Justin Ziran — Digital Magic: Fear and Success, Leading with Bold Decisions, and Redefining Innovation (#82)

04/08/25 • 83 min

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About Justin Ziran

Justin Ziran is a veteran of the collectible and strategy games industry. He has decades of experience shaping some of the most successful brands in tabletop gaming. He began his career at Wizards of the Coast, where he played key roles in product teams for Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game. In 2012, Justin became the President of WizKids, where he spearheaded the expansion of the company's product lines and reach. Under his leadership, HeroClix became a best-selling collectible miniatures game featuring Marvel, DC, and other licensed properties. He has overseen numerous board game releases and innovations across various product lines, blending business acumen with a deep passion for gaming.

With a business school background, Justin brings a unique approach to game publishing, combining data-driven insights, market analysis, and creative intuition to make impactful decisions. He firmly believes in "why not both?" thinking—seeking innovative solutions that challenge traditional trade-offs. His ability to merge strategic foresight with product passion has led to consistent success across multiple gaming categories. Throughout a highly successful career, Justin has focused his innovation and talent on the one metric I've always said matters most: player experience.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justingarydesign.substack.com/subscribe

About Justin Ziran

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justingarydesign.substack.com/subscribe

Previous Episode

James Introcaso — Game Masters, the Rise of Indie RPGs and Showing Up for Luck (#81)

James Introcaso is an award-winning tabletop game designer and storyteller whose work has helped shape the modern landscape of roleplaying games. As the lead game designer at MCDM Productions, James was integral to developing roleplaying systems that captivate players worldwide. His design credits include co-creating Burn Bright, Roll20’s first original RPG, co-authoring seven official Dungeons & Dragons books, and leading design on Draw Steel, an upcoming RPG that raised over $4.6 million on Backerkit.

James’s journey into games began with a childhood love of D&D, a theater background, and a stint writing and producing for television, including Adult Swim and National Geographic. A former podcaster and blogger, he got his start in RPGs by self-publishing content on the Dungeon Masters Guild and building an audience through thoughtful commentary on 5e design. His freelance hustle and creative drive opened doors with Wizards of the Coast and later landed him a full-time role at MCDM.

In this episode, James shares lessons from his creative path—from making shark-themed heavy metal promos to designing some of the most beloved TTRPG content today. We talk about how to turn passion into a profession, the realities of freelancing in gaming, and what it really means to “get lucky” in the industry. Whether you’re a theater nerd, a math nerd, or someone dreaming of making your own RPG system, James’s story is packed with insights and encouragement for every kind of creator.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justingarydesign.substack.com/subscribe