About Me
Katie Herndon - Sr. Product Designer
Designer, founder, and systems thinker with 8+ years shaping products from concept to scale. I’ve delivered zero-to-one products and shaped enterprise-level design systems—defining standards for quality, efficiency, and long-term capability. I move easily between high-level strategy and hands-on design, collaborating across disciplines to turn complexity into clarity and momentum.
2023 - Present
Lululemon
Sr. Product Designer
Redesigned Lululemon's design system with variable-driven architecture supporting legacy and new brand themes, adaptive typography, and responsive grid systems for scalable global adaptation. Refactored 100% of components using tokens and variables, fully rebuilding 60% for enhanced responsiveness and flexibility. Eliminated thousands of detached instances and manual updates, streamlining design-to-dev workflows. Projected to save 6,000+ hours annually (~$500K+ in efficiency gains) through reduced redundancy and simplified processes.
2021 - Present
Levity Arts
Founder • Creative Director
Founded and led innovative performance company creating immersive, multidisciplinary productions that build community and empower artists. Scaled audience 10x over 3 years (200 to 2,000+ attendees per event). Produced original collaborative shows featuring circus arts, music, and visual art with 100% sell-out record, plus monthly summer showcases for 5 years featuring hundreds of local artists. Featured in Seattle Times and NPR for creating inclusive public arts spaces. Oversaw all aspects from creative vision to marketing and operations.
2021 - 2023
Alaska Airlines
Sr. Product Designer
Led department-wide digital transformation initiative automating manual processes for 1,000+ technicians, saving $5.9M annually. Designed and implemented unified digital platform reducing manual tasks by 45K hours/year and contributing to 10% reduction in aircraft turnaround time. Conducted field research and usability testing to ensure adoption in high-pressure environments. Executed end-to-end design of new iOS application, transforming legacy workflows into modern, intuitive system with enhanced accessibility and communication tools.
2021
Kiira Health
Lead Product Designer
Owned end-to-end design of mobile telehealth platform focused on inclusive, affordable women's healthcare. Conducted user interviews, surveys, and usability testing to define MVP and validate product-market fit. Reduced bounce rate by 85% and increased engagement by 400% through strategic UI/UX improvements. Built comprehensive design system, company website, and marketing assets to establish cohesive brand identity.
2017 - 2021
Levity By Katie
LMT - Certified Soma Therapist
Founded and operated healthcare practice serving 200+ clients with personalized treatment plans. Developed deep understanding of patient journeys and consumer-facing healthcare challenges. Built digital presence, client resources, and online course, integrating care delivery with digital design principles.
2012 - 2021
Freelance
Product & Web Designer
Collaborated with clients to deliver impeccable design assets, including: a fitness application, mockups and prototypes for virtual events, and several websites tailored to specific industry needs.