Katherine Smith

I attribute my growth to not waiting for outside validation. I think it’s easy, especially as women, to look to others for reassurance or wait for someone to confirm that we’re on the right path or give us permission to move forward. That mindset can keep you stuck, waiting for something that may never come. I’ve seen this be especially common in corporate environments. For me, real growth came from setting my own standards, trusting my instincts, and moving forward without needing that external approval. That shift is what has helped me progress more quickly in my role.

The best career advice I’ve received is to stay teachable and flexible. Especially in design, it’s easy early on to take revisions personally or feel like feedback is a reflection of you rather than the work. But learning to separate yourself from the work is key. Sometimes it means recognizing you were designing for yourself instead of the client, or that you weren’t fully aligned with their vision. Staying open, adaptable, and willing to learn makes a bigger difference than talent alone. It’s very obvious when someone struggles to take feedback well, and it can make collaboration difficult. Over time, that can lead to frustration and a disconnect from the work itself.

Being teachable, flexible, and not taking feedback personally will take you much further than skill alone.

Don’t be afraid to take up space. You may find yourself as the only woman in the room, but that doesn’t make your perspective any less valuable. In fact, women often bring a unique point of view that can push ideas further and make the work stronger. It’s easy to hold back if you feel young or inexperienced, but you’re in the room for a reason. Your ideas have value. Trust your instincts, speak up with confidence, and be willing to adapt and grow along the way.

I think one of the biggest challenges and opportunities in our field right now is how people view AI. Some have embraced it early, while others are hesitant, often out of fear of being replaced. As a creative, I see AI as a powerful tool. It can help shape ideas, speed up early-stage concepts, and bring initial mockups to life more efficiently. However, the one thing it cannot replicate is the human ability to feel. Great creative work connects because it evokes emotion, and that comes from human experience.

Because of that, this moment of uncertainty is also a major opportunity. AI becomes an extension of us rather than a replacement. When used thoughtfully, it can enhance the creative process and help us produce stronger work, but it still relies on human perspective and emotion to truly resonate.

One of the most important values to me is being a self-starter. I don’t believe in waiting to be told what to do. I think it’s important to take initiative, figure things out as they arise, and be proactive in finding solutions.

Another value that’s really important to me is reaching both up and down. I’ve been fortunate to have people who took the time to guide and support me, and I believe it’s just as important to do the same for others. Continuing to learn from those ahead of you while also mentoring and supporting those coming up behind you creates a stronger, more collaborative environment.