KKKatie Knecht
Founding mentor
馃尡 First session
Product Designer @ Duke University
Durham, NC New York (UTC-4) 10+ yrs in design
About
I鈥檝e led design across fintech, fitness, and education鈥攐ften as the first design hire 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鈥慶entered 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鈥攇uiding 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
UX Designer
UX Researcher
Product Designer
Visual/Brand
Design Lead
AI/ML
Design systems
Interviewing
Graphic Design
Nonprofit & Social Impact
Education
Experience
Product Designer 路 Duke University
2024-Present
Contract UX Designer 路 OnTrajectory
2022
UX/UI Designer 路 Burn Boot Camp
2021-2022
Support Designer 路 Townsquare Interactive
2019-2021
Selected work
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