Rob Zinn

Rob Zinn began their career in 1996 as a Freelance Junior Designer at Ayse Birsel/Birsel Design. In 1997 they joined Anderson Design Associates as a Junior Designer, where they were responsible for developing highly conceptual products for clients such as Nike, Black & Decker, Gillette, Rubbermaid, and Stanley Tools. In 1998 they moved to TZ Design as a Lead Designer, creating advanced ergonomic seating designs and contributing to numerous award-winning contract furniture and lighting designs. In 2000, Rob began teaching core-curriculum undergraduate studio classes in Industrial Design at Pratt Institute. In 2004, they founded Blankblank, Inc. as the Founder, Owner, and Creative Director, responsible for goals, strategy, business development, research, engineering, manufacturing, pricing, marketing, collateral, advertising, photography, merchandising, retail and environmental experiences, online B2B and B2C, sustainable practices, inventory management, fulfillment and customer satisfaction. Rob directly managed all creative, production vendors, CAD, custom orders, prototyping and new product development. In 2012, Rob began lecturing and designing curriculum at the University of California - Davis. Rob taught Design Strategy course within the International Business Certificate Program in Innovation & Sustainability, instructed working professionals in utilizing user-centered design methods and creative approaches in the development, production, marketing and distribution of a unique and sustainable product or service, and designed and taught a three-week intensive Service Design Strategy Workshop to graduate students of the Japan Advanced Institute of Science & Technology. Rob also developed Object Design curriculum and lectured for three academic quarters, guiding fast-paced development of undergraduate students' innovative product concepts utilizing user-centered observation and research, industrial design processes, materials exploration, critiques, prototyping and presentations.

Rob Zinn attended Pratt Institute from 1993 to 1996, where they earned a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design.