Will Barbee

Background

Before writing my first line of code, I spent years studying how people think. I earned a Master's in Clinical Psychology from The New School for Social Research in New York City and worked for four years in clinical roles — conducting assessments, running therapy groups, and learning to observe behavior with precision.

That training didn't disappear when I pivoted to software engineering. It became the foundation. Understanding cognitive load, mental models, and human behavior informs every interface I design and every component API I build. I don't just think about what works technically — I think about what makes sense to the person using it.

How I Work

For over a decade, I've been building design systems, web applications, and digital products for organizations ranging from early-stage startups to Fortune 500 enterprises. Currently, I lead design system development at Kyndryl as an Associate Director of Software Engineering, building Shidoka — an open-source, framework-agnostic component library that powers applications across a 70,000+ employee organization.

My approach centers on developer experience and accessibility. I design component APIs that reduce cognitive load, write documentation that developers actually want to read, and build systems that scale without sacrificing quality. Whether it's React, Lit, Vue, or vanilla web components — the goal is always the same: create tools that make other developers more productive.

Outside Work

Based in Austin, Texas. When I'm not writing code, you'll find me weightlifting, playing tennis, composing electronic music, or spending time with my cats.