Design Philosophy
Katelyn believes that the best products emerge when artistic vision meets practical engineering. Her approach begins with understanding real user needs through direct experience and research, then develops innovative solutions that don’t compromise between form and function. Whether designing humanitarian cooling systems or safety equipment for professional firefighters, she focuses on creating products that genuinely improve people’s lives while maintaining visual appeal and user delight.
Technical Expertise
Her passion for technology extends far beyond traditional design tools. As an avid PC enthusiast and hardware tinkerer, Katelyn understands products from the component level up, giving her insight into manufacturing constraints, material properties, and system integration that informs better design decisions. This technical curiosity drives her to explore emerging technologies and manufacturing processes that can unlock new design possibilities.
Her gaming background has developed strong spatial reasoning and system thinking skills, while her love of hardware modification has given her hands-on experience with precision assembly, thermal management, and user interface optimization – all directly applicable to product design challenges.
Creative Process
Beyond technical skills, Katelyn maintains a strong artistic foundation that brings creativity and visual sophistication to her work. She approaches each project with an artist’s eye for proportion, color, and aesthetic impact, ensuring that functional solutions also create positive emotional connections with users.
Her love of reading feeds a constant appetite for learning across disciplines – from materials science and manufacturing processes to user psychology and cultural design trends. This broad knowledge base allows her to draw unexpected connections and innovative solutions from diverse fields.
Hands-On Making
Katelyn’s passion for hands-on creation extends into her personal projects, where she designs and casts custom resin dice – a pursuit that has taught her about small-batch manufacturing, quality control, material properties, and the satisfaction of creating beautiful, functional objects. This experience with the complete product development cycle, from concept through production to user experience, informs her understanding of design challenges at every scale.
Her involvement in tabletop gaming communities has also developed her appreciation for user-centered design, understanding how small details in physical objects can dramatically impact user experience and emotional connection to products.
Professional Focus
Specializing in outdoor product design, Katelyn combines her technical knowledge with deep understanding of user needs in challenging environments. Her portfolio demonstrates expertise in:
- Humanitarian design solutions that address global challenges with sustainable, accessible technology
- Professional safety equipment that prioritizes user protection while maintaining operational efficiency
- Consumer products that balance aesthetic appeal with practical functionality
- Innovative materials application and manufacturing process optimization
Looking Forward
As I complete my degree program, I’m excited to continue my lifelong journey of making and building, bringing my unique combination of artistic vision, technical expertise, and genuine love for creating joy through design to challenges that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. I’m particularly drawn to opportunities that leverage emerging technologies and innovative approaches to solve complex problems, whether in outdoor recreation, humanitarian applications, or sustainable product development.
My goal is to continue adding to the world through ideas and concepts, creating physical objects that not only meet functional requirements but also bring joy to their users. Every project is an opportunity to make the world a little bit better through thoughtful, human-centered design.
Currently Available: Summer 2025 internships, collaborative projects, and full-time positions beginning summer 2026
