Chris is available for hire
Hire ChrisChris Znerold
Verified Expert in Design
Designer
Location
Boulder, CO, United States
Toptal Member Since
August 2, 2017
Chris is a brand and product designer based in Boulder, Colorado, with 15+ years of experience delivering sustainable growth for both big brands and small startups. He leans on two key processes to create great product experiences. The first is human-centered design, which he uses to craft solutions rooted in insights based on actual customer behaviors. The second is rapid prototyping, where he uses design sprints to validate outcomes with customers through testable solutions.
Portfolio
Work Experience
Founder & Creative Director
2013 - PRESENT
Skipper Product Design
- Used design sprints to help companies go farther and faster. By leveraging diverse experiences as both a design manager and principal designer, I added unique creative value as both a leader and an individual contributor.
- Leaned on two processes to create great products. The first is human-centered design, which I use to craft solutions rooted in customer behaviors. The second is rapid prototyping, where I use design sprints to validate outcomes with customers.
- Approached the design in a way that is unequivocally optimistic and enthusiastically positive.
Technologies: Design, User Experience (UX)
Adjunct Faculty
2013 - PRESENT
University of Colorado at Boulder
- Led the curriculum creation and instruction for human-centered design courses and workshops. Designed to be responsive to a world in permanent beta, I help design curriculum that is project based and collaborative, with graduates integrating design, technology, and entrepreneurism to create innovative products and experiences.
Technologies: Design
Freelance Design Lead
2017 - 2017
Playstation
- Designed and deployed solutions to help music and movie experiences thrive within console and mobile platform environments.
Technologies: Design
Freelance Creative Director
2016 - 2017
Innit
- Re-imagined how consumers will experience food in the future by designing a omni-platform smart kitchen solution.
Technologies: Design
Freelance Design Lead
2016 - 2017
Chapter SF
- Leveraged human-centered design sprints and rapid iOS prototyping of the Kodak Moments mobile app redesign to help reinvent how physical artifacts can be created from digital photographs.
Technologies: Design
Freelance Design Director
2016 - 2016
Sequence
- Utilized design discovery workshops to launch a modern brand and interface design for Salesforce IQ mobile products.
Technologies: Design
Freelance Design Lead
2016 - 2016
Airbnb
- Leveraged high-fidelity prototype design sprints to quickly validate how the Airbnb Trips experience could be integrated within existing mobile products.
Technologies: Design
Freelance Creative Director
2016 - 2016
Swirl
- Led the design and prototyping development for Juniper Networks web and mobile products.
Technologies: Design
Freelance Creative Director
2015 - 2016
Imgur
- Directed a multi-disciplinary team of designers and engineers to refine and relaunch the Imgur visual brand across mobile, social, and web products.
Technologies: Design
Freelance Design Lead
2015 - 2015
Apple
- Led art direction, visual design, and rapid prototyping efforts for Apple Music and Beats One.
Technologies: Design
Freelance Creative Director
2014 - 2015
Quirky
- Managed an integrated team of designers and engineers to develop software-enabled physical product prototypes.
Technologies: Design
Freelance Creative Director
2014 - 2014
Deloitte Digital
- Directed the Principal Financial account through cross-platform redesign and rebranding effort.
Technologies: Design
Experience Design Director
2012 - 2014
Made Movement
- Led the digital design and development practice for clients New Belgium Brewing, Copper Mountain, and Fred Water.
Technologies: Design
Senior Experience Designer
2012 - 2013
Adobe
- Designed and prototyped their Marketing Cloud product, and was awarded 3 invention patents for my contributions to the product and interface.
Technologies: Design
Freelance Design Lead
2011 - 2012
Post Intelligence
- Contributed to development of the product platform, user experience design, and visual identity system for Post Intelligence consumer applications.
Technologies: Design
Creative Technologist
2011 - 2012
EVB
- Contributed to research, design, and development of interactive products and marketing communications for clients including Facebook, Zynga, Jameson, Absolut, and others.
Technologies: Design
Graphic Designer
2009 - 2011
Disney Interactive
- Developed the digital strategy, gaming mechanics, user experience design, and visual identity system for a Facebook basketball game.
Technologies: Design
Interactive Art Director
2006 - 2010
Zenzi
- Created the visual design and platform development for the Chiquita Banana and Dreyer’s Ice Cream accounts.
Technologies: Design
Interactive Designer
2007 - 2009
IAC
- Created the user experience design and visual identity for online properties including CitySearch, Match.com, LendingTree, Ticketmaster, and VSL.
Technologies: Design
Freelance Graphic Designer
2007 - 2008
University of Colorado at Boulder
- Served as freelance designer for the ATLAS Institute, a department focused on the development of Technology, Art, and Media.
Technologies: Design
Education
2009 - 2011
Master's Degree in Design
University of Colorado at Boulder - Colorado
2004 - 2009
Bachelor of Science Degree in Design
University of Colorado at Boulder - Colorado
Experience
Tools
Collaboration That Works
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