PAUL ZDANOWICZ | Executive Creative Director | paul@pzcreative.com | LinkedIn

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Creative executive and design leader with 20+ years of experience driving impact across tech, media, and education. I’ve led high-performing teams, launched award-winning products, and built scalable brand systems for companies ranging from startups to global enterprises.

I connect creative strategy to business goals, bring simplicity to complex challenges, and lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver work that performs—on screen, in product, and in market.

CORE STRENGTHS

Creative Direction • Team Leadership & Mentorship • Brand Identity Systems • Interactive Media & App Design • UI/UX Design • Cross-Functional Collaboration • Storytelling • Strategic Thinking • Product Design • Packaging Design • Marketing Campaigns • Communication & Presentation • Project Management • End-to-End Video Production • Adobe Creative Suite • Design Ops & Workflow Optimization • Partnering with Dev Teams • Building Energized, Collaborative Creative Cultures

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

LinkedIn – New York, NY
Head of Creative, Go-To-Market Team // 2021–Present

• Lead the Go-To-Market Creative Team within LinkedIn’s Sales Solutions org, connecting creative strategy directly to business outcomes.

• Oversee brand and content development for initiatives that bring products to market, accelerate sales, and support global sales teams.

• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure messaging is clear, consistent, and aligned with business needs.

• Build and mentor a centralized creative team across design, copywriting, and strategy.

• Champion simplicity, clarity, and creativity at scale.

Unruly Studios – Boston, MA
Creative Advisor // 2022
Chief Creative Officer // 2018–2021

• Executive leadership team member.

• Designed the block-based coding app that connects to Unruly's physical product, enabling active play and coding.

• Managed the product and software team from concept to launch.

• Led the brand’s shift from retail to education, adapting the product for classroom use and driving new revenue opportunities.

• Built and directed a multidisciplinary creative team handling UI/UX, packaging, video, print, and interactive content.

• Designed the Unruly brand identity and created a real-time interactive leaderboard for national school competitions.

Tiggly – New York, NY
Chief Creative Officer // 2013–2017

• Executive leadership team member.

• Built and directed a high-performing creative team across design, programming, and animation.

• Created 12 award-winning learning apps and a landmark partnership with Sesame Workshop.

• Designed interactive in-store displays and packaging featured in Apple, Target, and Best Buy retail stores.

• Drove brand development that supported a successful $4M Series A funding round.

Nickelodeon / Curious Pictures – New York, NY
Lead Designer, Team Umizoomi // 2009–2013

• Directed design team for hit preschool series.

• Designed key backgrounds and characters.

• Managed design production schedules and asset delivery.

Disney Junior / Nickelodeon / Little Airplane Productions – New York, NY
Lead Designer & Art Department // 2005–2009

• Led design for The Wonder Pets (Nickelodeon) and Go, Baby! (Disney Junior).

• Directed teams, designed characters and backgrounds, and managed production timelines.

Sesame Workshop / Noggin – New York, NY
Art Director, Pinky Dinky Doo // 2004–2005

• Developed visual style in collaboration with creator Jim Jinkins.

• Directed animation and design teams.

• Managed production delivery and quality.

Disney / MTV – New York, NY
Art Department & Supervision // 1997–2003

• Disney: Stanley, Doug’s First Movie, Brand Spanking New Doug, 101 Dalmatians (TV)

• MTV: Spy Groove, Daria, Head Trip

EDUCATION

School of Visual Arts – New York, NY
BFA, Illustration // 1995–1999