About

I bring value and experience to early-stage companies in need of good design and clear communication. I spent nearly 20 years as head of design at tech incubator Idealab, where I partnered with dozens of early-stage entrepreneurs and marketers. My consulting practice today is primarily focused on branding as well as pitch deck content and design for early-stage startups who want to introduce new products or raise investor funds.

Experience

Brand/UX/UI Design Consultant

I work with early-stage startups to help entrepreneurs reach their business goals. I advise and do hands-on work to tell a clear and simple brand story through their investor/pitch decks, websites, and visual identity. I bring value and an experienced strategic eye to help solve early-stage marketing and business problems. I'd be happy to review your current materials and identify ways to optimize your design to support your communication and branding objectives.

Chief Design Officer at Idealab

Idealab was founded in 1996 to create, build and operate companies that challenge the status quo. Idealab has prototyped and tested hundreds of ideas, and from those, has formed and operated more than 150 companies spanning a wide range of markets. For nearly 20 years, I partnered with technology entrepreneurs to provide branding, user experience and digital product design services to startup companies in fields as diverse as software, education, 3D printing, mobile apps, search, artificial intelligence, and solar energy. My small in-house design team was set up like an agency to handle the needs of both early-stage startups and later-stage companies, with a design philosophy centered around the power of simple, intuitive user experiences and clear visual communication.

Design Advisor at Actual Being, a DTC wellness startup

Actual Being™, a Bruce Lee Family company, is an early-stage DTC startup with a mission to bring holistic health and longevity to all. Actual Being's first product, FOCUS, offers the powerful benefits of eastern medicine in a tasty, liquid format to bring you morning energy and focus, all day long. Actual Being's highly concentrated, plant-based supplements are based on Bruce Lee’s daily training regimen and formulated by longevity specialist Dr. Mao Shing Ni.

Founding Designer at Citysearch

I was a founding member of Citysearch's team, which built one of the first city guides on the Internet. I led the effort to brand the company and then design the website, product interfaces and marketing materials for the company's initial launch and subsequent expansion into multiple cities. I recruited and managed a team of 40 designers who built websites for local businesses such as retail stores and restaurants. Citysearch merged with Ticketmaster before an IPO, and was subsequently acquired by IAC.

Links from Kristen

My Design Portfolio

Examples of my branding, product, and marketing design work for early-stage startups.

LinkedIn recommendations

Scroll down to hear from past clients and colleagues with whom I've worked over the years... and feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn!

Strategic Product Design for Startups [Article]

Founders need to think strategically when it comes to their initial product design and marketing.

4.7

Kevin H

I asked for some ideas on how to improve the UX/Design of my new website...which I had quickly put together, and she gave me a laundry list of spot-on improvements that I can easily take care of. Thanks!

James W

I had an inspirational session with Kristen and got some fantastic advice! After our session I got straight to work implementing changes we discussed and moving things forward.