The work of
Kaitlin York
Hi There
I am an Industrial Designer who came from years in the kids’ toy and furniture industry where I worked with brands like Disney, Neiman Marcus and Target to bring over 50 products to market. From there I have enjoyed applying that mindset of designing for the unassuming and open minded to design the products of tomorrow. I graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Industrial Design and a minor in Sustainability Studies.
Enthusiastic and dedicated, I’m seeking a diversity of projects where I can grow, develop, and make an impact. With a strong skill set and relevant experience, I believe I can bring creative ideas and successful solutions to the table. Take a look through my work and let me know if I can help you with your product design needs.
Work Experience
Freelance Design Services,
KYK Designs
October 2022- Present
My past working both in house- and at a consultancy has shown me how much I enjoy working on all phases of product development and being able to be a nimble creative asset for a variety of clients. Now I am working with those in need of design services, creative direction, product rendering, and general product development. This includes long term contracts as well as shorter freelance work. Please see the services tab for more information and client testimonials.
Industrial Designer, Kidkraft
May 2016- April 2018
As an industrial designer my responsibilities were to brainstorm new and innovative ways to play. I created concepts and used 3D modeling, rendering and prototyping to bring them to life. I also worked closely with our engineering, marketing, and sales teams to meet cost objectives, manufacturing restrictions, safety rules, and sales objectives. Most impressively is that despite all that we still managed to make some pretty fun toys!
design intern, Kidkraft
May 2014 - August 2015
Between college semesters I worked in both the industrial design and design engineering departments. I started on the design engineering team which gave me the technical knowledge and mindset I needed to be able to later on design concepts with cost, assembly, and manufacturing as viable considerations.
Industrial Designer Ii,
Modus
May 2021- November 2022
At modus I joined a small team ready to innovate on the future. In my time here I have jumped into the world of electric mobility solutions, transportation design, marine design, emerging technology, UI/UX, virtual reality and future solutions. In my role I am working with clients and engineers to innovate new ideas and make ideas a reality.
Senior Industrial Designer, Kidkraft
April 2018- May 2021
As a Sr. Designer I became the design lead for the dollhouse category as well as had the opportunity to mentor associate designers and interns. I managed the dollhouse projects cohesively across all departments to ensure that the design intent, perceived value, marketability, and play value were correct for the SKU all while retaining a core sense of the company brand identity.
Education
Auburn University
2012-2016
Bachelor of Industrial Design
Minor in Sustainability Studies
Summa Cum Laude
Honors Scholar