Throughout my 20-year career, I've consistently sought out challenges, adapted to evolving technologies, and embraced a growth-oriented mindset. My strengths lie in setting the highest standards of craftsmanship as well as fostering a culture of collaboration and bridging disciplines; I believe that the most impactful designs emerge from the varied perspectives of a diverse team whose ideas are celebrated, and a collective passion for creating amazing things.
"Zara is a rare creative talent that you don't want to miss out on. Hiring her will be a decision you'll celebrate for a long time to come. Don't hesitate, bring Zara on board now!"
Mark Levy | Business leadership, worked together at Citizen.
"Zara is the real deal. Mega talented designer, a rare blend of strategy and craft."
Ron Goldin | Design & Product leader, worked together at Punchcut.
"Any team that gets to work with her will be very lucky to benefit from her broad creative experience, sensibility to work with team input, and passion for the details."
Scott Tomlinson | Industrial Designer, Zara reported to Scott at Adidas.
➺ Experience
September 2024-Current
Design Lead (Contract), Punchcut
• Global Consumer Electronics Company: Led the visual design of a 3D spatial interface for a high-profile product launch showcased at CES 2025, delivering a cutting edge concept for an immersive, audience-ready experience that highlighted breakthrough technology.
• Global Home Furnishings Brand: Guided a cross-disciplinary team of designers, researchers, and strategists to audit and evaluate e-commerce ecosystems against leading DIY and DTC competitors. Delivered actionable insights to inform the client’s future digital experience strategy and differentiation opportunities.
• Global Media & Entertainment Company: Designed presentation systems and storytelling assets for high-visibility global leadership events and PR initiatives. Collaborated with executive leadership to distill complex ideas into clear, engaging narratives and implemented processes that improved creative intake and delivery.
November 2020-April 2024
Design Director, Craft
• Established direction and vision for complex design initiatives including AI powered product experiences, focusing on user-centric digital products for early and growth-stage start-ups.
• Developed strong client relationships, ensuring alignment with project goals while fostering cross-functional collaboration across design, research, and engineering teams.
• Set and refined design quality standards, mentoring team members to elevate craftsmanship and nurture growth.
January 2018-October 2020
Freelance Design Direction
• Led product design and brand identity efforts for healthcare, smart home, and fintech startups.
• Evolved large-scale design systems for clients such as Charles Schwab and HP.
• Delivered end-to-end design solutions, from user research to visual execution, balancing complex stakeholder needs with user simplicity.
• Collaborated with a top-tier digital agency on visionary explorations for a global technology company.
• Led visual and motion design concepts for a voice-assistant brand system, and co-led early explorations on categorization models within search experiences.
"Zara is an incredible creative force with extraordinary emotional intelligence. She's one of the smartest, most productive, and most visionary collaborators I've worked with. Hire her today—before your competition takes her off the market."
Tamye Riggs | Writing and Typography leadership, collaborated together at FontShop, TypeCon, and Type Network
"Zara is an inspiration to work with. She has such enthusiasm for good design and beautiful typography, that I consistently look up to her. Not only is she well-versed in design, she can convey her ideas with both a sense of excitement about her subject matter and a calm demeanor in front of a client."
Olivia Warnecke | Senior UX Designer, worked together at Punchcut
October 2016-November 2017
Senior Manager Interactive Art Director, Adidas
• Shaped the adidas All Day wellness platform, creating a cohesive brand and user experience across multiple business verticals.
• Drove product pivots using behavioral economics and data analytics insights to improve retention.
• Aligned global creative direction while leading visual design and system consistency
June 2013-October 2016
Visual Design Director, Citizen
Progressed from an Art Director to Visual Design Director, crafting engaging digital experiences for clients like Adidas and XFINITY; Set high-standards for creative solutions in our design practice, spearheading workshops to inspire innovation and enhance collaborative efforts; Mentored junior designers to cultivate talent and strengthen overall team capabilities.
June 2004-April 2013
Intern to Design Director, Punchcut
I launched my career at Punchcut, advancing from Intern to Design Director during a groundbreaking era in digital design; Led design workshops for clients like LG and Samsung, envisioning the future of online communities and digital assistants; Led design for innovative mobile-first platforms, setting new standards in digital design and fostering a culture of collaboration.
"Zara is a consumate pro who brings so much to projects: cohesion, out-of-the-box thinking, and a sense of camaraderie. You'd be lucky to get someone of her skill and experience."
Ashwin Sodhi | CEO, Ventriloquent, worked together at Punchcut
"Her talent coupled with her thoughtful, collaborative approach raised the bar for the team and the product. In a short amount of time, she gained the respect of the organization and became a leading voice in the overall product direction. She has a clear vision for how to deliver value to the consumer in a relatable and differentiated way."
Meg Burich | Digital Health Advisor, worked together at Adidas
➺ What I can offer
Visual Language Development
Typographic Excellence
Holistic Experience Design
Brand Identity
UX / UI Systems
User Research Fluency
Cohesive Cross-Surface Experiences
AI-First & AI-Augmented Product Design
Client-Facing Communication
Cross-Discipline Collaboration
Workshop Facilitation
Adaptable to Emerging Technologies
and more…
➺ Some companies I've partnered with
AT&T
CNN
eBay
Evernote
Fontshop International
Google (Android, Assistant, Search, YouTube)
HP
LG
Pison
Samsung
T-Mobile
XFINITY Mobile