It all starts with a sticky note, a story, and a strong cup of coffee.
Hey, I’m Kayla—a product designer with over 11 years of experience creating digital experiences that are thoughtful, scalable, and grounded in real user needs.
I’ve spent most of my career leading design efforts across websites, mobile apps, and enterprise products and services. Most recently, I’ve worked at Fannie Mae, helping improve digital experiences with lots of sticky notes, strong design thinking and strategy, and close collaboration with business and web partners. Before that, I designed digital products for clients across healthcare, finance, and consumer brands as part of a fast-paced consulting team—where I learned to move quickly, solve complex problems, and stay grounded in user outcomes.
I studied graphic design and marketing at Mississippi State University, where I first discovered my love for visual storytelling, human-centered design, and a good cup of coffee. That foundation still shapes how I approach my work today.
With roots in both design and consulting, I bring a rare blend of big-picture thinking and pixel-perfect execution. I'm what some might call a design unicorn—just as comfortable mapping user journeys and facilitating workshops as I am crafting high-fidelity interfaces and collaborating closely with engineers. From strategy and systems to visuals and handoff, I love being involved in every layer of the design process and helping teams connect the dots along the way. I’ve led cross-functional teams, built scalable design systems, mentored designers, and championed inclusive, accessible experiences from concept to launch.
When I’m not designing, you’ll usually find me making something with my hands like crafting with my kids, baking cookies, or planning something slightly chaotic. I’m a Southern girl through and through, and showing love through creativity (and good food) is just part of who I am.
MY DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
Great design should be experienced and not seen.
- Jared M. Spool co-founder and CEO of Center Centre-UIE
When design works well, we often don’t notice it. We only notice when something gets in the way.
Good design helps users reach their goals easily, but it’s more than just what they see. It’s in the invisible details: seamless interactions, thoughtful information architecture, and creative visual design all working together to create a truly delightful experience.
MY SKILLS
STRATEGY
Creative Direction
Design Strategy
Design Thinking
Product Vision & Roadmapping
Brand Experience
Stakeholder Alignment
PRODUCT DESIGN
UX Strategy & Research
UI Design
Information Architecture
Persona & Journey Mapping
Interaction Design
Responsive Web & Mobile Design
Design Systems
Accessibility (WCAG)
Prototyping
Branding & Visual Design
LEADERSHIP & COLLABORATION
Cross-functional Team Leadership
Collective Intelligence Workshops
DesignOps
Mentorship & Team Growth
MY DESIGN TOOLKIT
Pencil, paper, & sticky notes
Adobe Creative Suite
A prototyping tool – Figma
Strong cup of coffee
Working knowledge of HTML & CSS
A brainstorming tool – Mural
Kids and chaos for added fun
Design thinking strategies
MY KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Led and managed multiple design teams to improve complex business operations and user workflows to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and overall ability
Successfully designed and launched multiple products and features across enterprise and consumer brands from concept to delivery
Implemented Design Systems across multiple platforms
Executed numerous Design Thinking and Collective Intelligence workshops
Successfully validated requirements using low to high fidelity prototypes to demo interactions and user experiences
Highly recommended by Product Managers, Creative Directors, Developers, and Stakeholders
Won several awards for Employee Recognition