TAKING SELECT FREELANCE, 2026
Complexity,
demystified
I'm Kat, a senior product designer who thrives on untangling complex systems. I partner with scientists, engineers, and product teams to transform data-rich platforms into intuitive tools people rely on.
Systems I've Shaped
Selected Partners
Where I've Worked
2023 - PRESENT
2021 - 2023
2020 - 2021 (contract)
2017 - 2020
NASA Earth Science
Senior UX Designer
Lead user research and UX/UI design for a range of NASA data websites and applications, creating intuitive, user-centered experiences for diverse scientific and public audiences.
FishChoice
Communications & User Research Manager
Managed communications and user research for two platforms , FishChoice.com and FisheryProgress.org, in coordination with technical and program staff.
CivicActions
UX Designer
Supported the redesign of Department of Defense’s GlobalNET platform, conducting user research and driving collaboration between developers, stakeholders, and end users.
NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System
UX/UI Designer & Web Content Manager
Designed and managed UX/UI and content for NOAA’s Drought.gov, collaborating with developers and scientists to create, refine, and maintain a user-centered, data-driven website informed by analytics and usability testing.
2013 - 2017
National Ecological Observatory Network
Communications Designer
Developed content and designed elements, including interactive maps, for neonscience.org. Observed usability testing and iterated on designs based upon usability testing findings.
National Geographic FieldScope Coordinator
Worked with web technologists from National Geographic to improve the usability of online mapping tools related to environmental change and visualization/analysis of geospatial data.
Design that goes beyond the screen
Complexity Demystified
I specialize in transforming complex data, workflows, and systems into intuitive products that make information accessible and actionable. I help users gain confidence without needing to be domain experts.
Systems Thinking
On projects with competing priorities, complex workflows, and multiple stakeholders, I'm often the person connecting the dots. I enjoy untangling complexity and helping teams move from ambiguity to alignment.
Research-Led Design
The best design decisions come from understanding people, workflows, and context. I use research to uncover needs, validate assumptions, and build solutions grounded in reality.
AI-Accelerated Workflow
I use AI to move earlier and go deeper, building tangible prototypes from a brief in hours, creating decision tools that unstick workshops, and finding ways to show rather than tell at every stage of the process.
When I'm not designing, you'll find me outside adventuring with my dog or geeking out at museums. I'm passionate about science (I'm a former geologist) and am fascinated by how people learn and communicate. Lately, I'm into trail running, string cheese, and reading about cognitive psychology.
