About
Katie Lee is a multi-disciplinary designer & researcher specializing in cultural trends, and communicating user insights through stories, helping bring innovative products, services, and strategies to life. Her work combines a background in product and service design with human-centered design thinking at its core. She is passionate about helping brands connect with their consumers on a deeper level and translating their needs into actionable insights and strategy. She also helps bring those ideas to life though ideation and prototyping, and testing those concepts with users. Katie is at her best when she is being challenged with complex problems and working collaboratively with teammates and clients.
With over 8 years of design research and strategy experience, Katie’ has helped bring to life innovative products, services and experiences at large Fortune 500 companies all the way to small B2B and B2C start-ups. She is currently residing in Brooklyn, NY and is a Senior Design Strategist at Smart Design.
Other interests include traveling, cooking, being active and exploring our beautiful national and state parks and eating as much good asian food as possible, especially noodles and dumplings. Always happy to connect over some good food! :)
Skills and specialties:
Advocating for the consumer
Designing a research methodology unique to the question or opportunity
Moderating in-person & virtual interviews
Identifying trends & brand relevant insights
Translating insights into actionable strategy
Communicating the consumer’s story to inspire product teams & designers
Educating stakeholders and clients on the HCD process and benefits
Almost all of Katie’s work is confidential to protect her clients and their consumers. Please get in contact if you would like to hear more about past work and projects.
Experience & Work
Katie received her BFA in Product Design from the University of Oregon in 2014. Her foundation in design thinking and hands-on problem solving informs her work as a Designer Researcher. She was a Student Merit Winner for the Western Conference IDSA portfolio awards in 2014 and the winner of the Wilsonart Chair Competition, showcasing work at the 2013 International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City. Katie holds multiple patents on designs that she has worked on with various clients.
Current
Smart Design
Senior Design Strategist, Nov 2021 to present
Past
Evolve Collaborative
Senior Design Researcher / Strategist, Oct 2020 to Nov 2021
Design Researcher / Product Designer, Nov 2015 to Oct 2020
The Good Flock
Designer, 2013 - 2015
