About
I'm a deeply relational and collaborative designer and founder with over 26 years of experience in brand, product design, and creative direction. As a polymath, I have always been curious about new technologies and methodologies. I currently leverage Web3 and AI technologies to help businesses and design teams work efficiently and to create work that lasts.
My approach is human-centric, systematic, and practical. The result is work that connects with your audience and empowers them to move.
I have directed and produced successful campaigns for enterprises, small businesses, and artists alike. I have been just as comfortable in a room of executives at Indeed, Wistia, and HCA Healthcare as well as in a room with Academy Award and Grammy-nominated musicians and artists. VSCO once referred to me as a "renaissance man in the creative realm," but these days I prefer helping others become the best versions of themselves. When I am not at work, you will find me being a husband, a father of boys, a music producer, and a sojourner who values collaboration, authenticity, and curiosity.
Contact
X / Twitter
Expertise
Advertising
Ai
Art Direction
Brand Strategy
Brand Guidelines
Campaigns
Consulting
Curation
Design
Environments
Filmmaking
Identity
Installations
Naming
Original Artwork
Print & Packaging
Product Design
Signage & Wayfinding
Web3 & Blockchain
Website Design
Experience
Freelance Consultant
Freelance / Self-employed
Austin, TX & Remote
1998-Present
I solve Brand & Product design problems to help people reach their intended audiences. While my experience is vast, I focus on using design and strategy to bridge the gap between brand and product. I currently leverage Web3 and AI technologies to help businesses and design teams work efficiently and to create work that lasts.
Select clients include: Alphi.xyz, Ai Layer, Ugmonk, Funsize, Hertz, Johnson & Johnson, Fjord, Accenture, Sapient Razorfish, Underoath, Mutemath, Son Lux, WeWork, Google, The Culinary Institute of America, Humin, SuperFriendly, SerialBox Presents, QRI, Sony BMG / EMI, Jeremy Cowart.
Founder & Executive Creative Director
All Manner Of Us
Austin, TX & Remote
2017-Present
Helping organizations and artists build deeper relationships with their audience through full-service brand design. Select clients include: Indeed, Wistia, HCA Healthcare, Kistler Rods, Lemburg House, Superset, Hammock.
Art Director & Senior Marketing Designer
Creative Market (Autodesk)
San Francisco, CA & Remote
2015-2016
Creative Market is an online marketplace platform for design content from independent creatives around the world. I worked on various marketing, product, and brand initiatives. Enhanced product user signup conversion by 17%.
Co-founder & Creative Director
Dbln llc
Houston, TX & Remote
2013-2014
Dbln was a web design, development, and brand studio with a focus on the wedding and hospitality industries.
Productions Manager & FOH Engineer
Taft
Houston, TX
2007-2009
Produced four weekly events each with an audience of 200+, operated as lead FOH engineer, and trained up a team of 20+ volunteers in the areas of audio engineering, lighting design, stage management, and video production.
Volunteering
Alphi Leadership Academy
Alphi.xyz
Remote
2023-Current
Alphi is a community-powered digital library built to organize all the information in the metaverse. Our platform brings accessibility and transparency to the world of digital collectibles, enabling everyone to make well-informed decisions about the projects they get involved with—because we believe that the more you give, the more you have.
Areas of focus: Blockchain & AI
Personal Projects
Music Producer, Writer
Forenn — Listen here →
Texas, USA & Nairobi, Kenya
2012-Present
Music Producer
Emma Bieniewcz — Listen here →
Grand Rapids, MI & Remote
2021-Present
Music Producer, Writer, Mixer
Mezzanines — Listen here →
Austin, TX & Remote
2021-Present
References
Margaret Becker
Director of UX Research, Indeed Enterprise at Indeed.com
Zach has been a true pleasure to work with at Indeed. He always delivered quality, thoughtful design work that enhanced our startup product brand and gave our UX the polish of a much more mature product. He showed a strong spirit of partnership with UX Research, and it was always heartening to see how our reported user needs and perspectives were reflected in his work.
Adam Day
Creative Director, Wistia
Zach helped my team create the visual brand identity for one of our core content properties—a podcast. He designed the show artwork (including unique cover art for each episode), created promotional assets for all social platforms, and helped with digital campaigns outside of social. An attentive listener and great designer, Zach worked hard to experiment and incorporate our feedback, and ultimately helped us create a strong brand identity for our show. Would absolutely work with Zach again.
Gerren Lamson
Senior UX Director, Indeed;
Head of Design, Creative Market
Zach worked with the Creative Market team for over a year as a contractor, and produced a variety of creative and design projects for the brand across marketing, product, and community initiatives. Zach has a ton of passion that he brings to the table. He cares deeply about the team and community of users that he produces work for. While at CM, he gave holistic, constructive feedback on team projects, company objectives and brand culture. Zach imparted a double-dose of user empathy and perspective into every project conversation and meeting that he participated in, and was very easy to work with. He helped our team stay focused on the member’s experience of Creative Market, and gave thoughtful feedback about how various projects and choices impact the user’s experience and perception of the Creative Market brand.
Overall, Zach covered many of our bases, and had a willingness to jump in and help on whatever was needed by the team for the betterment of the company.
Stephen Callender
Owner, Foster Commerce
Zach designed a course-based website for a client of mine. "Easy to read" and "navigate" were the goals. He managed to make those happen and make it extremely beautiful. The site is still heavily used after more than four years and hasn't once needed a single facelift or design modification. That's impressive.
James Hobbs
VP of Design, Metalab;
Founder & CD, Octopus
Zach is a multi-talented designer and director. His background in Photography and Visual Design brings an interesting mix of skills to the table. Zach is always thinking outside of the box and trying to break tradition design patterns to come up with unique solutions. His easy-going attitude allows him to get on well with internal staff and clients alike. He leads teams well and inspires great outcomes from those who work alongside him.
Ryan Kutter
Consultant Lead, Connect Realty
Zach has an accute eye for detail and cohesiveness. Visually he produces concepts, designs, brands, ideas, etc. that are at a whole new level of professionalism and creativity. I recommend Zach to anyone!