Top Talent like Zane are on Pangea

Pangea, a YC company, connects companies with fractional talent. Fractional hiring allows companies to move faster and work with more specilaized talent, while giving talent more flexibilty and independence. If you are talent open to fractional work, apply here. If you’re a company looking for high-quality fractional talent, learn more here.

Zane Liu

Product Designer • Product Manager • SF, CA, US
Product Design
Interaction Design
Design Strategy
Product Management
User Research
Available for hire fromNegotiable
Full-Time Roles
Contracts
Product Designer. Building computers that blend seamlessly into everyday life, elevating how we learn, connect, and interact with the world.
I led a Google team building future interfaces and hardware for AR/VR co-presence. Through thoughtful technology and creativity, I believe we can elevate the human experience. Before, I designed natural user interfaces at BMW, created electric VTOL at Kitty Hawk, developed predictive EV battery management algorithms at UC Berkeley eCAL, and was co-creator of sexual violence reporting start up JDoe. I hold a master’s degree in Industrial Design from ArtCenter College Design and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Projects

Google R+D

Led a team exploring real time spatial computing products with the goal of blurring the line between digital and in person collaboration and co-presence.See More

Wayfinding with AI

Designed an AI wearable that provides precise, intuitive map navigation by seeing what you see. Defined architecture, design language, gestures and conversation interface. Prototyped human-computer interface and natural language UI/UX using a pico-projector.See More

Urban Rover

Helping you live anywhere. Urban Rover is an autonomous home virtual reality project for the city professional.

Goldilocks AI & AR (Master's Thesis)

Outlined how contextual computing and AI can reduce UI complexity and information overload. Devised frameworks for AI and AR that curate interfaces and blend technology invisibly into our environment, making HCI feel calm or “just right." See More

Work History

P

Co-Founder, CEO

PonderA searching podcast. Ponder uses AI to create shortform media that transforms the world's expert knowledge into engaging dialogue — great for entertaining listening and easy sharing.
G

Designer + Manager, R+D

GoogleOct 2020 - Jan 2023 • 2 yrs 4 mosTackling social connection through digital teleportation. Initiated and led cross-functional development of real- time augmented reality future product research. Owned 0-1 vision, design, prototyping, UX research and analysis (KPIs/metrics). R&D outcomes impacted products like Google Starline, Meet AI, and AR/VR.
M

Designer and PM (Consultant)

MultiOn AIMar 2024 - Jun 2024 • 4 mosCreating AI interfaces that perform actions on the web and built long term product strategy. Owned the development of agentic experiences for web, mobile, scheduled automations, and voice driven applications. Collaborated with engineering to integrate MultiOn into consumer hardware.
B

Product Designer

BMWJan 2019 - Jun 2019 • 6 mosTackling mobility safety and UX through natural interfaces. Crafted projection interfaces and functional HMI prototypes that reduce friction in vehicle controls. Collaborated with UX engineers to prototype and pitch early Dynamic Interior Light (EP 3764199A1) and Multitouch (EP 3882755A1) interfaces.
K

Industrial Designer

Kitty HawkJul 2019 - Jan 2020 • 7 mosTackling congestion through urban air mobility. Designed a ground up eVTOL fuselage cockpit, pilot interface, and service for aerial rideshare. Partnered closely with engineering to develop an enclosed fuse that optimized safety, enhanced comfort, and enabled 3x build cost-savings.
J

Design Lead (Founding Team)

JDoeMay 2017 - Sep 2017 • 5 mosHelping raise a voice against sexual misconduct. An encrypted sexual violence reporting app assisting survivors to identify repeat offenders. Built V1 of the front-end and owned the product’s core user experience, information architecture, branding, mobile (React) and web interfaces.

Education

UC Berkeley

Bachelor of Science, Mechanical EngineeringAug 2013 - Dec 2016

ArtCenter College of Design

Master of Science, Industrial DesignSep 2017 - Aug 2020

How Pangea Works

Effortlessly discover top talent

We’ve distilled the candidate search from endless hours down to just a few minutes. Using Pangea’s AI-powered search tools, you can find top fractional talent able to take on your next project. Our system looks at your company’s niche and your needs to find the perfect match faster than any traditional hiring platform.

Start working with talent today

The top talent on Pangea is ready to get started with you right now. You can message or hire a candidate right from their profile page and start assigning work as soon as they respond. And the best part? Pangea’s fractional contract structure lets you start small and ramp up as your needs change, keeping your costs manageable and your team’s capabliities flexible.

Track work and invoices in one place

Assign tasks, track progress, and complete invoices all on Pangea. We’ve combined every part of the hiring process into one platform to eliminate the miscommunication that’s unavoidable on other freelance platforms. We even send out 1099s to your contractors at the end of the year!

Talk with a Talent Expert

Members of our team are available to help you speed through the hiring process.
Available Now
Book a Call
Product Designer. Building computers that blend seamlessly into everyday life, elevating how we learn, connect, and interact with the world.
I led a Google team building future interfaces and hardware for AR/VR co-presence. Through thoughtful technology and creativity, I believe we can elevate the human experience. Before, I designed natural user interfaces at BMW, created electric VTOL at Kitty Hawk, developed predictive EV battery management algorithms at UC Berkeley eCAL, and was co-creator of sexual violence reporting start up JDoe. I hold a master’s degree in Industrial Design from ArtCenter College Design and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Talk with a Talent Expert

Members of our team are available to help you speed through the hiring process.
Available Now
Book a Call

Top Talent like Zane are on Pangea

Pangea, a YC company, connects companies with fractional talent. Fractional hiring allows companies to move faster and work with more specilaized talent, while giving talent more flexibilty and independence. If you are talent open to fractional work, apply here. If you’re a company looking for high-quality fractional talent, learn more here.

Zane Liu

Product Designer • Product Manager • SF, CA, US
Product Design
Interaction Design
Design Strategy
Product Management
User Research
Available for hire fromNegotiable
Full-Time Roles
Contracts

Projects

Google R+D

Led a team exploring real time spatial computing products with the goal of blurring the line between digital and in person collaboration and co-presence.

Wayfinding with AI

Designed an AI wearable that provides precise, intuitive map navigation by seeing what you see. Defined architecture, design language, gestures and conversation interface. Prototyped human-computer interface and natural language UI/UX using a pico-projector.

Urban Rover

Helping you live anywhere. Urban Rover is an autonomous home virtual reality project for the city professional.

Goldilocks AI & AR (Master's Thesis)

Outlined how contextual computing and AI can reduce UI complexity and information overload. Devised frameworks for AI and AR that curate interfaces and blend technology invisibly into our environment, making HCI feel calm or “just right."

Work History

P

Co-Founder, CEO

PonderA searching podcast. Ponder uses AI to create shortform media that transforms the world's expert knowledge into engaging dialogue — great for entertaining listening and easy sharing.
G

Designer + Manager, R+D

GoogleOct 2020 - Jan 2023 • 2 yrs 4 mosTackling social connection through digital teleportation. Initiated and led cross-functional development of real- time augmented reality future product research. Owned 0-1 vision, design, prototyping, UX research and analysis (KPIs/metrics). R&D outcomes impacted products like Google Starline, Meet AI, and AR/VR.
M

Designer and PM (Consultant)

MultiOn AIMar 2024 - Jun 2024 • 4 mosCreating AI interfaces that perform actions on the web and built long term product strategy. Owned the development of agentic experiences for web, mobile, scheduled automations, and voice driven applications. Collaborated with engineering to integrate MultiOn into consumer hardware.
B

Product Designer

BMWJan 2019 - Jun 2019 • 6 mosTackling mobility safety and UX through natural interfaces. Crafted projection interfaces and functional HMI prototypes that reduce friction in vehicle controls. Collaborated with UX engineers to prototype and pitch early Dynamic Interior Light (EP 3764199A1) and Multitouch (EP 3882755A1) interfaces.
K

Industrial Designer

Kitty HawkJul 2019 - Jan 2020 • 7 mosTackling congestion through urban air mobility. Designed a ground up eVTOL fuselage cockpit, pilot interface, and service for aerial rideshare. Partnered closely with engineering to develop an enclosed fuse that optimized safety, enhanced comfort, and enabled 3x build cost-savings.
J

Design Lead (Founding Team)

JDoeMay 2017 - Sep 2017 • 5 mosHelping raise a voice against sexual misconduct. An encrypted sexual violence reporting app assisting survivors to identify repeat offenders. Built V1 of the front-end and owned the product’s core user experience, information architecture, branding, mobile (React) and web interfaces.

Education

UC Berkeley

Bachelor of Science, Mechanical EngineeringAug 2013 - Dec 2016

ArtCenter College of Design

Master of Science, Industrial DesignSep 2017 - Aug 2020

How Pangea Works

Effortlessly discover top talent

We’ve distilled the candidate search from endless hours down to just a few minutes. Using Pangea’s AI-powered search tools, you can find top fractional talent able to take on your next project. Our system looks at your company’s niche and your needs to find the perfect match faster than any traditional hiring platform.

Start working with talent today

The top talent on Pangea is ready to get started with you right now. You can message or hire a candidate right from their profile page and start assigning work as soon as they respond. And the best part? Pangea’s fractional contract structure lets you start small and ramp up as your needs change, keeping your costs manageable and your team’s capabliities flexible.

Track work and invoices in one place

Assign tasks, track progress, and complete invoices all on Pangea. We’ve combined every part of the hiring process into one platform to eliminate the miscommunication that’s unavoidable on other freelance platforms. We even send out 1099s to your contractors at the end of the year!

Talk with a Talent Expert

Members of our team are available to help you speed through the hiring process.
Available Now
Book a Call
Pangea empowers fractional work across the world for marketing and design roles.