Cold spray coatings elaboration requires optimization of numerous parameters in order to reach the best coatings' performances. A systematic approach can be avoided by using an experimental design. A Doehlert uniform shell design was applied in this work to Zn cold sprayed coating. Coatings were produced on steel substrates to provide high corrosion resistant layers. N2 temperature and gas pressures varied from 200 °C to 320 °C and from 2.0 MPa to 3.0 MPa, respectively. Performance maps were plotted for two descriptors: (i) the interfacial porosity volume (substrate coating interface defects), (ii) coating thickness (i.e., coating durability), and validated with the polarization resistance (i.e., corrosion resistance). Results reported three set of optimized temperature and gas pressure values according to the descriptor.Two optimized protection modes can be obtained: a sacrificial mode from heterogeneities in the coating (290 °C and 3.0 MPa), and a barrier protection mode from homogeneous and dense coatings (320 °C and 2.5 MPa). Mechanism of corrosion has been investigated.