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Kayla GoodisonKG

Kayla Goodison

Founding mentor

Product Designer @ EverDriven Technologies

Denver, CO 3 yrs in design

About

I went from a music composition degree to building a UX practice from scratch — so I know what it's like to feel like your background doesn't quite fit the mold. I'm direct but kind; I believe in honest feedback over polish for polish's sake, and I love helping people see the value in experience they didn't realize counted.

How I can help

I'm a designer with an unusual path — from music composition to product design — and I've learned the best work happens when you understand your 'performers,' whether that's musicians or users. I build systems that let others do their best work: design systems, research infrastructure, the org-level scaffolding most people don't think to ask for. I also mentor on portfolios, mock interviews, and career pivots — I've lived the 'unemployed and figuring it out' phase and the 'team of one' phase, and I can help you navigate either. I've also started folding AI into design workflows in practical ways — like using it to catch mechanical issues before human review — happy to talk through that too.

Ask me about

Pivot into design
Layoffs
A failed launch
First or only designer
A reorg
Influence without authority
Presenting to execs
Imposter syndrome
Building a design system
Getting passed over
First design hires
Craft to strategy
Growing into leadership

A hard problem I've navigated

In my time at EverDriven, I've been through three CTOs (soon a fourth), three VPs of Product, two VPs of Engineering, three COOs, and two CMOs — plus two Design Leads with a two-year gap in between, 10 months of which I was on my own. Design has shifted from a team of one to three (plus contractors) and back, and structurally flipped between being its own function and living under Product more than once. What I've learned: you can't wait for stability to hand you clarity — you have to build your own, through documentation, relationships that outlast any one leader, and being able to explain the 'why' behind design decisions no matter who's in the room.

Frequently asked

What experience level do you work with?

All over the map — I love working with people just considering a UX career, early-career designers building their first real portfolio, and folks a few years in who are pivoting, navigating a "team of one" situation, or trying to advocate for themselves at work.

Do you offer portfolio feedback outside of a scheduled session?

Not right now — I'm keeping things to live sessions for the moment, but that may change down the line.

What happens after the intro chat?

We'll figure out together what's most useful — whether that's a portfolio review, mock interview, or another career conversation. No pressure to book more if it's not the right fit.

Expertise

UX Designer
Product Designer
Gaming
Design systems
Leadership
Interviewing
AI tools

Experience

  1. UX Designer · EverDriven Technologies

    2022 - Present

    Joined as a solo UX practitioner and built the function from scratch — research ops, design systems, mobile UX, and org-wide strategy. Now part of a small team, having helped hire my current manager. Led a major phased app redesign, built an internal UX research framework, and helped shift the org's understanding of UX from a design-only function to a strategic one."

  2. Co-Founder, UX/Game Designer & Composer · Sparrow Arcade

    2023 - Present

    Co-founded a game development community where I wear multiple hats: UX/game design, original music composition and sound design, plus operations, content strategy, and community management. Currently in the writing phase on two projects, Gaslight and Melophobia.