Professional Summary With 25+ years, 200+ client engagements, and 18-year retained partnerships with Morehouse School of Medicine and Life University, I bring a track record that speaks for itself. As a senior brand strategist and creative director, I specialize in translating complex business strategy into clear, compelling brand identity systems — and I’m equally comfortable leading the strategy, executing at the design level, and developing the people around me. My background is unusually layered: a full-service creative practice, 5,000+ undergraduate students taught across six institutions, and an ICF-certified coaching practice that makes me a more effective facilitator, team builder, and brand workshop leader than most. I work at the intersection of strategy, design, and human development — and I bring that full range to every engagement. I’m trilingual (English, Portuguese, Spanish) with deep cross-cultural fluency across North American and Latin American markets.

Katia C. Lord

PRO

Professional Summary With 25+ years, 200+ client engagements, and 18-year retained partnerships with Morehouse School of Medicine and Life University, I bring a track record that speaks for itself. As a senior brand strategist and creative director, I specialize in translating complex business strategy into clear, compelling brand identity systems — and I’m equally comfortable leading the strategy, executing at the design level, and developing the people around me. My background is unusually layered: a full-service creative practice, 5,000+ undergraduate students taught across six institutions, and an ICF-certified coaching practice that makes me a more effective facilitator, team builder, and brand workshop leader than most. I work at the intersection of strategy, design, and human development — and I bring that full range to every engagement. I’m trilingual (English, Portuguese, Spanish) with deep cross-cultural fluency across North American and Latin American markets.

Available to hire

Professional Summary With 25+ years, 200+ client engagements, and 18-year retained partnerships with Morehouse School of Medicine and Life University, I bring a track record that speaks for itself. As a senior brand strategist and creative director, I specialize in translating complex business strategy into clear, compelling brand identity systems — and I’m equally comfortable leading the strategy, executing at the design level, and developing the people around me.

My background is unusually layered: a full-service creative practice, 5,000+ undergraduate students taught across six institutions, and an ICF-certified coaching practice that makes me a more effective facilitator, team builder, and brand workshop leader than most. I work at the intersection of strategy, design, and human development — and I bring that full range to every engagement. I’m trilingual (English, Portuguese, Spanish) with deep cross-cultural fluency across North American and Latin American markets.

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Language

Portuguese
Fluent
English
Fluent
Spanish; Castilian
Intermediate

Work Experience

Owner & Creative Strategist at Design Mind Studio
January 1, 2000 - Present
Lead brand strategy and communications workshops; facilitated and collaborated in user experience development and implementation; directed, designed and implemented identity and visual communication projects; delivered brand consistency, clarity and management; facilitated executive meetings & visual presentations; taught, engaged and leveraged students’ talents; mentored, learned and collaborated with various communities and cultures.
Creative Strategist & Trainer at Commetta
January 1, 2020 - Present
Strategist and trainer delivering brand strategy, creative direction, and design training.
Art Director at Lyda Fire
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2020
Curriculum Design Consultant at Rasmussen College
January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2019
Part-time Instructor, Graphic Design Department at Kennesaw State University
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2019
Part-time Instructor, Graphic and Web Department at Art Institute of Atlanta
January 1, 2013 - January 1, 2015
Adjunct Faculty, Graphic Design Department at Georgia State University | Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2014
Graduate Teaching Assistant at Georgia State University | Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design
January 1, 2011 - May 1, 2013
Founder & Mentor at Seeding Wisdom
January 1, 2019 - Present
Mentor at AIGA Rise-Up Program
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2022
Participant at First CETL Part-time Faculty Learning Community
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2017
Volunteer Judge at PTA Reflections Program
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2016
Senior Project Mentor at Woodstock High School
January 1, 2013 - January 1, 2015
Brand Strategist & Creative Director at Design Mind Studio
January 1, 2000 - Present
Lead end-to-end brand strategy engagements, including discovery workshops, competitive analysis, visual identity systems, brand guidelines, and omnichannel rollout; directed design across print, digital, and environmental channels; facilitated executive brand workshops and managed client relationships, scopes, budgets, and timelines as the primary creative and strategic lead.
Founder & Certified Life Coach at Sunluz Coaching
January 1, 2024 - Present
Founded an ICF-accredited coaching practice; developed RISE, a regenerative inner self-empowerment curriculum for young adults; deliver 1:1 and group coaching; design and facilitate organizational workshops integrating the RISE framework.
Faculty for Graphic Design Department at Kennesaw State University
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2019
Developed courses including Typography I & II, Advertising & Packaging, and Design Practicum (Business of Design). Taught and mentored students through portfolio development and professional practice.
Instructor, Graphic & Web Design at Art Institute of Atlanta
January 1, 2013 - January 1, 2015
Taught Computer Illustration, Layout I & II, and Typography I & II.
Adjunct Faculty & Graduate Teaching Assistant at Georgia State University
January 1, 2011 - January 1, 2014
Taught Introduction to Typography; served as GTA for Intermediate Graphic Design, Typography, and Introduction to Graphic Design.
Instructor at Chattahoochee Technical College / Bauder University / Young Rembrandts
January 1, 2005 - January 1, 2013
Taught Raster Imaging (Photoshop), Layout, Typography, and foundational drawing skills.

Education

altMBA - AkimboMBA sprint at Online
January 1, 2020 - March 30, 2026
MFA in Graphic Design at Georgia State University
January 1, 2013 - March 30, 2026
Studies Abroad Program at University of Georgia
January 1, 2012 - March 30, 2026
BA in Graphic Communications at Kennesaw State University
January 1, 1999 - March 30, 2026
BS in Biology at Kennesaw State University
January 1, 1999 - March 30, 2026
ICF-Accredited Life Coaching Certification at Coacharia
January 1, 2023 - April 7, 2026
Leading from the Emerging Future at MIT / U-Lab
January 1, 2024 - April 7, 2026
Cognitively-Based Compassion Training at Emory University School of Medicine
January 1, 2024 - April 7, 2026
SEE Learning Curriculum Innovation at Emory University
January 1, 2024 - April 7, 2026
altMBA at Akimbo - Seth Godin
January 1, 2020 - April 7, 2026
MFA, Graphic Design at Georgia State University
January 1, 2013 - January 1, 2013
Studies Abroad at University of Georgia
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2012
BA, Graphic Communications at Kennesaw State University
January 1, 1999 - January 1, 1999
BS, Biology at Kennesaw State University
January 1, 1999 - January 1, 1999

Qualifications

altMBA - AkimboMBA sprint
January 1, 2020 - March 30, 2026
ICF-Accredited Life Coaching Certification
January 1, 2023 - April 7, 2026
Leading from the Emerging Future
January 1, 2024 - April 7, 2026
Cognitively-Based Compassion Training
January 1, 2024 - April 7, 2026
SEE Learning Curriculum Innovation
January 1, 2024 - April 7, 2026
altMBA
January 1, 2020 - April 7, 2026

Industry Experience

Education, Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Other, Healthcare, Life Sciences