Anthropologist.
UX Designer.
Human.
Designing for people. Designing for good.
A unique way of thinking.
As a UX designer, I’m designing solutions for products that cater to users for a more holistic experience.
Coming from a background in business anthropology, my focus is on studying people in order to find ways that businesses can solve everyday problems and conducting the research necessary to get deeper insights.
Having worked with TechTown Detroit as a consultant, I helped people take their business ideas through the research and design process to develop an MVP for an investment pitch.
With this, I aim to take insights from research and use them to help me design not only a good product, but a truly human centered product.
I grew up in a multicultural home, navigating two distinct worlds. Beyond language, I translated actions, meanings, and culture. This shaped my drive to understand others, with empathy as my greatest tool.
CareerFoundry equipped me with the skills to excel in UX design—identifying user needs, translating insights into designs, and refining through testing. I aim to do more than research or design; I want to make a real impact on people's lives.
I earned an M.A. in Business and Organizational Anthropology from Wayne State University, specializing in ethnographic research—an invaluable skill for market and UX research. I transitioned to UX design to align business goals with user needs, ensuring designs are research-driven and user-focused. By asking the right questions, conducting high-quality research, and collaborating with others, I create validated, high-quality products.
I'm passionate about deeply understanding people and their needs. My work drives both my career and my broader understanding of the world. I strive to uncover problems, empathize, and find ways to help. I've applied this as an ALA at Delta Air Lines, leading teams in aircraft operations, as a Customer Discovery Specialist guiding entrepreneurs through research and MVP development, and in everyday interactions.
This highlights my work and academic experience, but not who I am. I’m a violinist who plays to escape, a language enthusiast fascinated by linguistic connections, and an artist who finds solace in both creating and observing. The Detroit Institute of Art is my refuge, and northern Michigan’s Great Lakes region is one of my favorite places in the world. I love meeting people, collaborating to solve problems, and learning their stories. As a social person, anthropology and UX design feel natural—fields where I can thrive by understanding people and their experiences.
“Zach’s ability to analyze both primary and secondary data sources has greatly benefited our team combined with his capacity for synthesizing complex information into actionable insights. From the start, Zach demonstrated to be proactive team-oriented person with an open attitude, he was able to quickly adapt to a new environment, learn new tools, and deliver quality work with tight deadlines.
I have been impressed with the way Zach communicates with our team and how he was able to provide fact-based information to our clients including main sources for additional research, key to foster trust and credibility for market research projects.”
— Natasha Pongonis, Nativa Marketing