My name is Ziya Danishmend. I’m a New Yorker, born in Japan (maybe not quite a true New Yorker) and the proud father of two fellow humans.
I am a product design leader and strategist who thrives at the intersection of AI and human-centered design. I believe in the transformative power of design—not only to improve products and services, but to shape how we live, learn, and connect.
I’ve built my career across startups, agencies, publishing, and consulting firms, leading teams through digital transformation and product innovation. I started my career in product design as an intern at Microsoft working with the Advanced Technologies team under Nathan Myhrvold. There I designed the UI and storytelling pathways for some very early prototypes for interactive television. At Dotdash Meredith, I served as Vice President of Design, AI, & Innovation, where I led a small team that launched the People magazine app—reaching #1 in the App Store—and developed AI-driven experiences that increased engagement across health and finance brands. At Dow Jones, I guided UX transformation for The Wall Street Journal and sister brands, strengthening subscription growth and redesigning digital experiences for millions of readers. Earlier, at Oliver Wyman’s Innovation Studio, I led C-level workshops and built frameworks that helped Fortune 50 clients imagine and deliver new products and services.
Along the way, I’ve created tools like Arcadia, an AI-powered customer insights platform that drove $25M in new business at Havas, and facilitated over 100 design thinking workshops for global clients. My work blends strategy, research, and creativity to help organizations embrace change and design for the future.
Before stepping into design leadership, I spent nearly a decade as a photojournalist and editor, learning firsthand the impact of storytelling. I cut my teeth on the ground during the civil war in Beirut, Lebanon and worked as a photo editor in Paris during the first Gulf War. That grounding in narrative still shapes how I design today—with empathy, curiosity, hope and a deeply held belief that people are at the center of every meaningful solution.
I’ve lived and worked abroad for much of my life, which has deepened my perspective and reinforced my conviction that the best design draws from diverse voices and cultures.