- AboutKatherine McEachernI am a human-centered designer focused on helping organizations and companies with a social mission achieve their goals through designing products, spaces, and services. Along with design consulting, I lead design thinking workshops to help mission-driven individuals and organizations learn how to incorporate design thinking into their daily work.My background is in community organizing and youth climate advocacy. From this work, I bring passion for sustainability and deep systems change, as well as a love for empowering others to be a positive force in their community.My pastimes include cooking, playing with my dog, and making jewelry from vintage and repurposed items. I find joy in taking pieces that have been loved before and turning them into something to be loved again. My jewelry is sold at local boutiques, on BRIKA, a site for makers, and on Etsy.You can find find more of my writing on design for social change on my blog.
- What I doDesign Research and ConsultingFor nonprofits, startups, community organizations, and companies with a social mission.Services offered:- Identifying user needs through user interviews and observation- Prototyping and product testing
- Finding product-market fit- Project management and product development
- ClientsA sample of past and current clients.
I AMEveryday consumer products for social change.Role: Design Lead and Project Manager• Currently leading product research and evaluation to determine product-market fit and identify first product to market Goldie BloxEngineering Toys for GirlsRole: Lead Design Researcher• Designed testing protocol and led user tests with 70+ young girls, identified key strengths and revisions
• Revised prototype and met with industrial designers to move into manufacturing stage of production StartingBlocLos Angeles '13 Institute for Social InnovationRole: Social Innovation Case Challenge Consultant• Collaborated with partner organizations Design for America and Los Angeles Kitchen to develop case study for the 90 LA'13 prospective Fellows• Facilitated case study workshop over four days, guiding participants through the human centered design process - Education & WorkAdditional experience can be found on LinkedIn. Rue Magazine2012-present, San Francisco, CAMarketing Associate• Write 2-3 engaging interviews and articles profiling designers and artisans per issue as well as 1-3 blog posts weekly• Developed strategies for reader engagement, optimizing social media participation resulting in an average of 200 new followers on Facebook, Twitter, and Pintrest weekly over past 4 month period Chesapeake Climate Action Network2009-2011, Richmond, VAVirginia Campus Organizer• Advised student groups on achievable and meaningful campus sustainability improvements
• Managed 200+ active volunteers, developed relationships with 30+ leaders on 6-10 campuses per semester
• Spearheaded Power Vote 2010 in Virginia, resulting in 2,600 young people pledged to vote
• Revamped communication systems, growing statewide list from 5,000 to over 9,000 young people Avaaz Action Factory2009, Washington, DCAction Factory Fellow• Executed 1-3 creative actions per week to influence federal climate legislation and the international negotiations in Copenhagen, earning 110 media hits - Hire me.Let's make things happen.
- Percent JewelryHandcrafted jewelry from vintage and repurposed materials.Available in the following online marketplaces:
