Hi I’m Katy! 👋

I'm a queer, Lebanese American artist living in Chicago, IL. I advocate for mental health and queer inclusion, online and off.

For the last 10 years, I was a prominent design leader for web and mobile products, excelling in visual design, strategy and team engagement. By late 2023, I stepped down and began teaching art to elementary students.

I love empowering people to find their confidence, whether in design, work process or self improvement. I do that by sharing my corporate and hospitality background, process, great tunes, writing and arranging cross-functional design workshops.

My last corporate gig was working at Etsy, designing their first-ever video innovation vertical for Sellers and Buyers. Before Etsy, I worked at Grubhub, then with digital design clients at FCB Chicago, where I perfected my design documentation, storytelling and presentation crafts. And earlier, I spent a few years with Chicago startups - Spothero, Impact Networking and Acapella Media - designing and strategizing their web/mobile apps.

I look forward to pushing the boundaries of social norms, especially racial and gender equality. By creating safe spaces for all to flourish, creativity and confidence will follow.

What I can do:
Visual Design, Product Strategy, Information Architecture, UX Research, Wireframing, Interaction Design, Presentations, Team Facilitation, iOS Human Interface Guidelines, Android Material Design, familiarity with HTML/CSS

Industries I’ve worked in:
Hospitality, Food Service, E-Commerce, Marketplace Tech, Financial Tech, Advertising Agency, Tech Agency

Proud Moments:
Co-Lead, Etsy’s Mental Health ERG, 2023
Joined group of 6 co-leads planning and facilitating the 2023 season of Mental Health group events.

Manager, Etsy’s Product Design Dept, 2021-2023
Curator and host of monthly Mental Health workshops for Product Designers, including hosting the 2022 Etsy by Design Summit

Panelist, Queer@ Etsy Fireside Chat, 2022
Virtually, I joined 3 other Queer Etsy coworkers during a monthly chat to discuss our queer experiences in life and at tech companies.

Panelist, LesbiansWhoTech Pride Summit, 2021
Virtually, I joined 4 other Grubhub coworkers to promote recruitment and discuss how Product/Tech departments are evolving DEI.

#IAmRemarkable Facilitator, 2019-Present
Trained Facilitator for Google’s workshop; virtually and in-person for groups of 5 to 25 people

Grubtank Finalist, 2018
Grubtank, similar to Shark Tank, is an annual contest Grubhub holds for employees. I led my group in ideation and presentation reviews, then presented solo in front of company (3,000+ in person and online)

American Web Design Award, 2016
My design was awarded the 2016 American Web Design Award from GD USA Magazine for the Impact Corporate Website