About me

Katherine Elise Ong

I'm a product designer & researcher bringing 3+ years of hands-on experience to deliver impactful solutions. As a fourth year at UC Davis, I'm finishing with an interdisciplinary double major in Design & Cognitive Science.

My Journey

Being born in San Francisco and raised in Southern California, I've always been surrounded by a diverse culture of innovation and artistry that inspires my ambitions. From giving classmates origami tutorials on the playground to now playing with design systems in Figma, I've embraced my creativity for as long as I can remember.

My design journey began when I discovered how UX merges my analytical and visual thinking skills to solve problems. I’m passionate about this field and its ability to align users and businesses to foster innovation, engagement, and accessibility.

My Design World

Researching children's learning through video games with the UC Davis Human Development & Media Lab.
On the 24th floor at the Target HQ with Bullseye :)
Visiting Eindhoven for Dutch Design Week 2026
Config 2024
UC Davis ECO Office

My Design Philosophy

Leave no stone unturned.

My approach is driven by research, meticulous attention to detail, and persistent interrogation of purpose and efficiency.

To design is to be human!

Humans have been drawn to creative problem-solving and community-building since the dawn of time. I draw from psychology to match how our brains are wired to interface with our environment.

Everyone teaches, everyone learns.

Design requires constant iteration, failure, and pivoting. With an appetite for learning, I welcome honest critique and give back to my community through mentorship.

A few of my favorite things

Semester abroad in Copenhagen
Imperfectly perfect ceramics
My salad obsession
Hiking :)
Cheeto, the UCD campus cat