Katie Kuhens

Filters, not vibes.

These are the six rules I actually reach for, not the ones that read well in a portfolio. Each one earns its place by ruling something out; the ones that can't are just taste with punctuation.

  • People First

    I start with people, not assumptions. Decisions are grounded in user behavior, research, and real-world constraints, ensuring solutions solve meaningful problems and deliver lasting value.

  • Clarity Over Complexity

    Even the most complex systems should feel simple to use. I focus on reducing friction, simplifying interactions, and making the path forward feel clear and intentional.

  • Iterate With Purpose

    Progress comes from learning, not perfection. I rely on thoughtful iteration, testing, and data to refine ideas and move work forward with confidence.

  • Scale With Intent

    I design for today while planning for tomorrow. Systems, patterns, and frameworks are built to support consistency, flexibility, and long-term growth across teams and platforms.

  • Adapt and Invest

    Design evolves alongside technology and people. I embrace change, including emerging tools like AI, while prioritizing mentorship, knowledge sharing, and growing strong, capable teams.

  • Earn Buy-In, Not Just Agreement

    A nod in a meeting isn't the same as real conviction. I look for the friction before it becomes a blocker, not after, because a decision people actually believe in survives contact with the real org; one they merely nodded at doesn't.

The places that shaped them

These weren't handed to me in a workshop. They're what stuck after years of learning the hard way. I cut my teeth in a fast-paced agency, where speed and taste mattered as much as process. I've since worked inside large corporate environments, where the real challenge isn't having good ideas, it's getting them through the org: leading a header redesign at The Home Depot taught me that lesson directly. And when Papa John's needed curbside pickup redesigned in the middle of a pandemic, there was no time for theory, just execution, under pressure, with real stakes. Every principle on this page earned its place the same way: through shipping, leading, and occasionally getting it wrong before getting it right.

  • a16z
  • The Power Agency
  • Papa John's
  • The Home Depot
  • Autodesk

See the principles in action