BeYOND
EXPERIENCE
DESIGN
Based in Toronto
Working worldwide

I lead at the intersection of design, product, and business. My work has always centered on building clarity out of complexity, whether that’s creating systems, defining strategy, or helping teams find focus and momentum. I care deeply about outcomes that matter: products that perform, teams that grow, and experiences that move both metrics and people.

I spent the last 10 years leading design and product strategy across industries; from enterprise platform redesigns to AI-driven innovation. My background in psychology shapes how I approach user behavior, leadership, and organizational design.

Ultimately, I believe design is the most powerful tool a business has: it creates alignment, uncovers opportunities, and drives business growth.

WHAT I DO
[01]
DESIGN transformation
Interaction Design
Visual Design
Motion Design
Design Systems
Prototyping
Accessibility

Exceptional design craft remains the foundation of every great product. I bring deep expertise in interaction, motion, and visual design; creating experiences that are not only beautiful, but intuitive, accessible, and scalable.  

[02]
design LEADERSHIP
Org Design
DesignOps
Team Scaling
Mentorship
Executive Alignment
Governance

I build and scale world-class design organizations that deliver impact at every level of maturity. From hiring and mentorship to implementing design systems and governance models, I help teams evolve from tactical execution to strategic influence.

[03]
Product Strategy
KPI Alignment
Roadmapping
User Research
Market Analysis
Growth Strategy
Data Visualization

I connect business goals with user needs to shape cohesive product strategies that drive measurable growth. By combining performance data, market insights, and behavioral research, I define priorities that balance user value with revenue outcomes.

[04]
AI Integration
AI
Personalization
Data Compliance
A/B + MVT Testing
Experimentation

I help organizations design AI-driven products that enhance human capability rather than replace it. This includes developing personalization frameworks, designing intelligent user flows, and partnering with data science to define how algorithms interact with people.

[05]
Brand + Culture
Change Management
Culture Design
Brand Strategy
Facilitation
Org Alignment

I bridge the gap between how a brand is experienced externally and how it’s lived internally. By integrating behavioral psychology and brand management, I help organizations align mission, values, and daily practice, so that employees and customers share one coherent experience.

Recent Projects
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Ian MacDonald
Chief Marketing and Product Officer @AutoTrader.ca
"I have worked with many UX leaders in my career and I truly rate Karina as the best I have encountered. A genuine, unassailable passion for the user and their needs, yet able to balance commercial interests when needed. She is a dab hand in the pitch meeting as well!

Karina brought a level of strategic thinking and engagement to UX that I had never seen before. On her watch, UX was so much more than simply design. Her work around user journeys and segmentations laid the foundations for years of growth ahead for the AutoTrader.ca business ."
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Julie Tremblay
Head of Experience @Think Tank Training Centre
"Karina is an incredibly humble, driven, and result-oriented design leader. One of the things I admire about Karina's approach is her ability to generate and leverage insights from fearlessly asking for feedback, and from truly embracing a human centric design thinking approach to solving any type of problem. Karina is also a remarkably engaging meeting and workshop facilitator, and naturally inspires others to grow to their full potential."
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Jonas Altman
Founder @Socal Fabric. Author of "Shapers"
"Karina is one of those design professionals who gets it. She is empathic, creative, smart and switched on. Working with her is not only a pleasure - but an invigorating learning experience. Highly recommend her for any creative challenge you may face, no matter the scale."
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David Britton
CEO @Flatrock
"At AutoTrader, she architected our 'Instant Cash Offer' experience into a multi-million dollar product.  If you're looking for someone who can lead, challenge the status quo and drive results - look no further."
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Nilan Kasandas
Sr Product Designer @AutoTrader.ca
"Working with Karina for three years has been an incredibly rewarding experience. She excels at listening to the team’s needs and ensuring they have what they need to succeed. Her tactical and strategic feedback has been invaluable, and I’ve gained immense insights from both her advice and her approach. As a mentor and leader, Karina imparts lessons that extend beyond traditional learning, offering unique skills and insights."
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Chris Patheiger
Chief Innovation and Product Officer @The Dallas Morning News
"During our time together at Trader, Karina led our UX, design and insights BUs. She was a keystone to creating systems and a culture of execution across the business. Karina is an energetic, creative and collaborative leader and was an integral thought partner in supporting the development of our commercial product strategy."
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Patrick Pan
Design System Manager @Clio
"Karina is both an exceptional leader and a remarkable individual. Karina has played a pivotal role in my development as a designer and manager, offering invaluable opportunities, guidance, and support that have significantly contributed to my current success.

Karina is a visionary in UX, consistently pushing the boundaries of quality and driving impactful product transformations. Her creativity and collaborative spirit are contagious, inspiring everyone around her to reach new heights"
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Paul Lemky
Front End Developer
"Karina's attention to detail and innovative design ideas are second to none. As a front end developer you dream of design comps that speak for themselves without requiring a whole lot of "back and forth". That's how it was whenever I worked with Karina on a project."
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Brian Holt
Sr. Sofware Engineer @DigitalOcean
"Karina pushed all of us to experiment in our classes to ensure our students had the best experience possible. She knew when to encourage us to dream big as well as when to reign in blue-sky ideas for practical application. It was clear she fully trusted and believed in our team."