Eduard Penkov
Product designer / Design Lead
ed.penkov@gmail.com
Eduard Penkov
Product designer / Design Lead
ed.penkov@gmail.com
Eduard Penkov
Product designer / Design Lead
ed.penkov@gmail.com
Product designer crafting products from 0→1 through scale.
Shipping fast, thinking systematically, and turning ambiguous problems into delightful products.
Product designer crafting products from 0→1 through scale.
Shipping fast, thinking systematically, and turning ambiguous problems into delightful products.
Product designer crafting products from 0→1 through scale.
Shipping fast, thinking systematically, and turning ambiguous problems into delightful products.
Product designer crafting products from 0→1 through scale.
Shipping fast, thinking systematically, and turning ambiguous problems into delightful products.
12+ years | 20M+ users impacted | YC & A16z portfolio experience
12+ years | 20M+ users impacted | YC & A16z portfolio experience
12+ years | 20M+ users impacted | YC & A16z portfolio experience
12+ years | 20M+ users impacted | YC & A16z portfolio experience
AURA
AURA
AURA
AURA
All-in-one platform for mental wellbeing and sleep
All-in-one platform for mental wellbeing and sleep
All-in-one platform for mental wellbeing and sleep
All-in-one platform for mental wellbeing and sleep
Lead Product Designer at Aura Health
Lead Product Designer at Aura Health
Lead Product Designer at Aura Health
Lead Product Designer at Aura Health
Led the design transformation from a meditation app to a mental health platform
Led the design transformation from a meditation app to a mental health platform
Led the design transformation from a meditation app to a mental health platform
Led the design transformation from a meditation app to a mental health platform
Over four years at Aura, I helped transform the product from a meditation app into a full-scale mental health platform.
Starting as a freelance designer, I grew into a Design & Product Lead, building and leading the design team, owning production processes, and driving the full product lifecycle from early concepts to shipped features.
Over four years at Aura, I helped transform the product from a meditation app into a full-scale mental health platform.
Starting as a freelance designer, I grew into a Design & Product Lead, building and leading the design team, owning production processes, and driving the full product lifecycle from early concepts to shipped features.
Over four years at Aura, I helped transform the product from a meditation app into a full-scale mental health platform.
Starting as a freelance designer, I grew into a Design & Product Lead, building and leading the design team, owning production processes, and driving the full product lifecycle from early concepts to shipped features.
Over four years at Aura, I helped transform the product from a meditation app into a full-scale mental health platform.
Starting as a freelance designer, I grew into a Design & Product Lead, building and leading the design team, owning production processes, and driving the full product lifecycle from early concepts to shipped features.
Best of Apple award
App Store Rating:
Best of Apple award
App Store Rating:
Best of Apple award
App Store Rating:
Best of Apple award
App Store Rating:
4.9
9x user growth
Active users:
9x user growth
Active users:
9x user growth
Active users:
9x user growth
Active users:
8mm
Investments
Raised:
Investments
Raised:
Investments
Raised:
Investments
Raised:
$10.2mm
Supported
Languages:
Supported
Languages:
Supported
Languages:
Supported
Languages:
6
United Fight Championship
United Fight Championship
United Fight Championship
TV, website and mobile app
TV, website and mobile app
Product Designer at Fantasy interactive
Product Designer at Fantasy interactive
Product Designer at Fantasy interactive
Product Designer at Fantasy interactive
Designed the UFC digital ecosystem from the ground up, driving engagement, subscriptions, and growth
Designed the UFC digital ecosystem from the ground up, driving engagement, subscriptions, and growth
Designed the UFC digital ecosystem from the ground up, driving engagement, subscriptions, and growth
Designed the UFC digital ecosystem from the ground up, driving engagement, subscriptions, and growth
I was privileged to be part of the Fantasy team, working on the design of the UFC website, app, and TV experience.
Over 27 weeks, we delivered 724 screens, collaborating closely with UFC leadership and reimagining how fans engage with live events and athletes.
This was a real production project for a client, not a concept.
I was privileged to be part of the Fantasy team, working on the design of the UFC website, app, and TV experience.
Over 27 weeks, we delivered 724 screens, collaborating closely with UFC leadership and reimagining how fans engage with live events and athletes.
This was a real production project for a client, not a concept.
I was privileged to be part of the Fantasy team, working on the design of the UFC website, app, and TV experience.
Over 27 weeks, we delivered 724 screens, collaborating closely with UFC leadership and reimagining how fans engage with live events and athletes.
This was a real production project for a client, not a concept.
I was privileged to be part of the Fantasy team, working on the design of the UFC website, app, and TV experience.
Over 27 weeks, we delivered 724 screens, collaborating closely with UFC leadership and reimagining how fans engage with live events and athletes.
This was a real production project for a client, not a concept.
Mobile user
engagement:
Mobile user
engagement:
Mobile user
engagement:
Mobile user
engagement:
+100%
UFC.TV
subscriptions:
UFC.TV
subscriptions:
UFC.TV
subscriptions:
UFC.TV
subscriptions:
+50%
Overall desktop
sessions:
Overall desktop
sessions:
Overall desktop
sessions:
Overall desktop
sessions:
+65%
Time spent
on athlete pages:
Time spent
on athlete pages:
Time spent
on athlete pages:
Time spent
on athlete pages:
+600%
DISTILL
DISTILL
AI-powered B2B SaaS platform for people and company discovery
AI-powered B2B SaaS platform for people and company discovery
Founding Designer at Distill
Founding Designer at Distill
Founding Designer at Distill
Founding Designer at Distill
0→1 Product foundations at the intersection of AI, engineering, and business
0→1 Product foundations at the intersection of AI, engineering, and business
0→1 Product foundations at the intersection of AI, engineering, and business
0→1 Product foundations at the intersection of AI, engineering, and business
I worked directly with founders Russ Heddleston (3x founder, ex-VP at Dropbox and Meta) and Tim Su (YC alum, former Yahoo and Palantir) on an AI-powered platform for discovering people and companies, blending elements of Wikipedia and LinkedIn with AI-driven search and agent-based workflows, backed by a16z.
I partnered with the engineering team to design and ship core AI-driven features, including AI search, AI-generated people and company profiles, Gmail integrations, and outreach workflows. In parallel, I established the visual language and design system across product and marketing, and ran user research and usability testing to inform product decisions.
I worked directly with founders Russ Heddleston (3x founder, ex-VP at Dropbox and Meta) and Tim Su (YC alum, former Yahoo and Palantir) on an AI-powered platform for discovering people and companies, blending elements of Wikipedia and LinkedIn with AI-driven search and agent-based workflows, backed by a16z.
I partnered with the engineering team to design and ship core AI-driven features, including AI search, AI-generated people and company profiles, Gmail integrations, and outreach workflows. In parallel, I established the visual language and design system across product and marketing, and ran user research and usability testing to inform product decisions.
I worked directly with founders Russ Heddleston (3x founder, ex-VP at Dropbox and Meta) and Tim Su (YC alum, former Yahoo and Palantir) on an AI-powered platform for discovering people and companies, blending elements of Wikipedia and LinkedIn with AI-driven search and agent-based workflows, backed by a16z.
I partnered with the engineering team to design and ship core AI-driven features, including AI search, AI-generated people and company profiles, Gmail integrations, and outreach workflows. In parallel, I established the visual language and design system across product and marketing, and ran user research and usability testing to inform product decisions.
I worked directly with founders Russ Heddleston (3x founder, ex-VP at Dropbox and Meta) and Tim Su (YC alum, former Yahoo and Palantir) on an AI-powered platform for discovering people and companies, blending elements of Wikipedia and LinkedIn with AI-driven search and agent-based workflows, backed by a16z.
I partnered with the engineering team to design and ship core AI-driven features, including AI search, AI-generated people and company profiles, Gmail integrations, and outreach workflows. In parallel, I established the visual language and design system across product and marketing, and ran user research and usability testing to inform product decisions.
Global
pivots
Global
pivots
Global
pivots
Global
pivots
3
User interviews conducted/analyzed:
User interviews conducted/analyzed:
250+
DS components & tokens:
DS components & tokens:
1000+
Reduced engineering handoff time by:
Reduced engineering handoff time by:
50%
DISTILL
DISTILL
DISTILL
AI-powered B2B SaaS search & outreach platform for people and companies
AI-powered B2B SaaS search & outreach platform for people and companies
Windy App
Windy App
Windy App
#5 weather app in appstore
#5 weather app in appstore
Product Designer at Windy
Product Designer at Windy
Product Designer at Windy
Product Designer at Windy
From complex weather data to intuitive experiences for professionals and enthusiasts, supporting product-market fit
From complex weather data to intuitive experiences for professionals and enthusiasts, supporting product-market fit
From complex weather data to intuitive experiences for professionals and enthusiasts, supporting product-market fit
From complex weather data to intuitive experiences for professionals and enthusiasts, supporting product-market fit
I led a full redesign of the Windy app, a data-heavy weather platform for air, water, and snow sports used by 11M+ people worldwide.
I reworked core user flows and information architecture, introduced a design system, and added features for both professional and enthusiast users, resulting in a more usable and scalable product and contributing to ~40% user growth across mobile and web.
I led a full redesign of the Windy app, a data-heavy weather platform for air, water, and snow sports used by 11M+ people worldwide.
I reworked core user flows and information architecture, introduced a design system, and added features for both professional and enthusiast users, resulting in a more usable and scalable product and contributing to ~40% user growth across mobile and web.
I led a full redesign of the Windy app, a data-heavy weather platform for air, water, and snow sports used by 11M+ people worldwide.
I reworked core user flows and information architecture, introduced a design system, and added features for both professional and enthusiast users, resulting in a more usable and scalable product and contributing to ~40% user growth across mobile and web.
I led a full redesign of the Windy app, a data-heavy weather platform for air, water, and snow sports used by 11M+ people worldwide.
I reworked core user flows and information architecture, introduced a design system, and added features for both professional and enthusiast users, resulting in a more usable and scalable product and contributing to ~40% user growth across mobile and web.
Increase in DAU/MAU
Increase in DAU/MAU
+20–40%
Increase in paid subscriptions
Increase in paid subscriptions
~10–25%
Increase in sharing activity
Increase in sharing activity
3x
Lower acquisition costs through organic growth
Lower acquisition costs through organic growth
Other works
Numi (Y-Combinator)
This is me and the team at Apple headquarters, reviewing our project for Apple Vision Pro.
Numi (Y-Combinator)
This is me and the team at Apple headquarters, reviewing our project for Apple Vision Pro.
Numi (Y-Combinator)
This is me and the team at Apple headquarters, reviewing our project for Apple Vision Pro.
Higharch
A 3D building design interface for generating permit-ready construction documents, supporting a successful $53M Series B funding round.
Higharch
A 3D building design interface for generating permit-ready construction documents, supporting a successful $53M Series B funding round.
Higharch
A 3D building design interface for generating permit-ready construction documents, supporting a successful $53M Series B funding round.
Inkshares
Collaborated with the company’s CEO, Adam, to rework the platform for editing and distributing authors’ books.
Inkshares
Collaborated with the company’s CEO, Adam, to rework the platform for editing and distributing authors’ books.
Inkshares
Collaborated with the company’s CEO, Adam, to rework the platform for editing and distributing authors’ books.
Universe Sandbox
Helped design the interface for one of the most scientifically accurate universe simulators.
Universe Sandbox
Helped design the interface for one of the most scientifically accurate universe simulators.
Universe Sandbox
Helped design the interface for one of the most scientifically accurate universe simulators.
Worked with Fantasy Interactive on part of the design work for a digital ecosystem for one of the world’s largest cruise ship operators.
Worked with Fantasy Interactive on part of the design work for a digital ecosystem for one of the world’s largest cruise ship operators.
Worked with Fantasy Interactive on part of the design work for a digital ecosystem for one of the world’s largest cruise ship operators.
Me and the team at Apple headquarters, reviewing our project for Apple Vision Pro.
Numi (Y-Combinator)
Me and the team at Apple headquarters, reviewing our project for Apple Vision Pro.
Numi (Y-Combinator)
I’ve been crafting a 3D building design interface that generates permit-ready construction documents and helping with a successful $53M Series B funding round.
Higharch
I’ve been crafting a 3D building design interface that generates permit-ready construction documents and helping with a successful $53M Series B funding round.
Higharch
UI Design for one of the biggest mobile games in MOBA genre
Inkshares
UI Design for one of the biggest mobile games in MOBA genre
Inkshares
I helped design the interface for one of the most scientifically accurate universe simulators.
Universe Sandbox
I helped design the interface for one of the most scientifically accurate universe simulators.
Universe Sandbox
I participated in one of the design stages with Fantasy Interactive, working on an ecosystem for one of the world's biggest cruise ship operators.
Royal Caribbean
I participated in one of the design stages with Fantasy Interactive, working on an ecosystem for one of the world's biggest cruise ship operators.
Royal Caribbean
personal projects
ROW
ROW
ROW
Side project
Side project
Side project
I started Row as a Webflow widget/script that allowed anyone to build comment sections and simple social features. After receiving positive feedback, the idea evolved into a broader tool for creating fully customizable social apps: chats, support widgets, interest-based communities, or entirely unique communiсaction spaces. The long-term vision included AI-powered content/users moderation and web3 infrastructure for extra security and ownership.
The project was accepted into the Frank and the Backs startup accelerator supported by the Dutch government.
I started Row as a Webflow widget/script that allowed anyone to build comment sections and simple social features. After receiving positive feedback, the idea evolved into a broader tool for creating fully customizable social apps: chats, support widgets, interest-based communities, or entirely unique communiсaction spaces. The long-term vision included AI-powered content/users moderation and web3 infrastructure for extra security and ownership.
The project was accepted into the Frank and the Backs startup accelerator supported by the Dutch government.
I started Row as a Webflow widget/script that allowed anyone to build comment sections and simple social features. After receiving positive feedback, the idea evolved into a broader tool for creating fully customizable social apps: chats, support widgets, interest-based communities, or entirely unique communiсaction spaces. The long-term vision included AI-powered content/users moderation and web3 infrastructure for extra security and ownership.
The project was accepted into the Frank and the Backs startup accelerator supported by the Dutch government.
I started Row as a Webflow widget/script that allowed anyone to build comment sections and simple social features. After receiving positive feedback, the idea evolved into a broader tool for creating fully customizable social apps: chats, support widgets, interest-based communities, or entirely unique communiсaction spaces. The long-term vision included AI-powered content/users moderation and web3 infrastructure for extra security and ownership.
The project was accepted into the Frank and the Backs startup accelerator supported by the Dutch government.
Motion × UI
Motion × UI
Motion × UI
Explorations in visual effects design for user interface
Explorations in visual effects design for user interface
Explorations in visual effects design for user interface
Explorations in visual effects design for user interface
Modular synthesis, Touch Designer and Generative art
Modular synthesis, Touch Designer and Generative art
Modular synthesis, Touch Designer and Generative art
My interest in sound design and experimental music production brought me into modular synthesis, a hardware form of node-based logic. I later expanded it into generative systems in TouchDesigner, combining audio and AI visuals to push my creative boundaries and explore new directions in digital space.
My interest in sound design and experimental music production brought me into modular synthesis, a hardware form of node-based logic. I later expanded it into generative systems in TouchDesigner, combining audio and AI visuals to push my creative boundaries and explore new directions in digital space.
My interest in sound design and experimental music production brought me into modular synthesis, a hardware form of node-based logic. I later expanded it into generative systems in TouchDesigner, combining audio and AI visuals to push my creative boundaries and explore new directions in digital space.
My interest in sound design and experimental music production brought me into modular synthesis, a hardware form of node-based logic. I later expanded it into generative systems in TouchDesigner, combining audio and AI visuals to push my creative boundaries and explore new directions in digital space.
SOUND!
SOUND!
SOUND!
SOUND!
About me
Born in a small Russian town, I later spent years as a digital nomad, living in 20+ countries around the world (six of them long-term). Today, I’m mostly based in SF or NYC, USA.
I hold a Master’s degree in Architecture and Construction Engineering. My interest in architecture started early: as a teenager I worked part-time on construction sites and studied steel structures. Over time, travel became a way to explore design, the iconic works of contemporary architects were always my first stop.
I hold a Master’s degree in Architecture and Construction Engineering. My interest in architecture started early: as a teenager I worked part-time on construction sites and studied steel structures. Over time, travel became a way to explore design, the iconic works of contemporary architects were always my first stop.
I hold a Master’s degree in Architecture and Construction Engineering. My interest in architecture started early: as a teenager I worked part-time on construction sites and studied steel structures. Over time, travel became a way to explore design, the iconic works of contemporary architects were always my first stop.
Lets do something great together!
Lets do something great together!
Lets do something great together!