# Kate Valdes > AI-Enabled Product Design for Enterprise SaaS | Founder, This Waay Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/katevaldes Product design gets interesting when the systems get complicated. Over the past decade I have worked primarily in complex enterprise software. These are platforms where data is dense, workflows are layered, and small design decisions can shape how entire organizations operate. That experience has shaped how I think about product design. Good interfaces matter, but the real impact comes from designing the structure underneath. Workflows, information architecture, and the systems that support how people actually get work done. Recently that perspective has become even more relevant as companies rush to introduce AI into their products. AI does not fix broken systems. It amplifies them. When workflows are unclear or the underlying product structure is fragile, adding intelligence often creates confusion rather than value. Much of my recent work has focused on helping teams introduce AI into real workflows. This includes designing the guardrails, interfaces, and system clarity required for people to trust and effectively use these tools. Through my studio, This Waay, I partner with enterprise SaaS teams on product strategy, complex platform UX, and the intersection of product design and applied AI. At the core, my work is about designing systems that help people make better decisions and do their jobs more effectively. AI is simply the next layer of that evolution. ## Work Experience ### Founder, Product Strategy, Design, & AI Guidance @ ThisWayUX Jan 2021 – Present | Sacramento, CA Founder of This Waay, a product design studio focused on complex enterprise software and data-dense platforms. I partner with product teams to improve system clarity across workflows, information architecture, and design infrastructure. Much of my recent work focuses on introducing AI into existing products in ways that support real workflows and create practical value for operators. Focus areas • Enterprise platform UX • AI-enabled product workflows • Design systems and product infrastructure • Data-dense interfaces • Product strategy and UX transformation ### Advisor, VP Product Design @ PSG Jan 2021 – Jan 2024 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States Advisor, Senior Product Design Manager at PSG, a growth equity firm that partners with middle-market software and technology-enabled services companies to help them navigate transformational growth, capitalize on strategic opportunities and build strong teams. PSG brings extensive investment experience, deep expertise in software and technology, and a firm commitment to collaborating with management teams. ### Lead Product Designer @ PSG Jan 2020 – Jan 2021 | Remote ### Senior Product Designer @ Discovery Education Jan 2020 – Jan 2021 Reimagining how Discovery Education, an established EdTech content producer, might better support teacher routines in the classroom so they have the ability to improve student learning outcomes. ### Senior Product Designer | Studio XD @ Netflix Jan 2018 – Jan 2019 | Los Gatos Lead designer on the internal tools team supporting visibility needs across 60+ applications with the goal of modernizing how hollywood produces and delivers content. ### Director and Lead Product Designer @ UserZoom Jan 2016 – Jan 2017 | San Francisco Bay Area Managed a team of designers while driving direction of this User Research platform. ### Senior UX Designer @ BlackLine Jan 2015 – Jan 2016 | Greater Los Angeles Area Taking on a lead role to promote BlackLine's suite of solutions through a strategic redesign effort defined by a rethink in user flow and a partnership with cross functional partners. • Developed and promoted a UX Roadmap aligning with Product and Senior Mgmt objectives • Researching user behavior and promoting usability though the creation of testing programs • Audited existing user workflows within a legacy application • Presenting workflow redesigns and improvements to executives and other stakeholders • Developed a design documentation deliverable format to better serve Dev and QA's efforts • Creation of a pattern library promoting consistency and ease of execution • Working in a cross-functional environment to see a feature through the design lifecycle • Promoting the value of UX internally and educating internal teams on best practices ### UX Designer @ BlackLine Jan 2012 – Jan 2015 • Took user stories & requirements from PMs and translated them into wireframes, then comps • Documented interaction design and expected behaviors for new and existing feature sets • Worked within a design system to provide consistent and on-brand deliverables • Participated in design team feature reviews to share project learnings • Work closely with Product and Engineering teams • Dedicated to ongoing growth of product and market-space knowledge ### Designer @ Polycom Jan 2010 – Jan 2012 | San Francisco Bay Area Instructional design for a broad range of materials spanning sales colloratal to internal communication. ### Lead Web Designer @ GoWesty Camper Products Jan 2005 – Jan 2010 | San Luis Obispo, California Area During five+ years with this consumer facing marketplace in this vibrant and iconic space, I learned every aspect of this e-commerce workflow, with efforts influencing increased order conversions. • e-commerce workflow design • Product layout / updates • Product photography and touch-up • Content updates and information design • Print advertisement design • Promotional campaign design • Social media development • Shopping cart support / troubleshooting ### Board Member SLORFC @ San Luis Obispo, CA. Rugby Football Club Jan 2007 – Jan 2010 | San Luis Obispo, California Area Giving back to the community of ruggers. #SLORFC #RugbyIsFamily ### Event Manager @ Jim Miller Events Jan 2003 – Jan 2007 | San Luis Obispo, California Area Best college job ever! Management for events up and down California. #YellowShirts • Plating 1K fundraising dinners at Hearst Castle • Mosh pit security for Flogging Molly • Walkie Talkie concierge at the Monterey Jazz Festival • Illicit substance manager at the High Sierra Music Festival • A quinceanera here and there ## Education ### BS in Graphic Design California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ### Advanced Web & Interaction Design in Human Computer Interaction UCLA Extension ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kvaldes - Portfolio: http://katevaldes.com/ - Portfolio: https://www.blackline.com/ --- Source: https://flows.cv/katevaldes JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/katevaldes/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-13