# George Penston

> Design Director @ LinkedIn · prev. Pinterest

Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/georgepenston

I thrive on turning big ideas into reality with collaborative teamwork. As a leader, I create an environment where design and cross-functional partnerships shine. With extensive experience, I’ve led multiple design teams to develop large-scale applications.

## Work Experience
### Design Director, Product Design @ LinkedIn
Jan 2018 – Present | New York City Metropolitan Area
I’ve worked across multiple product design teams for the main app—focused on everything from launching new features and generative AI to rolling out our new design language, accessibility upgrades, and dark mode. Built and managed cross-functional teams spanning core product areas (Home, Messaging, Profile, Groups, Pages) and strategic horizontals (Premium, Trust, Infra UX, Navigation). Worked closely with partners to deliver measurable impact and help shape the vision for LinkedIn’s next generation of consumer experiences.

### Design Director, Product Design @ Pinterest
Jan 2017 – Jan 2018 | San Francisco Bay Area
I led product design for new ways to grow the business and improve the ads experience. Helped launch the Creators initiative, which has become central to Pinterest’s long-term strategy. Focused on making content more relevant and building tools advertisers actually wanted to use. Set up team habits that made feedback more useful and sped up our process. Worked closely with engineers and user research to make sure we solved real problems for people using the platform. Pushed for a practical, hands-on approach, centered on experiments and learning fast.

### Head of Product & Design, Flite (acquired by Snap) @ Flite
Jan 2011 – Jan 2017 | San Francisco Bay Area
I was responsible for both Product and Design. I grew the team from an early startup group to a full organization, guiding the platform from MVP stage into the enterprise space. My focus was on solving meaningful customer and business problems, not just building features. Introduced new design systems, built accessibility in early, and prioritized data-driven decision-making. Managed the Snap acquisition process, shaped product strategy, and supported the team through transition.


## Education
### Associates in Design and Visual Communications, General
The Art Institutes of Atlanta, GA


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/gpenston
- Portfolio: https://gpenston.com

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Source: https://flows.cv/georgepenston
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/georgepenston/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-03-25