About me.
better is more
I’m a licensed architect and design strategist with a decade of experience leading award-winning projects across architecture, digital products, and service systems. My work has spanned $80M+ developments, healthcare platforms, ESG dashboards, and retail innovation tools—all united by a common thread: design that drives results.
What sets my work apart is the integration of strategic thinking, systems-level execution, and user-centered design to solve complex challenges. I don’t just deliver well-designed products—I align them with business goals, unlock team clarity, and ensure that every solution is both meaningful and measurable.
Now completing my Master of Design Methods, I’m focused on helping organizations turn insight into action—through product strategy, innovation leadership, and cross-functional collaboration. I build with intention, lead with empathy, and measure success by the value created for both users and the business.
Core Competencies
Strategic Design Leadership
Drive design as a measurable business function—integrating user insights, market analysis, and product strategy to create competitive advantage.
Product Strategy
Customer Insights
Business Design
Competitive analysis
"On top of his design skills, he, more importantly - in my opinion, succeeds in leading a team in a way that makes you feel heard, respected, and challenged."
Hannah Koziol, Project Architect (EXP)
Product & Service Innovation
Lead cross-functional teams to craft solutions that align user needs with business goals across digital and physical platforms.
Product Management
Innovation Strategy
Service Design
Experience Design
"His design thinking was pivotal in delivering innovative solutions that addressed both user needs and business objectives… a leader who combines innovation with effective execution."
Shuang Jiang, Partner (Variation Design)
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Break down silos between design, engineering, and business to deliver cohesive, scalable, and user-centered solutions, through facilitation.
Stakeholder Management
Team Leadership
Product Delivery
Agile Methodologies
"His ability to understand and spot obscure design issues and implement solutions during the development and construction stages of highly complicated projects was an extraordinary asset for our team."
Pablo Diaz, Principal (ParkFowler+)
Operational Excellence & Delivery
Translate strategy into execution—aligning stakeholders, managing risk, and delivering outcomes with precision and impact.
Project Management
Strategic Roadmapping
Go-to-Market Strategy
Risk Management
"One memorable project involved unexpected technical challenges at a critical deadline. Zubair quickly developed creative solutions while managing stakeholder expectations with clarity and poise."
Michael Comiskey, Associate Architect (GREC)
Work Experience
DEC 2022 · sep 2024
Project Manager + Project Architect
GREC Architects
I led large-scale projects from concept to delivery, balancing design, user experience, and business priorities. By implementing data-driven quality assurance and agile roadmapping, I reduced rework by 15% and improved decision-making speed by 20%, delivering $136M+ in complex developments on time and within budget.
APR 2019 · DEC 2022
Project Architect
Brininstool + Lynch Architects
I translated user insights into award-winning experiences, leading design strategy and execution on hospitality and mixed-use projects. My leadership drove 10% cost savings on a multi-million-dollar build while improving documentation accuracy and team efficiency—proving that design excellence and business outcomes go hand-in-hand.
AIA's 2020 Firm of the Year
2022 AIA Design Excellence Award
SEP 2020 · APR 2022
Architect
R2L Architects Inc.
I integrated complex systems across residential and commercial towers, aligning engineering, compliance, and user needs. By rethinking workflows and regulatory roadmaps, I accelerated approvals by 20% and reduced errors—unlocking faster market launches and increased project efficiency.
june 2015 · Apr 2019
Architectural Designer
Aria + Jurassic Studio
I engaged the full design lifecycle of 24+ hospitality projects, leveraging customer journey mapping and strategic storytelling to improve guest experiences and secure a 90% client approval rate. My product-focused approach increased client retention by 10%, proving the business value of design.
Education
Aug 2024 · May 2025
Master's of Science - Strategic Design Leadership
Product + Innovation Strategy
Institute of Design's MDM executive master’s program for established professionals, equipped to propel the organization forward with the latest design methods. Use design to see, and build, what’s next.
Aug 2010 · May 2015
Bachelor's of Architecture
IIT - College of Architecture
Magna Cum Laude
2014 Samuel Horwitz Award Winner
Licences & Certificates
Feb 2025
Product Management & Strategy
Wharton Executive Education
Product Strategy & Competitive Positioning, Customer-Centric Innovation, Agile & Execution + Commercialization & Growth
DEC 2024
Google Business Intelligence
Google - Coursera
Creating processes that transform data into actionable insights to inform business decisions, building dashboards that meet stakeholders needs.
July 2024
Google UX Design
Google - Coursera
May 2020
Licensed Architect
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation