Jake  Zien

Designer & Engineer

Now

  • The Shutterbug app icon: a glossy ladybug with a rainbow shell

    In beta

    Shutterbug

    I built a photo app for the way we really shoot: in bursts. Native app for Mac & iOS.

    Join the beta
  • A Gecko Robotics electronics module on an inspection robot, with cables plugged in

    Since 2023

    Gecko Robotics

    Robots and software for inspections in heavy industry. I lead design and contribute code for the software that helps customers understand and act on what the robots saw. First product design hire.

You also might know me from

  • Pivot Power: a white power strip of six rotating outlet segments, curled into a spiral

    2011

    Pivot Power

    “Inventor” of Quirky’s iconic bestseller. Included in the Cooper-Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum’s permanent collection; Red Dot Design Award 2012. Press: NYT, WSJ, Wired.

Previously

  • 2021-2023

    Culdesac

    Led design and contributed code for the digital experience of America’s first car-free neighborhood. Resident app, leasing system, maps and wayfinding, marketing website. First product design hire.

  • 2017-2021

    CBRE

    Led design for the commercial real estate behemoth’s first real enterprise app, and created CBRE Build, the brand for its in-house tech innovation team.

  • 2012-2017

    Floored

    Founding designer at the startup building 3D web tools for the commercial real estate industry. Design & code for enterprise apps and brand. Acquired by CBRE.

  • 2011-2012

    Stamped

    Founding designer at the social recommendations startup. Acquired by Yahoo.

Before that

  • 2007-2011

    RISD & Brown

    I studied Graphic Design and Computer Science through Rhode Island School of Design’s cross-registration program with Brown University.

  • Grew up in

    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    I grew up in beautiful Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and moved to New York City in 2011.