Product designer specializing in building 0→1 experiences for early-stage startups, with experience in healthcare SaaS and cybersecurity. I drive end-to-end product design from discovery and validation to high-fidelity prototyping, collaborating closely with founders and engineers to define features, visual identity, and usability standards. I thrive in ambiguous environments, applying ADA/WCAG accessibility standards and leveraging AI-accelerated workflows to accelerate research and ideation. I’ve led roadmaps, backlogs, and usability testing programs, including Early Access Programs, and I’m passionate about creating market-ready solutions that are both delightful and accessible.…

Katie Medley

Product designer specializing in building 0→1 experiences for early-stage startups, with experience in healthcare SaaS and cybersecurity. I drive end-to-end product design from discovery and validation to high-fidelity prototyping, collaborating closely with founders and engineers to define features, visual identity, and usability standards. I thrive in ambiguous environments, applying ADA/WCAG accessibility standards and leveraging AI-accelerated workflows to accelerate research and ideation. I’ve led roadmaps, backlogs, and usability testing programs, including Early Access Programs, and I’m passionate about creating market-ready solutions that are both delightful and accessible.…

Available to hire

Product designer specializing in building 0→1 experiences for early-stage startups, with experience in healthcare SaaS and cybersecurity. I drive end-to-end product design from discovery and validation to high-fidelity prototyping, collaborating closely with founders and engineers to define features, visual identity, and usability standards.

I thrive in ambiguous environments, applying ADA/WCAG accessibility standards and leveraging AI-accelerated workflows to accelerate research and ideation. I’ve led roadmaps, backlogs, and usability testing programs, including Early Access Programs, and I’m passionate about creating market-ready solutions that are both delightful and accessible.

See more

Skills

Experience Level

Figma
Expert
Product Design
Expert
Adobe XD
Expert
UI
Expert
Web Design
Expert
Copywriting
Intermediate

Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Founding Product Designer (Freelance) at KDM Designs
June 1, 2025 - Present
Sole designer for early-stage startups, including healthcare SaaS platform and small-business clients. Managed end-to-end product design from discovery and validation to high-fidelity rapid prototyping for projects spanning 34+ screens. Applied ADA and WCAG accessibility standards and leveraged AI-accelerated workflows to deliver early research and ideation. Collaborated with founders and engineers to establish product features, visual identity, and usability standards.
Founding UX/UI Designer III at Ukon
November 1, 2024 - April 1, 2025
Sole in-house UX Designer guiding the development of the company’s first digital product. Led 0→1 UX design in 4 months for launch at a major industry conference, achieving 2.5x signup goal. Conducted cross-functional leadership with Product Manager to create the roadmap, backlog, and feedback process. Managed 2 contract designers and oversaw delivery of high-fidelity prototypes and demo assets for stakeholders. Directed the company’s first Early Access Program (EAP), leading usability testing, user interviews, and feature prioritization workshops with 2 user cohorts.
Operation Specialist (Freelance) at KDM Designs
June 1, 2021 - August 1, 2024
Provided QA, SEO, CRM, copywriting, and bug triaging support for early-stage startups and SaaS clients. Collaborated with founders, product, and engineering teams to refine issue-tracking processes, streamline cross-team communication, and strengthen overall product delivery.
Team Lead at Hopper
November 1, 2021 - September 1, 2022
Led a global support team of 13, achieving top 10% performance and highest CSAT score in the department of 4.42/5. Improved QA and coaching processes, boosting team efficiency and business impact by 15%.
Technical Account Manager at Pana
November 1, 2020 - May 1, 2021
Managed technical onboarding, integrations, and support at a high-growth startup for 90+ clients including SpaceX, Zendesk, Palantir, and Koch Industries, maintaining an NPS of 8/10. Led product training, QBRs, and translated client needs into technical requirements for Product and Engineering.
Product Support Specialist at Pana
November 1, 2019 - November 1, 2020
Led the development of a new department for QA, bug triage and backlog management, and product testing. Collaborated with Product and Engineering teams to scope and prioritize features and user requests, resolve bugs, and influence the product roadmap using Agile methods. Developed troubleshooting methods and processes that increased Product and Engineering productivity by 35%. Created support documentation to streamline issue resolution and improve user experience.
Founding Product Designer at KDM Designs
June 1, 2025 - Present
Sole designer for early-stage startups, delivering end-to-end product design including discovery, validation, and high-fidelity rapid prototyping across 34+ screens. Applies ADA and WCAG accessibility standards and uses AI-accelerated workflows to accelerate early research and ideation. Collaborates with founders and engineers to establish product features, visual identity, and usability standards.
Team Lead Manager at Hopper
November 1, 2021 - September 1, 2022
Led a global support team of 13, achieving top 10% performance and the highest CSAT score in the department (4.42/5). Improved QA and coaching processes, boosting team efficiency and impact by 15%.

Education

UX / UI Design Certification at Designlab
August 2, 2023 - August 5, 2024
560+ hour certification
B.A. in Communication Studies at The University of Tennessee
January 11, 2030 - December 2, 2025
Cum Laude honors

Qualifications

UX / UI Design Certification
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2024

Industry Experience

Healthcare, Software & Internet, Professional Services, Other, Travel & Hospitality, Education