About
I was born and raised in Michigan and spent my life in the Midwest. My roots have instilled a work ethic that has stuck with me throughout my life. Since I was a child, art and design have always been passions of mine. While I started my career off in traditional advertising, I ultimately gravitated to all things digital. Now I am a Design Director, UX/UI Designer, and Design Strategist who advocates for users while supporting business goals.
Experience
Design Director | Rightpoint
May 2022 – September 2024
Creative Director | Human Element
January 2017 – May 2022
Senior Visual Designer | ITHAKA
August 2013 – January 2017
Art Director | Hart Associates
July 2005 – August 2013
Skills
Leadership & Management
Team Leadership and Mentorship
Design Oversight
Design Strategy
Cross-Functional Team Collaboration
Client Understanding and Management
Client Presentations
Project Planning
Manage Multiple Projects and Clients
Analytical & Problem-Solving
Human-Centered Design
User Research and User Testing
Stakeholder Interviews and Workshops
Data-Informed Decision Making
Creative Problem Solving
Design Thinking
Content Strategy
Technical & Design Acumen
User Journeys
Wireframing and Prototyping
Product Design
UX/UI Design
Visual Design
Mobile Design
Responsive Design
Inclusive, Accessible Design
Design Systems
Tools & Technologies
Figma
Sketch
Adobe XD
Adobe Creative Suite
Platforms: Adobe Commerce, Shopify, BigCommerce, Custom
Education
Bachelor of Arts | Design
University of Notre Dame
Honors: Cum Laude, Best of Show
Kate takes both words in her title seriously. "Design" is her language. She understands how it can make people feel and make people act. She can turn that into experiences that not only work well (sell product, educate, tell a story etc), but also build the brand at every touch. The "Director" part of her title is key. Kate's has the ability to take vague direction ("make it pop", "we are looking for whiz bang" etc.) and turn that into a valuable conversation and ultimately, great design. She also can juggle multiple clients and projects while managing a design team across many projects. She collaborates with internal teams with ease. All of this happens with grace and elegance. Kate brings a joy to the team, with passion and energy that spills out to the team and clients. Kate has the rare ability to balance "getting in the work" and leading a team.
Jason Lewandowski
VP Experience Lead (Commerce, Retail & CPG)
Kate is a product designer with exceptional visual design skills and a keen eye for detail, which truly set her apart. Her adeptness at navigating complex, interactive flows – combined with her deep understanding of commerce and digital experience design – makes her a standout contributor. Additionally, Kate excels as a thoughtful collaborator who balances business objectives with user needs. Her focus on effective cross-functional communication enhances team alignment and leads to better results for her clients.
Rachel Zinser
Design Director (UX Design & Research)
Kate is a talented designer who is a pleasure to work with. She is incredibly detailed oriented and brings a level of professionalism that is second to none. She takes great pride in her work and demonstrates the desire to produce to the level of excellence. Kate would be a huge asset for any creative team.
William Smith
Manager, Analytics at OneMagnify