Oh, Hello there
I bet you have great taste,
a good eye, and so many ideas ready
to be made into something
helpful and tangible with depth.
You’re a business owner with a lot on your plate and a massive vision to bring to life.
You need a right hand when it comes to design and to fill you in on all things that hold your brand up high. These days it takes more than a gorgeous color scheme and a fancy logo. It takes thoughtful visuals, decisions guided by research, and a level of delight and surprise that will light hearts on fire for your brand. You need to put trust into someone who can help make those hard hitting decisions and lighten the load because, let’s face it, there’s a lot you might not know and a lot of second guessing behind every decision right now.
Breathe. I’ve got your back.
You’re in the right place to put all the years of deep work, planning and building into something that can change lives and feel so so good. Let me translate your brilliance and help put the pieces together to create something real, evocative and stunning.
I'm Katie Z, an avid learner of design thinking, slow living, and minimalism.
In turn, that means that each design is filled with intention and a holistic focus without unnecessary clutter. I come to the table with supportive ideas, new outlooks, and designs that leave you refreshed so you can focus on the next steps for your business’ growth.
I’ve seen this work for companies as big as Whole Foods Market to smaller solopenurs like Grace Hayden to attract more people to champion their values and message and turn by-passers into an engaged audience. I want to create space and ease in your brand, so in turn, you can create space for the things that mean the most to you.
Imagine that life for a second: breathing easy, having clarity around the next steps, and a brand that deeply reflects the message you’ve been refining for years.
CURRENT OR RECENTLY DESIGNED FOR
Hey, Sweet Pea
Bella Maven
The Bali Market
Grace Hayden
Amy Scott
Maggie Frank-Hsu
Olivia Herrick
Wealth Over Now
SKILL SETS
Branding & Logo
Illustration
Web Design (Showit + Squarespace)
Art Direction
Iconography
Hand Lettering
EDUCATION
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Illustration
Minor in Animation
2013
Get to know me and my values better
Giving Back
I consider myself incredibly lucky that I get to live a life of my own design. Not many people can say they get to be creative day in and out - so it is an opportunity I want to give to other independent makers and artists as often as I can.
I firmly believe in making consistent donations towards charities that are advancing the world in eco-consciousness or women’s empowerment no matter how big or small that quarter is. Here are some of the causes and artists I currently dedicate a portion of my income to so that the world can grow and become a better place for humanity - be it equality, health, water, or unconventional career paths.
Supporting these charities:
Kurandza - SPONSOR
CHARITY:WATER - QUARTERLY DONATION
You know those things you talk about that make your eyes shine bright?
Here’s mine
MINIMALISM
There’s a level of relief I get from putting things away in just the right spot, clearing out the tasks I really don’t need to be doing, or creating white space in all areas of my life. I could talk about simplifying and getting down to essentials all day. The main aspect of it that you will probably see pop up more than a few times is the idea of: Less - but better. To me, it’s not about having less things but holding onto the things that enrich your life.
JAPAN
The air enchants and rests my soul. The juxtaposition of being in one of calmest parks nestled inside one of the busiest cities in the world that will never cease to amaze me. There are the absolute sweetest strawberries you will ever find inside underground train stations and a million alleyways to find inspiration and tiny delights. I truly feel like Belle in her bookshop anytime I get to share my experiences from Japan.
TEA
Working and learning from tea has given me a form of meditation that engages all five of the senses and a cupboard filled to the brim with bags, sachets, and tins of all sorts of blends. I love that each tea has it’s own heart and story to tell and it’s one of my favorite gifts to give. There’s so much we can share over a session of tea and if you need a slew of recommendations - You’ve come to the right place!
DOGS
I can’t leave these goobers out. My shar-pei (Boba) and pug (Nori) keep me company, ease my anxious nature, and give me more laughs than anyone else. One of the many gifts working for myself gave me was being able to have the cutest co-workers you could ask for. I’ll probably apologize for them on a call we have at least once (sorry, not sorry really)
ELEVATED DISTINCT BRANDS
My Signature Branding Process
Branding your business can feel overwhelming and daunting at times because of the scale of it all - There’s the internal core of each brand, the voice, and the visuals. Hope you weren’t just looking for a logo! I have refined the process to make it simple for us to discover all the elements for yours in 3 easy steps.
FOUNDATIONS + DISCOVER | CREATE + REFINE | DESIGN + DELIVER
You will never feel alone, forgotten, or in the dark about the process as we work through these steps together. I walk through each of the foundations you will need to start a compelling strategy and visuals that align with the research to foster a depth of connection and delight for your people. The deep knowledge you have of your audience and business - combined with diligent communication - keeps everything moving forward with intention and ease.
