Designing with intent

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with creative expression through movies, television, video games, music, art, and design. Not just to consume, but to analyze and understand why they work. I’m naturally a problem solver, and over time that mindset has shaped a user-centered approach to design focused on empathy and impact. It’s a special feeling to create something impactful and know that it has improved another life.

I’m originally from the south – born in South Carolina, raised in Georgia, but now I call New York home. Outside of work, I still gravitate towards efficiency, but in the form of me fine-tuning a strategy or method in a video game. When I’m actually relaxing you can find me trying new foods, visiting galleries and museums, watching tv and movies (a lot of sci-fi and anime), or taking care of my growing collection of houseplants.

Design Philosophy

Design
Philosophy

Understand the Problem

How is the business struggling? How are users struggling? How are they related? Answering these questions through research and cross-functional collaboration helps me identify the right problems to tackle.

Design for Impact

Leaning on my visual design background I strive to bridge the gap between complexity and aesthetics by crafting scalable, accessible solutions that are a joy to use.

Measure and Iterate

Measure performance, listen to users, and continuously evolve the experience for both the users and the business. Aiming to solve problems before they arise.

Experience

Ceterus
Product Designer

Designed key operational tools for an automated financial services startup and redesigned core customer-facing application.

Ceterus
Product Designer

Designed key operational tools for an automated financial services startup and redesigned core customer-facing application.

Legislative Services Agency
Web/Interactive Designer

Collaborated with developers to increase efficiency creating enterprise web applications for legislators and staff.

Legislative Services Agency
Web/Interactive Designer

Collaborated with developers to increase efficiency creating enterprise web applications for legislators and staff.

Garnet & Black Magazine
Staff Designer

Designed magazine page spreads for the award-winning student magazine.

Garnet & Black Magazine
Staff Designer

Designed magazine page spreads for the award-winning student magazine.

USTA South Carolina
Marketing and PR Intern

Supported tennis league marketing campaigns with branding, merchandising, and more.

USTA South Carolina
Marketing and PR Intern

Supported tennis league marketing campaigns with branding, merchandising, and more.

Freelance
Design Consultant

What started as me helping my dad with visuals for his employer's Christmas party in high school has continued to evolve as I have and now includes UX work for nonprofits and startups.

Freelance
Design Consultant

What started as me helping my dad with visuals for his employer's Christmas party in high school has continued to evolve as I have and now includes UX work for nonprofits and startups.

How I Work

Trade-Offs
Trade-Offs
Complexity to Clarity
Complexity to Clarity
Navigating Ambiguity
Navigating Ambiguity
Systems Thinking
Systems Thinking
How I've Changed
How I've Changed

Tools

Figma

UX/UI + Prototyping

Figma

UX/UI + Prototyping

Adobe CC

Branding + Design

Adobe CC

Branding + Design

Framer

Web + Prototyping

Framer

Web + Prototyping

Confluence

Documentation

Confluence

Documentation

Jira

Product Management

Jira

Product Management

Heap

Analytics

Heap

Analytics

Claude

Prototyping

Claude

Prototyping

ChatGPT

Research + Copy

ChatGPT

Research + Copy

Kellen LaGroon

Product Designer based in New York City

Kellen LaGroon

Product Designer based in New York City

Kellen LaGroon

Product Designer based in New York City