Hi, and thanks for stopping by.
I'm Pawel, a product design leader specializing in guiding the design process for C2C and B2C products. Currently, I serve as Product Design Director at Vinted, leveraging over 15 years of experience in the design field.
My journey spans startups, scale-ups, and established enterprises, where I've focused on building effective global teams and developing user-centered UX and product strategies.
In addition to my leadership role, I am a mentor, workshop facilitator, and speaker, dedicated to fostering growth and innovation within the design community.
Scroll down to read my resume.
PRODUCT DESIGN DIRECTOR
VINTED
since 2021
Berlin, Germany
As a Product Design Director at Vinted, I co-lead the Buyer Domain, overseeing a team of over 100 professionals. My responsibilities include co-creating the product strategy and integrating AI solutions to connect sellers' listings with buyers across multiple discovery channels along the buyer funnel. I ensure high-quality delivery by prioritizing a research strategy that maintains user centricity and supports data-driven decision-making.
I develop collaboration frameworks that unify product, design, content, research, and taxonomy design teams. Additionally, I lead change management processes to guide teams smoothly through transitions while keeping aligned with our long-term product vision. My focus is on building and maintaining geographically distributed, high-performing teams to drive growth and success.
HEAD OF PRODUCT DESIGN
ZENJOB
2020 - 2021
Berlin, Germany
At Zenjob, I embraced the challenge of building the design function from the ground up. This involved establishing and managing design teams across B2C and B2B streams, ensuring alignment with the company’s strategic objectives. Central to my role was embedding research deeply within the product lifecycle, making user insights a core component of development and optimization. I also prioritized building a strong product design culture, encouraging innovative collaboration with other functions to enhance overall user experiences. Additionally, I facilitated smoother design processes by transitioning our tools from Sketch to Figma, which supported greater efficiency and teamwork.
UX DESIGN LEAD
SCHIBSTED
2017- 2020
Oslo, Norway
At Schibsted Media, I led a design team within the Core News Product (CNP) organization, which marked my introduction to machine learning in product development. This role sparked my ongoing involvement with ML-driven products, as we focused on creating and optimizing tools to automate content distribution on the home pages of major news services in Norway and Sweden. Our aim was to enhance user experiences with personalized and relevant content. This experience allowed me to establish a unique approach to collaborating with ML engineers, fostering a design and collaboration culture adapted to this innovative environment.
Prior to this, at Schibsted Global Marketplace (now Adevinta), I played a part in creating global white-label solutions and optimizing key user journey elements, such as post-transactional peer ratings. By collaborating closely with the Global User Research team, I gained insights into the cultural differences among users across various regions. This understanding enabled us to tailor the product to cater to diverse user needs and preferences, while ensuring a consistent and coherent experience globally.
DIGITAL ART DIRECTOR
URBANARA
2016- 2017
Berlin, Germany
At URBANARA, an e-commerce homeware brand operating in Germany and the UK, I managed and grew a diverse design team responsible for UX/UI, branding, digital design, print design, and packaging. As the Art Director, I developed the brand vision and visual language, ensuring its consistency across all platforms. My responsibilities included overseeing photography production, managing outsourced projects, and briefing the design team, while also ensuring effective budget management. I played a key role in translating the brand's visual identity to offline stores and set strategic goals to foster my team’s skill development, ultimately enhancing the brand's impact.
DIGITAL ART DIRECTOR
VALMANO
2015- 2016
Berlin, Germany
At Valmano, a Berlin-based e-commerce platform, I led a team of UX and UI designers, driving key initiatives in mobile experience improvement, UI prototyping, and user flow analysis. My responsibilities also included managing TV advertising production, creating personas to better understand our customers, and providing art direction for photo shoots. Navigating a wide range of responsibilities with tight deadlines, I focused on strategic planning and effective leadership to ensure high-quality design outcomes and alignment with business objectives.
FREELANCE
ART & BRAND DIRECTION
2007- 2017
I ran and managed my own freelance graphic design studio. My client portfolio primarily consisted of cultural institutions and government organizations, including The Dramatic Theatre of the Capital City of Warsaw, Krystyna Janda’s Foundation for Culture, Institute of Industrial Design, Czech Centre Warsaw, Ethnographic Museum of Kraków, The Body/Mind Foundation, and Filmweb. Additionally, I undertook various projects for commercial clients, including Empik, Poland’s largest culture and design store. I also provided support to small companies in developing their brand identity.
ART DIRECTOR
4FRAME
I provided art direction for a 360˚Advertising and Brand Agency that served national and international corporate clients. My responsibilities encompassed package design for the FMCG market, designing point-of-sale (POS) materials, and collaborating with the creative team to develop both above-the-line (ATL) and below-the-line (BTL) campaigns.
2011
Warsaw, Poland
ART DIRECTOR
STAR ADV
At STAR ADV, a boutique 360˚ advertising and brand agency, I led creative initiatives for national and international corporate clients. My work involved collaborating with the team to design and execute materials for both above-the-line (ATL) and below-the-line (BTL) projects. These initiatives were primarily geared toward clients in the finance sector, pharmaceutical industry, and FMCG sector, emphasizing innovative campaigns that effectively communicated client brands and enhanced engagement.
2009-2011
Warsaw, Poland
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
SMARTFIX
In my first role as an In-House Designer at Smartfix, a commercial construction company, I laid the foundation for my career in the design industry. I was responsible for creating marketing materials and developing web-based design solutions to enhance the company's online presence and effectively engage our target audience. This position provided valuable insights into the practical application of design principles in a commercial context, establishing a solid base for my future endeavors in the field.
2008-2009
Sydney, Australia