A leader shaping the Design journey
Divye Bokdia, Head of Design, India at Atlassian, is spearheading this design revolution, bringing together a dynamic team that thrives on solving complex challenges. In the competitive and ever-evolving landscape of digital design, Divye has carved out a distinguished career, ascending to a well-respected design leader. His journey is marked by a strong educational foundation and impactful roles at some of the world’s leading technology companies. His career trajectory showcases a thoughtful progression from hands-on design to the strategic leadership he now provides at Atlassian, a path that has earned him recognition as one of India’s top Design leaders.
Rooted in a solid academic background from IIT Guwahati and the University of Michigan, Divye’s combined education in design and information science gave him a robust framework for shaping the interaction between people and technology. This foundation is evident in his approach to the complex challenges at Atlassian. When asked about his philosophy, Divye shares, “Successful design, I believe, emerges from a deep empathy for the user, which must be validated by research and data. My focus is always on deconstructing complex problems into solutions that are not just effective, but simple and truly user-friendly.“
His career is a testament to this clear philosophy. By championing continuous learning and scaling design excellence, Divye has solidified his reputation as a thought leader in the Indian design ecosystem and a pivotal leader driving innovation within Atlassian.
“What drew me to Atlassian was the opportunity to create impact at scale,” Divye reflects. “The company’s mission, to unleash the potential of every team, aligns closely with my values as a designer. Our work enables millions of users worldwide to collaborate better.”
Divye’s design leadership at Atlassian is guided by three core principles: craft, communication, and trust.
Craft is at the heart of everything the team does. Every pixel, transition, and interaction is meticulously designed to ensure that users experience not just functionality but also delight and ease. In the complex product space that Atlassian operates in, his team leverages powerful visual tools to distill and present intricate ideas simply—enhancing user understanding and engagement.
Communication is critical, especially in a globally distributed, work-from-anywhere environment. “We lead by example,” Divye says. “We rely heavily on our own tools like Confluence, Jira and Loom while also using key platforms such as Slack and Figma to capture our thought processes and ensure everyone stays aligned, regardless of time zones.”
And underlying it all is trust. Built on shared values and open communication, it empowers designers to take ownership, experiment without fear, and push the boundaries of their creativity. “Trust is the glue that holds our teams together, enabling us to work effectively across geographies,” he adds.
Designing for impact
Atlassian is dedicated to empowering teams to achieve their potential, and achieving this goes beyond building powerful tools. As Divye explains, “We’re building experiences that enable teams to innovate and succeed. Our designs untangle complexity while ensuring a unified experience across the ecosystem.” User-centric design is at the heart of this commitment, ensuring that every product decision prioritizes the needs and experiences of users. Additionally, content design plays a crucial role in this framework, crafting clear and effective communication that enhances usability and fosters trust.
A key part of Atlassian’s design philosophy is the System of Work (SoW), a strategic initiative that unifies Atlassian’s products into a connected ecosystem, designed to help teams optimize collaboration and drive better business outcomes. By sharing a common data model, these products enable powerful insights, automation, and AI-driven enhancements that transform how work gets done.
The SoW connects people, tools, and information, breaking down silos, streamlining workflows, and providing the analytics that teams need to make smarter decisions. And because users often navigate between tools like Jira and Confluence, delivering a consistent, intuitive experience is critical.
This is where the design system plays a vital supporting role. “When users move between Jira and Confluence or any other Atlassian tool, they should feel at home,” Divye says. “They shouldn’t have to pause and relearn. That’s the power of a well-orchestrated design system. And at Atlassian, we get to build that for our users.”
Atlassian’s design system is not only valued internally but has also become a reference point for startups and enterprises looking to build their own design frameworks. The high level of craft and attention to detail that goes into this system ensures that Atlassian’s products offer a consistent, user-friendly, and reliable experience across the board.
This consistency becomes even more impressive when you consider the architectural differences across Atlassian’s products. “When we talk about design tokens, they allow us to maintain consistency not just in look and feel, but also in behavior — across different surfaces, whether it’s cloud or Data Center,” Divye explains. He cites the example of Confluence, where two different teams maintain cloud and Data Center versions. “From the outside, the product needs to look and behave the same. That’s the expectation. But internally, how we deliver that is very complex,” he adds. “The system we’ve built supports this kind of scale and modularity, which is crucial as our teams grow and our surfaces multiply.”
And that scale is already visible. “Jira Service Management is one of our most prominent offerings, and almost half of its Design team is based in India,” Divye shares.
India: A powerhouse of design and innovation
While Atlassian originated in Australia and now operates across 13 countries, India has quickly become a key hub of innovation and design excellence. With over 60 designers, the India team is instrumental in steering some of Atlassian’s most strategic product areas, including support desk, IT operations, and commerce.
In line with Atlassian’s “Play as a Team” value, the Design team works closely with engineering and product through cross-functional triads, bringing together engineering, design, and product experts. These triads are core to the company’s development process, ensuring that every product is shaped through constant iteration, feedback, and co-creation.
“When you’re working in a triad, design doesn’t happen in isolation,” he explains. “It’s about continuous collaboration; working closely with engineers and product managers to refine ideas and create seamless experiences. That’s what makes Atlassian’s design culture unique.”
The India team is also driving advancements in AI Ops by applying artificial intelligence to operations management. “As AI evolves, our team is exploring new cognitive models and design patterns that seamlessly integrate AI capabilities into our tools, enhancing their effectiveness and usability,” Divye says. These efforts, combined with a strong focus on cloud migrations and intelligent components, are elevating Atlassian’s product suite while positioning India as a global hub of design and innovation.
Building human connections
While Atlassian champions a distributed work culture, the company understands that in-person connections are important to foster long-distance work effectiveness. To nurture these connections, Atlassian organizes Intentional Team Gatherings (ITGs) — immersive, in-person experiences where teams come together to brainstorm, collaborate, and strengthen bonds beyond the screen.
“ITGs are about creating high-resolution human connections,” Divye shares. “When we come together, it’s not just for work. We share meals, engage in fun activities, and even introduce our visitors to a slice of Indian culture — like taking them to our favorite chai place in Bengaluru. These moments foster a sense of belonging and camaraderie that’s hard to replicate virtually.”
These gatherings also include foundational activities, such as workshops and collaborative sessions that enhance both professional and personal growth. Through ITGs, Atlassian ensures that its teams remain deeply connected and aligned, even in a distributed working model.
Mentorship: Accelerating design maturity and growth
Divye’s belief in the transformative power of mentorship has been a driving force throughout his career. He encourages designers to actively seek out mentors to accelerate their growth, refine their design maturity, and develop a broader perspective on their craft. “Mentors don’t always have to come from the same discipline,” he observes. “I’ve had some of my best mentors who were technologists. Their diverse perspectives helped me understand design in a way that went beyond conventional boundaries.”
His advice to young designers is rooted in simplicity and clarity – ask, learn, and stay accountable. “Don’t hesitate to reach out to people whose work inspires you. Most people are willing to help if you just ask,” he advises. “But you have to hold yourself accountable for applying the insights you gain and demonstrating your growth over time.”
Why Atlassian is a dream destination for designers in India
For designers seeking to push boundaries, solve complex problems, and create a meaningful impact, Atlassian offers a playground of possibilities. It’s a place where designers don’t just work on challenging problems but also collaborate with some of the sharpest, kindest, and most values-driven minds in the industry.
“Atlassian is where you can do your most exciting work, surrounded by people who inspire you to be better,” Divye says. “It’s a place where intellectual challenges translate into creative opportunities, where you are encouraged to be detail-oriented, solve some of the hardest design problems and create experiences that touch millions of lives.”
If you’re a designer looking to elevate your craft, and work on transformative challenges, Atlassian is where your journey begins. Join a culture that celebrates curiosity, values craftsmanship, and nurtures trust, and be part of a team that’s shaping the future of design.
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