Josh Zak

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Co-founder @ Turtle | Building Teams & Products with Impact 🌟

As the Co-founder of Turtle Design, I specialize in creating and nurturing world-class teams that craft exceptional products. With a rich background as an agency owner and investor, I bring a wealth of experience in creative direction, user experience, and digital strategy. My passion lies in developing flexible design programs tailored for dynamic companies across North America and Europe. Let's connect and explore how we can innovate together!

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Experience

Agency Owners
Co-Founder
Feb 2026 - Present
Agency Owners is a partner for independent agency leaders navigating scale, risk, and long-term optionality. We work closely with a small group of agencies to keep teams billable, reduce operational risk, and quietly prepare for growth or exit — without public signaling, hype, or generic advice. Built by experienced operators, Agency Owners focuses on practical outcomes for owners who want to run stronger, more resilient businesses over the long term.
- Co-founded Agency Owners to support independent agency leaders.
- Focused on reducing operational risk and preparing for growth or exit.
- Provided strategic advice and investment to enhance agency resilience.
- Built a network of agency leaders for collaboration and growth.
Obilazak
CEO, Co-founder
Jan 2026 - Present
Obilazak guides global access to Croatia’s most promising opportunities. As Croatia deepens EU integration and attracts growing international interest across key sectors, Obilazak explores where economic value is forming and builds the digital and strategic infrastructure to support it. Our work spans key growth areas including tourism, housing, talent, trade, energy, and innovation. We study these sectors through an investor and operator lens, mapping demand, constraints, and opportunity before they become widely recognized. Through open analysis, digital platforms, venture collaboration, and cross-border partnerships, we help investors, operators, and families understand how to engage with Croatia clearly and confidently. Obilazak exists to make participation in Croatia’s future accessible, informed, and aligned for those willing to engage early.
- Co-founded Obilazak to guide global investors in Croatia.
- Focused on key growth sectors like tourism and energy.
- Built strategic infrastructure to support economic value formation.
- Facilitated cross-border partnerships and venture collaborations.
UX Researcher
UX Research Recruiter
Sep 2023 - Present
Elevate your product with amazing UX Research Talent. We help fast-growing companies uncover insights that lead to better user experiences.
- Recruited UX Research talent for fast-growing companies.
- Developed strategies to integrate UX Research into teams.
- Facilitated insights that improved user experiences.
- Supported companies in understanding the value of UX Research.
Zaks Capital
General Partner, Co-founder
Sep 2019 - Present
Just a couple of investors turning ideas into assets.
- Co-founded Zaks Capital, focusing on turning ideas into assets.
- Led investment strategies and partnerships for startup growth.
- Developed a network of investors and entrepreneurs.
- Focused on impact investing and global expansion.
Turtle
Managing Director, Co-Founder
Jun 2016 - Present
Turtle is a design company with a unique focus on strategic team building. With exceptional global design talent and the expertise to enable their success, we work closely with ambitious companies to harness design for impact and scale. We don't get hung up on reductive project definitions or rigid scopes of work. Instead, our process is more of a promise: a thoughtful and agile design partnership that starts with 'yes' and evolves with you from there. If that sounds like something you could use, then we're glad you're here. _____________ Clients Include: Walmart, Nike, Meetup, EA, Mozilla, Glassdoor, Dapper Labs, Epic Games, TELUS, Transcarent, Mythical Games, Tempo, LifeLabs, Yahoo Finance, TechCrunch, Binance US, Flow Blockchain, Uniswap, and Peloton Plus a ton of awesome startups you probably haven't heard of (yet).
- Co-founded Turtle, focusing on building world-class design teams.
- Led strategic partnerships with major clients like Walmart, Nike, and Mozilla.
- Developed agile design processes that adapt to client needs.
- Guided the company to become a leader in design team building.
Turtle Talent
Design Talent Partner
Jun 2016 - Present
- Partnered with tech companies to build winning design teams.
- Focused on talent acquisition and team development.
- Collaborated with agency owners to explore growth opportunities.
- Enhanced business growth through strategic partnerships.
Electronic Arts (EA)
Experience Designer
Jun 2015 - Sep 2016
- EA is a leading global interactive entertainment software company.
- Role & Responsibilities:
- Designing content-driven responsive websites, Immersive experiences, and web apps
- Creating rapid prototypes to communicate motion & interaction targets
- Establishing a design system to align UX, visual, interaction patterns across EA web properties
- Partial Client List:
- Star Wars Battlefront, Galaxy of Heroes, Battlefield, The Sims, Titanfall, Need for Speed
EA SPORTS
User Interface Designer
Jun 2013 - May 2015
- EA SPORTS connects hundreds of millions of people with the sports they love through top-selling video game franchises.
- Role & Responsibilities:
- Lead UI designer for FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT) web app
- Lead UX/UI designer for EA SPORTS 2014 FIFA World Cup interactive bracket
- UX design for EA SPORTS NHL 2015
- Partial Client List:
- FIFA, EA SPORTS NHL, Madden NFL, NBA LIVE, EA SPORTS UFC
lululemon
Digital Designer
Dec 2012 - Jun 2013
- lululemon makes athletic clothes for all your sweaty pursuits.
- Role & Responsibilities:
- Designing enhancements to lululemon's eCommerce website
- Art directed brand photo & video shoots
- Supported external partner agencies, working on lululemon's online initiatives, with brand guidelines and objectives
Evans Hunt
Senior Designer
Apr 2012 - Jul 2012
- Evans Hunt is strategic digital agency that creates powerful experiences for some of the most famous brands in the world.
- Role & Responsibilities:
- Senior designer on the Shaw account (shaw.ca redesign)
- Collaborated with Jive’s development team to launch the Shaw Support Community
- Created digital style guide for Shaw web products
Critical Mass
Designer
Jan 2010 - Apr 2012
- Critical Mass, a Omnicom company, is a leading digital experience design agency.
- Role & Responsibilities:
- Designed award-winning digital experiences for Nissan USA & Infiniti USA
- Provided art direction to external vendors for automotive video & photo assets
- Created strategic presentations for new business proposals
- Partial Client List:
- Nissan, Infiniti, adidas
Invisible Children Inc.
Graphic Designer
Aug 2009 - Dec 2009
- Invisible Children inspires activism through the power of media.
- Role & Responsibilities:
- Graphic design for website, social media, and video content
- E-commerce product photographer and photo editor
- Supported agency partners with production of creative web assets
Mount Royal University
Digital Animation Instructor
Jun 2009 - Aug 2009
- MRU Kid's offers top-quality child and youth programs.
- Role & Responsibilities:
- Instructing on the fundamental concepts and tools of digital animation
- Development, implementation, and evaluation of program curriculum
- Supervising, managing, and encouraging all program participants
Community Futures Network of Alberta
Web Designer
Jan 2009 - Mar 2009
- Community Futures is a non-profit that provides loans, technical support, and skills training for entrepreneurs.
- Role & Responsibilities:
- Designed and developed websites for Community Futures partners
- Created promotional materials for local business development initiatives
- Managed digital content for Lethbridge region community websites
Kootenay Co-op
Graphic Designer
May 2007 - Jun 2007
The Kootenay Co-op is a full-service community-owned grocery store in Nelson, BC. With a strong focus on supporting local suppliers and providing natural + organic products, you can find all you need. Visit the Kootenay Co-op to experience what makes it unique – like a 100% organic produce department, a wide range of house-made products from bowls, wraps + salads, to house-smoked meats + sausages, and friendly + knowledgeable staff. Round out your trip to Nelson with a visit to this iconic store.
- Designed in-store displays promoting local growers.
- Enhanced visual identity to support local suppliers.
- Collaborated with marketing team to create engaging graphics.
- Contributed to the store's community-focused branding.