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The work of 

Kaitlin York

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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

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