Zach S.

I'm a Fractional Head of Design helping scaling businesses turn design into a growth system, not a cost center. With 18+ years of experience, I've led design across websites, SaaS platforms, native apps, and growth funnels for publicly traded companies, VC-backed startups, and fast-growing teams. My role isn't just to make things look good — it's to align product, brand, and conversion so the business scales faster and more efficiently. Most companies don't need another designer. They need senior design leadership without the full-time overhead. That's where I come in. And unlike most design leaders, I don't stop at the Figma file — I ship production-ready front-end code. No design-to-dev handoff, nothing lost in translation. The honest comparison isn't designer-vs-designer; it's one senior partner versus hiring a designer and a developer. What I actually do: - Act as a Fractional Head of Design (strategy, systems, leadership) - Build and optimize conversion-focused UX/UI - Design scalable design systems that reduce chaos and speed execution - Ship production-ready front-end — concept to working code, including AI-assisted product and dev workflows - Partner with founders, product, and marketing to drive measurable growth - Translate business goals into clear, testable design decisions Typical outcomes: - Higher conversion and retention - Faster product velocity - Clear design direction across teams - Less rework, fewer bottlenecks, stronger execution A recent example: I rebuilt a behavioral-health platform's app alongside their CTO — core flows plus a design system — and I partner on an ongoing basis with an ad-tech SaaS on conversion-focused product work. How I work: most engagements start with a short, focused paid trial so we can prove the fit with zero risk, then move into an ongoing fractional partnership — senior design leadership and execution a few days a week, without a full-time hire. I work best with: - Founders and execs who care about growth, not pixels - SaaS and digital businesses in scale or pre-scale mode - Teams who need senior judgment, not micromanagement Ways to Work Together: Product Growth Audit — a focused review of your product's UX and conversion, delivered as prioritized, developer-ready recommendations. MVP Strategy + Prototype — product definition, user flows, UX, and a developer-ready prototype to get you building. Fractional Head of Design — ongoing embedded design leadership and execution for your team. If you're looking for a "designer," I'm probably not the right fit. If you want a design leader who thinks like an operator and executes like a builder, let's talk.