Faz Besharatian

About

Faz calls Washington, DC home, where he enjoys exploring the outdoors, traveling with his wife, and keeping up with Bruno the dog. When he’s not talking about himself in the third person, he’s diving into creative challenges, mentoring design teams, or geeking out with friends. Known for his approachable leadership style and knack for innovation, Faz thrives on building high-performing teams and delivering customer-focused solutions that drive business impact. For more than two decades, Faz has been at the forefront of design, helping organizations navigate change and leverage creativity to achieve meaningful outcomes. As a design leader, he blends strategic vision with deep expertise in design execution, making him uniquely suited to tackle challenges across industries like healthcare, financial services, and technology. His career spans iconic organizations like Kaiser Permanente, Fannie Mae, Fjord (Accenture), AOL, and AARP, where he’s led large-scale redesigns, built design capabilities from the ground up, and partnered across disciplines to solve intricate problems. Along the way, he’s remained committed to teaching design, sharing his expertise with students and peers since 2004. Faz’s approach is rooted in collaboration, empathy, and a relentless curiosity about what’s next. Whether transforming patient experiences, reimagining financial tools, or driving strategy for growth-stage products, he brings a unique mix of creative vision and operational excellence to every opportunity. If you’re looking for a leader who can shape the future of design while inspiring teams to reach their full potential, Faz is eager to connect.

Experience

• Design Director · Kaiser Permanente2022 – 2023

  Partnership with product management and development teams to create exceptional customer experiences. Led design transformation initiatives within healthcare sector, driving equitable awareness and access to education and care for patients. Mentored design teams and collaborated across disciplines to solve complex problems. Focused on optimizing product design from discovery to delivery, emphasizing accessibility and cross-functional decision-making.

• Fannie Mae · Fannie Mae2018 – 2022

  Drove innovation and supported the transformation of the enterprise by designing valuable experiences for consumers, industry stakeholders, and employees. Provided leadership and talent development to design and optimize business products, focusing on elevating maturity of the practice and expanding through enterprise-wide impact. Led efforts to advance company purpose and improve capabilities for reaching customers and consumers with flexible solutions.

• Senior Experience Designer · Fjord (Accenture Federal)2014 – 2016

  Led design teams in hybrid solutions that solve the tough challenges of service and experience design. Supported innovative approaches to design, using creative facilitation techniques and client engagement strategies. Focused on successful transformation efforts with a focus on government agencies and winning contracts.

• General Assembly User Experience Instructor · General Assembly2010 – 2014

  Taught core UX principles and design methodologies to aspiring designers. Conducted workshops and mentored students, focusing on practical skills and industry readiness.

• Sr Product Manager · Welocalize2011 – 2013

  Led efforts in translation and localization technology, focusing on workflow and efficiency improvements. Managed cross-functional teams and product development to enhance user experience and operational effectiveness.

• Design Director · AARP2007 – 2011

  Directed digital strategy and user experience for a large organization. Managed the expansion of online engagement and collaborated with cross-disciplinary teams to enhance member experience.

• Design Lead · Corcoran College of Art + Design2006 – 2007

  Led design projects and curricula development for the college's digital and print media programs.

• Principal Designer · AOL2005 – 2006

  Led design efforts for flagship digital products, focusing on user engagement and interface improvements.

• Design Manager · US Airways2004 – 2005

  Managed design team for airline branding and digital presence, improving customer experience.

• Web Designer · Terrapin Systems2003 – 2004

  Developed websites and web applications, focusing on usability and visual design.

• Art Director · marchFIRST2001 – 2003

  Directed creative projects for clients across various industries, leading teams in branding and digital campaigns.

Education

• University of MarylandBA, Graphic/Advertising Design
• Yale School of ManagementCertificate, Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders

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