Entrepreneurs' Organization

Member (1 yr 5 mos)

Block Party

Founding Member (3 yrs 4 mos)

Southleft, LLC

Founder & CEO (14 yrs 2 mos)

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

Director, Internet Front-End Development (2 yrs 2 mos)

Manager, Internet Front-End Development (11 mos)

Senior Front-End Developer (1 yr 2 mos)

Front-End Developer (1 yr 8 mos)

Emeril's Homebase

Web Manager (1 yr 6 mos)

TchopShop Media

Web Designer (1 yr 4 mos)

Mudbug Media

Web Designer (1 yr)

Education

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) at Tulane University

TJ Pitre

Founder

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States22 yrs 8 mos experience

Highly StableAI Enabled

Key Highlights

Pioneered AI-ready design systems for enterprises.
Led front-end development for 13+ high-traffic websites.
Collaborated on AI & Design Systems course with industry experts.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a SaaS-focused design systems architect with extensive experience in AI integration.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Design SystemsArtificial Intelligence (ai)

Other Skills

Front-End DevelopmentModel Context Protocol (MCP)Design EngineeringJavaScript LibrariesDrupal ThemingWordpressWeb DesignUser ExperienceUser Interface DesignWeb AnalyticsSEOUser-centered DesignResponsive Web DesignUser Experience DesignGraphic Design

About

Experience

22 yrs 8 mos

Total Experience

4 yrs 1 mo

Average Tenure

3 yrs 4 mos

Current Experience

Entrepreneurs' organization

Member

Dec 2024 – Present · 1 yr 5 mos · New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

As the world’s only peer-to-peer network exclusively for entrepreneurs, EO helps transform the lives of those who transform the world.

Block party

Founding Member

Jan 2023 – Present · 3 yrs 4 mos

Southleft, llc

Founder & CEO

Mar 2012 – Present · 14 yrs 2 mos · Greater New Orleans Area · Remote

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 Architecture
Audits, restructuring, and implementation that align tokens, components, metadata, and documentation for modern AI workflows.
→ Context-Based Design System Workflows
Operational models that allow design knowledge to flow cleanly between design, engineering, and AI tooling.
→ Component Library Architecture
Scalable, accessible, production-grade component systems built for enterprise environments.
→ Enterprise Front-End Engineering
Advanced JavaScript architecture, native web components, headless and decoupled systems, and large-scale application modernization.
→ Generative AI Consulting
Practical 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.

Design SystemsFront-End DevelopmentArtificial Intelligence (AI)Model Context Protocol (MCP)Design EngineeringJavaScript Libraries

Martha stewart living omnimedia

4 roles

Director, Internet Front-End Development

Promoted

Apr 2011 – Jun 2013 · 2 yrs 2 mos · Greater New York City Area

As MSLO, I worked as the Director of the Digital Front-End Development Department. I developed, oversaw, and maintained all front-end aspects for the 13+ highly trafficked MSLO websites, involving direct and frequent comunication with numerous 3rd party organizations (advertising, site metrics, consultants, and freelancers).
While there, I have led the department in moving toward a holistic Mobile First responsive approach to the way we develop our web properties. Further, I have overseen several large-scale front-end projects, including:
a transition from our legacy web content management system to Drupal
the execution of a high-traffic site redesign to a Mobile First responsive design
the creation of a new responsive designers workflow for digital design
A major part of my role was leading and guiding my team to fulfill our company's digital initiatives with the highest quality front-end design.