Kylie Krugen
Kylie Krugen is a seasoned Lead UX Interaction Designer with over a decade of experience creating intuitive and impactful digital experiences. Currently leading the user experience design efforts at RCIS (Rural Community Insurance Services), Kylie focuses on modernizing design systems, maintaining consistency across products, and collaborating with her team to develop wireframes, prototypes, and client-centered solutions. Her approach combines strategic design thinking with practical usability testing, ensuring that digital solutions meet both business goals and the real needs of users.
Kylie’s academic foundation in Cognitive Science with a focus on Psychology from Minnesota State University Mankato equips her with a deep understanding of human cognition, learning, and attention across age groups. This expertise informs her user-centered design process, allowing her to craft experiences that are not only visually appealing but also intuitive and accessible. Certified as a Usability Analyst through Human Factors International, she leverages a wide range of tools, including Figma, Sketch, Invision, Axure, and MURAL, to bring ideas to life while prioritizing usability and efficiency.
Beyond her professional work, Kylie is passionate about community, family, and personal growth. She is the founder of Little Acres Moms, a homesteading group that supports mothers in connecting and sharing skills, and she actively contributes to Hope for Youth, a nonprofit aiding homeless teens. Balancing her career with her interests in natural healing, gardening, and nurturing her children’s passions, Kylie embodies a holistic approach to design and life—one that values empathy, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Design Thinking in the Age of AI
• Designing Microinteractions with Figma
• Accessibility and Inclusion with Figma
• Accessibility for Web Design
• Unconscious Bias
• Crucial Conversations
• CUA - Certified Usability Analyst
• Anoka Ramsey Community College - A.A.
• Little Acres Moms
• Hope for Youth
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of persistence and hard work, along with a deep ability to empathize with and understand users—skills strengthened by my background in cognitive science and professional training in usability.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to never let anyone make me question my worth. Our value isn’t defined by titles or opinions—it’s built through authenticity, resilience, and the belief that what we bring to the table matters.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering the industry to never give up—apply for every opportunity and don’t let rejections discourage you.
Avoid taking decisions personally, as factors like deadlines, budgets, and timing often drive outcomes more than merit. Most importantly, know your value and never let anyone make you question your worth.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges and opportunities in my field right now are consistently demonstrating the business value of UX so that teams earn a permanent seat at the decision-making table, and reducing unconscious bias in research by ensuring more diverse and inclusive participant representation.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my work, empathy is the foundation of good design. I believe understanding people—their motivations, challenges, and goals—is what leads to meaningful solutions. Collaboration is equally vital; I value open, respectful communication and believe the best ideas come from diverse perspectives working together.
Integrity guides how I show up for my team and my users. I strive to do what’s right, even when it’s not the easiest route, and to build trust through consistency and accountability.
Finally, continuous growth matters deeply to me. Learning hasn’t always come easily, which has made me passionate about curiosity and self-improvement—whether that’s refining my craft, supporting others in theirs, or finding new ways to make a positive impact.
In my personal life, these same values carry through. As a mother of two, I try to model empathy, problem-solving, and resilience—showing that challenges are opportunities to learn and grow.
Locations
RCIS: Rural Community Insurance Services
Oak Grove, MN 55303