I define myself as a product designer, who cares a little more than the “user experience.“ I think about feature prioritization, user value and impact, and I care about solving the “right problems.“ This all comes from the passion for users — understanding their behaviors, goals, challenges, and making the right solution for them. I think from an interdisciplinary mindset — Psychology, HCI, business, and art. My experiences and interests bring me here, a designer who cares about solving the right problems and user impacts.

Katie’s Design Values

User Empathy

Understanding users and being empathetic is where the magic happens. Interviewing, observing, conducting “sales safaris“, I relate with users by pinpointing their goals and struggles. A lot of the times, defining a precise problem means a great solution is on the way.

System Thinking

A large part of generating a great solution is clearly defining the problems. Using design approaches like HMWs, problem spaces, and behavioral analysis, I construct systems, instead of features, thinking about flows, information architecture, and estimating user value.

Research-driven

Design and user needs are constantly evolving, and good designs should be grounded in evidence. I read at the forefront of HCI and design research papers, and actively incorporate research into my design process, gaining directions to guide impactful design solutions.

Get Inspired

My design inspirations come from reading and photography. I read about arts, history, civilization, and design books. As a photographer, I gain valuable visual balance from my pictures.