Building & Training an Elite Design Team | CDO Yappy 2021-2023

Daria Zorina

Brand Designer
UX Researcher
Product Designer

Development of the Design Department at Yappy Media (2001 - December 2023)

(Gazprom Media Holding, Yappy platform for UGC content, the Russian TikTok alternative)
Over the course of two years, I founded and developed the design department at Yappy Media, growing it into three distinct divisions:
UX/UI Design: I established the product design team responsible for the app itself and internal CRM systems. I structured the workflow, ensuring designer involvement from the discovery process to design systems. I implemented performance metrics and KPIs for designers, with all features requiring my approval.
Brand Design: I created the brand and media design department, leading the development of Yappy’s branding. This included the creation of advertising visuals, sales presentations, and media campaigns.
Additionally, I founded and led the UX Research Department, playing a key role in data-driven decision-making for product development and design strategies.
One of my most significant contributions was the early adoption of AI tools in 2022. I trained the teams in these tools, which not only sped up processes but also addressed the challenge of losing access to international design resources and stock platforms, a problem for Russian companies.
In December 2023, I stepped down as Chief Design Officer at Yappy Media, largely due to my desire to relocate from Russia.
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