I am a highly driven Digital Design Leader based in New York City with over 15 years of experience in delivering exceptional design and strategy for top global brands at award-winning agencies and in-house teams.

I have extensive experience leading teams, enhancing user experiences, and managing the product design lifecycle—from planning to implementation. I excel in mentoring talent and leveraging emerging design trends. My expertise includes delivering impactful client presentations and leading design initiatives, with a strong commitment to cross-functional collaboration and elevating design excellence.

I’m an Executive Director, Experience Design at JPMorganChase.

Previously, I was a Director of Product Design at FCB Health NY in the Experience Design (XD) Department. I managed and mentored a high-performing team of Product Design Leads, Senior, Mid-Level, and Junior Designers, and oversaw product design for over 15 major multi-million-dollar accounts, including Pfizer, GSK, and Novartis. I led the end-to-end design for Pfizer’s PAXLOVID DTC and HCP websites, a first-in-market antiviral medication in the COVID-19 space, from Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) through FDA approval launches and received over 6.5 million visits.

Prior to FCB, I was the Associate Creative Director, Product Design at Case Agency, where I led digital design for e-commerce sites of luxury brands, including Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty. Before that, I designed for Digitas on the American Express account, leading creative development for B2B and B2C initiatives. I was the Digital Art Director, Product Design at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts where I led website and app design. I also led design and creative direction for humanitarian projects at the United Nations, integrating mission footage from journalists, filmmakers, and producers in conflict zones and disaster areas into digital products and campaigns, including World Humanitarian Day and digital campaigns for the Syria Team.

Earlier in my career, I was the Art Director of Advertising at Penguin Random House (Knopf), where I led ad campaigns for various media, including TV, web, mobile, OOH, and social. I worked on campaigns for bestselling authors like EL James’ 50 Shades of Grey, Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, The Lost Symbol and other notable authors like Bill Clinton, Haruki Murakami and Toni Morrison.

I’ve recently been chosen as a product design mentor for the 2024 AIGA NY Mentorship Program. In this role, I help mentees advance their careers, boost their confidence, unlock their potential, and embrace leadership.

I’m actively involved with The One Club for Creativity, AIGA NY, MoMA, The Whitney, and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum and CreativeMornings/New York. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling to remote locations for landscape and wildlife photography and play the cello with an orchestra in Manhattan on weekends.

TOOLS:

Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, Zeplin, Miro, Mural, Neurons AI, Stark, Workfront, Ziflow, Trello, Basecamp, Jira, Notion, Office365, Keynote, Google Analytics, Google Docs

SAY HELLO:

mlp@meredithpahoulis.com | LinkedIn

“I had the privilege of working under Meredith as a Lead Product Designer on her team at FCB Health NY for approximately 18 months. During this time, I witnessed firsthand her exceptional leadership, design expertise, and dedication to fostering both team and individual growth.

Meredith managed a robust team of over 15 members, comprising both visual and UX designers. Her deep design background was instrumental in setting a high standard of excellence for the work her team delivered. Her commitment to producing well-designed, accessible, and user-focused products consistently elevated the quality of the team’s output.

What stood out most about Meredith was her ability to nurture talent. She invested significant time and effort into mentoring junior designers, guiding them to become well-rounded professionals ready for future success. Her patient and individualized approach helped team members identify and work toward their own career aspirations, creating a supportive and empowering environment.

Beyond her internal leadership, Meredith excelled in collaboration. She worked seamlessly with both internal and external teams and clients, ensuring that her team’s solutions not only met client expectations but also upheld the agency’s reputation for excellence. Her strategic and empathetic approach resulted in work that consistently delighted clients and bolstered the agency’s standing.

Working with Meredith was an inspiring and rewarding experience. She embodies the qualities of a strong, empathetic, and visionary leader, and her influence has left a lasting impact on both my career and the careers of many others. I wholeheartedly recommend her for any role where exceptional leadership and design expertise are valued.”

—Indrajeet Chandrachud, Associate Director, Product Design - Area23 | An IPG AGENCY

Indrajeet “Indy” reported directly into me at FCB Health

“It is with great enthusiasm that I recommend Meredith. I had the privilege of being hired by her and working under her leadership during a very formative time in my career. Meredith’s expertise and guidance was an outstanding introduction to the industry, and her influence has left a lasting impression on my professional development.

Meredith excels in leading digital projects. She is able to translate complex goals into actionable strategies and help ensure a smooth process with excellent results. Her collaborative approach fosters a positive environment where team members feel valued and empowered to contribute their best work.

As a manager, Meredith balances clear communication and thoughtful delegation with a strong understanding of her team's strengths, driving productivity and collaboration. She is able to mentor and inspire her team, particularly due to her own depth of skill with design, helping to cultivate growth and innovation.

Meredith possesses a deep appreciation for great design and a real commitment to elevating the quality of a project. She is a true advocate for creative excellence. Her passion for design is contagious, raising the standard for everyone around her. Going above and beyond, often she would share examples of great design and inspiration found in her day-to-day life, and relate them to our current work. Always unique and interesting, this helped our team think outside of the box and keep our style both contemporary and innovative.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have worked with Meredith. Any team or organization would be fortunate to have her, and I whole heartedly recommend her.”

—Tim WahL, Product Designer - FCB Health New York | An IPG AGENCY

Tim was on my team at FCB Health

“I had the privilege of working with Meredith at FCB Health NY, and she was a great leader to collaborate with and led the team I was on. Meredith excelled in leading digital projects, combining strategic vision with technical expertise to deliver high-impact solutions that consistently exceeded expectations.

As the Director of our team, Meredith fostered a collaborative, open environment where every team member’s voice was valued. Her ability to unite cross-functional teams and drive seamless collaboration was instrumental to our success. Meredith also had a keen eye for design and always pushed the team to deliver high-quality, user-centered solutions that elevated every project.

If you have the opportunity to work with Meredith, I recommend it. She is a thoughtful, results-driven leader who brings out the best in her team while maintaining a strong focus on quality and innovation.”

—Micah Allen, Product Designer - FCB Health New York | An IPG AGENCY

Micah was on my team at FCB Health

“Meredith and I have a great working relationship, having collaborated on a number of successful brand launches at FCB Health. Her expertise and experience leading digital projects made partnering with her, and the talented team she built, an easy fit. We worked closely together, communicating regularly, as we coordinated multiple projects, across internal groups and outside vendors. Her dedication to thoughtful solutions and high-quality design, ensured that we consistently delivered excellent user experiences that drove strong results.”

—Ryan Hose, Senior Vice President, Creative DirectoR - FCB Health New York | An IPG AGENCY

Ryan and I (and our teams) worked closely together at FCB Health

“Meredith is a wonderful creative force and a pleasure to work with. Together, we partnered on some very challenging brands and product launches, and she always came through with thoughtful, interesting ideas that elevated the work.

Her collaboration with brand creatives and her appreciation for great design make her a standout partner. She brings strategic vision and a hands-on approach that ensures seamless, high-quality results every time.

Meredith led all digital projects with a sharp understanding of how to make campaigns both innovative and seamless. Her ability to think strategically while staying hands-on was key to her team delivering work that not only looked great but worked hard to communicate the brand message and supporting information. Meredith and her team consistently came to the table with fresh ideas and eagerly sought feedback to make the work even stronger.

As a team leader, Meredith fosters a positive and empowering environment, inspiring collaboration and bringing out the best in everyone. She is a true team player, an incredible talent, and a valuable asset to any organization. I’m incredibly grateful for the strong partnership we built.”

—Jill Ruckelshaus, VP Associate Creative DirectoR

Jill and I worked closely together at FCB Health

“Meredith is the rare Director of Product Design who really prioritizes design and art direction in her management. Intelligently so. Her team and time management skills are on point and she’s just plain fun to talk to. Working with her is a pleasure.”

—Alex Lea, Executive Creative DirectoR

Alex and I (and our teams) worked closely together at FCB Health

“I’m excited to recommend Meredith for her exceptional work in digital design and her passion for digital inclusion and accessibility. She has a remarkable ability to bring teams together, breaking down silos and fostering collaboration that leads to meaningful, impactful results. Because of her efforts we were able to bring our teams together for more inclusive and accessible designs at our agency.

Her dedication to design, user experience, and accessibility shines in every project she takes on. Whether leading a team or contributing in a collaborative setting, she consistently ensures that the work is inclusive, user-centered, and well-executed.

I truly enjoyed working with Meredith and I’m confident she’ll continue to drive innovation and positive change wherever she goes.”

—Jamie Maier, CPACC, Digital Inclusion Supervisor - FCB Health New York | An IPG AGENCY

Jamie and I (and our teams) collaborated closely in the Experience Design Department at FCB

“When I worked with Meredith, she served as Director, Experience Design, and her leadership was truly inspiring. Meredith consistently brought unparalleled attention to detail and dedication to every digital project, ensuring that each initiative received her full focus and exceeded expectations.

In her role, Meredith demonstrated a deep understanding of the importance of partnering closely with engineers. She recognized the value of technical expertise, proactively reaching out to collaborate and aligning creative and technical goals seamlessly. This approach not only strengthened the outcomes of our projects but also fostered a culture of shared success and innovation.

As Director, Experience Design, Meredith’s passion for great design and user experience was evident in every aspect of her work. She was a champion of best practices and pushed for innovative solutions while facilitating healthy collaboration among stakeholders—designers, developers, and clients. Her ability to balance creative vision with practicality elevated every project she led.

Beyond her expertise in design, Meredith excelled as a leader. She skillfully managed large teams, navigated tight timelines, and handled the demands of multiple clients with ease. Her ability to inspire, organize, and align teams toward a shared vision was nothing short of remarkable, and it was instrumental in the success of even the most complex initiatives.

Meredith’s dedication, collaborative mindset, and leadership as Director, Experience Design make her an invaluable asset to any organization. I would wholeheartedly recommend her to lead any team or project with confidence and success.”

—Omi Ortiz, Technology Manager - FCB Health New York | An IPG AGENCY

Omi and his engineering team collaborated closely with my team and I at FCB Health

“Meredith is a highly effective collaborator and a strong leader who truly values user experience. At FCB Health, she consistently prioritized user needs and accessibility, always checking in with UX to ensure our designs met the highest standards. She fostered a collaborative environment where everyone felt empowered to contribute their expertise, and actively encouraged UX to provide feedback on designs to elevate the work of her team.”

—Pernell Celestine, UX Architect - FCB Health New York | An IPG AGENCY

Pernell worked closely with myself and my team in the Experience Design Department at FCB Health New York

“Meredith and I worked together at FCB Health NY, collaborating on a variety of digital projects. Her exceptional leadership, kindness, strong communication skills, collaborative mindset, and deep passion for design were consistently reflected in the quality of her work. She was a resource for all things digital design and really strove to provide learning opportunities for our whole department. When I provided support for her team, she was always available for questions, ensuring that I was well-equipped to succeed. Meredith’s ability to drive the work forward while fostering a supportive environment truly sets her apart.”

—Laura Dunn, Senior Product Designer - FCB Health New York | An IPG AGENCY

Laura and I worked together in the Experience Design Department at FCB Health

“I worked with Meredith back in early 2019 at Digitas. She's was a very detail-oriented designer and made sure that the work we showed clients, whether it was the first round or tenth, was the best it could possibly be. Work ethic like that is hard to come by, and I think Meredith would be an asset on any creative team lucky enough to bring her on.”

—Brandon Ma, Senior UX Writer at E*TRADE

Brandon and I worked together at Digitas North America

“Meredith and I collaborated on numerous projects during our time at Digitas. She was always efficient, responsive, and had a keen eye for design and aesthetics. I watched her create beautiful work while deftly incorporating client requests, technical considerations, and branding guidelines. She was a pleasure to work with and would be an asset at any organization.”

—Tennessee Grimes, Principal Project Manager at BluecorE

Tennessee and I worked together at Digitas North America