Katie Knecht

Founding mentor

Product Designer @ Duke University

Durham, NC 10 yrs in design

About

I’ve led design across fintech, fitness, and education—often as the sole designer responsible for building structure from scratch and establishing the design systems teams rely on. I move decisively in ambiguous spaces, asking the right questions, defining strategy early, and scaling ideas into clear, human‑centered solutions. My process is grounded in disciplined discovery: targeted research, rapid experimentation, and fast, thoughtful iteration. Whether shaping a new feature or architecting a system, I focus on clarity, rigor, and purposeful execution, and I help you do the same—guiding you through uncertainty with the confidence and structure needed to advance your work.

How I can help

I help with: - Stakeholder management - Starting up a design system - Portfolio feedback - Growing in your role as a sole designer

Ask me about

A failed launch

First or only designer

A reorg

Influence without authority

Stakeholder standoffs

Presenting to execs

Imposter syndrome

First design hires

Craft to strategy

Growing into leadership

Building a design system

Layoffs

Expertise

Design Lead

Interviewing

Design systems

AI/ML

Product Designer

Visual/Brand

UX Designer

Education

Experience

Product Designer · Duke University
2024-Present
Contract UX Designer · OnTrajectory
2022
UX/UI Designer · Burn Boot Camp
2021-2022
Support Designer · Townsquare Interactive
2019-2021

Selected work

Reimagining Duke University

Duke Research Saves Lives

Also here to learn

Katie mentors on Hop and is growing too. A bit about their own path right now.

Could use a hand with

First or only designer, Craft to strategy, Growing into leadership, Stakeholder standoffs, Influence without authority, IC to manager