Hi there! My name is

Katherine Root

I'm a Product, AI, and Experience Design Expert

Tell me more

I've been designing at consumer obsessed startups for 15 years.

I grew a lot in this early role learning about how companies run.

Simply Hired

I started at this small UX firm straight out of undergrad.

Launch Design

My latest role, founding designer, creating an app to help cancer patients navigate their diagnosis.

Manta Cares

I spent 10 YEARS building this product and team — I know it like the back of my hand.

Mighty Networks

I was part of the founding design team here when it was still called “Prosperworks”

Copper CRM

Wow cool

I combine design strategy with business acumen to help companies succeed.

CASE STUDY First App Experience For years the experience of downloading the Mighty Networks app was crusty and abandoned, forever deemed a P2 not worth updating. Here I explore the business value of a great first impression, and how to showcase that value visually. CASE STUDY Maturing Manta's Brand I took on evolving the Manta Cares brand from "scrappy startup" to "we'll always be here for you", without losing the identity that people had already come to know us for.
Uh huh

My work is grounded in empathy and understanding. Always.

CASE STUDY The Eight Minute Appointment A rushed visit with an oncologist is the hardest moment in the whole journey. Here's how we designed a before/during/after ritual to meet it. CASE STUDY Unlocking People Magic As a B2B2C company, Mighty Networks has to balance catering not just to Hosts, but to their members. If you build for the members, the Hosts will follow — so how do you make that experience truly magical?
Interesting

That empathy also allows me to build thriving teams, systems, and cultures.

COMING SOON Building Remote Culture Scaling the design team at Mighty from 2 members to 10, all while navigating the new waters of working remotely — and building a collaborative, creative environment online.
COMING SOON Make Mighty Cool How do you build a product organization that not only understands the value of design, but actively contributes to delightful interactions? An initiative to get full org buy-in on the power of design details.
Show me some screens

Oh and I make things look pretty ✨

Manta Cares Find Your Map
Manta Cares iOS Widgets
Manta Cares Dashboard
Manta Cares Map Partial
Manta Cares Map Popup Info
Manta Cares Hope AI
Manta Cares Map Full
Manta Cares Nav
Mighty Networks Splash Screen
Mighty Networks Find Community
Mighty Networks Interests
Mighty Networks Network List
Mighty Networks Feed
Mighty Networks Profile
Mighty Networks Member List
Mighty Networks Member Bubbles
Mighty Networks Expanded Bubble
Mighty Networks Nav
Mighty Networks Subscribe
Mighty Networks Livewell
Mighty Networks Body Soul
Mighty Networks Optimistic Entrepreneur
Mighty Networks Modern Creator
SO PRETTY

Don't want to take my word for it?
Ask my co-workers.

She's just all-around great to work with: a creative but sensible voice during ideation, a doer who's ready to roll up her sleeves wherever needed, and someone willing to make decisions and cut through the endless “what ifs.”

Elisabeth Boonin Head of Engineering @ Manta Cares

She will be a true asset to any team, valued for her keen eye for design, sense of humor, and ability to see the big picture.

Erin Landis Clinical Content Manager @ Manta Cares

Katherine is everything you'd hope for in a design manager — supportive, thoughtful, and a true advocate for her team.

Giada Sun Product Designer @ Mighty Networks

Katherine is driven, hardworking, curious, and fun-spirited. She brings the kind of positivity that teams thrive on.

Christopher Edlin Lead Technical Recruiter @ Mighty Networks

Katherine is that rare combination of natural leader, top-notch designer, and reliable teammate — the kind of person you jump at the chance to work with.

Mike Beverley Sr. Director of Software Engineering @ Mighty Networks

Because of Katherine, I learned a lot about what makes a great design lead truly outstanding.

Bruno Ribeiro Product Designer @ Mighty Networks

She struck a perfect balance of giving me the freedom to run with projects, making them my own, and helping guide the project with thought provoking questions and discussions.

John Welch Product Designer @ Mighty Networks
What's the one liner

I do design because I love it, and I bring that passion to all of the work that I do 💖

Let's talk

Feel free to say hi some time.
I'd love to chat 👋

Is this the end?