# Kat Reilly > Principal Designer @ Playlab.ai (We’re hiring!) | Empowering educators, democratizing AI & fostering creativity Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/katreilly I'm a product design leader & award-winning visual artist with 13+ years experience crafting innovative, engaging experiences for kids, families, and educators. My colorful artwork, made entirely of upcycled paper, has been displayed in galleries across the U.S. Here's a fun conversation starter: ask me how I found my way into product design. (Hint: it all begins with the Muppets!) ## Work Experience ### Principal Designer @ Playlab AI Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 ### Design Advisor @ Kinsome Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 ### Principal Product Designer @ Seesaw Learning Jan 2019 – Jan 2024 | San Francisco, California As virtual connections between educators and students were becoming more crucial, Seesaw lacked a robust communication platform that matched the increasing needs of its users. With the additional need to implement a new, more efficient tech stack, there was also an opportunity to entirely rethink communication for Seesaw’s 10M+ monthly users. With my prior experience in kid-centric communication, I was brought in to design a brand new messaging system that met crucial user pain points while also navigating the trials of experimenting with a new tech stack. Over 2 years, I led a user-centric design process for the initiative, iterating through continual user feedback. I also paired with my engineering team to bring Seesaw's cross-platform design system onto the new tech stack. Since Messages launched in 2022, districts now choose Seesaw for its seamless suite of communication tools. Increased usage shows messaging's continued importance to Seesaw’s growth and its mission to support its 10M+ monthly. Working on Messages challenged me to transform limitations into human-centered opportunities. With passion and purpose, I learned that engaging with our users at every step of the design process can lead to more impactful–and more human–solutions. ### Product Designer @ Meta Jan 2017 – Jan 2019 | San Francisco Bay Area At Meta, I led design for the company’s first communication app for kids, an incredible opportunity to help younger users connect in a fun and safe way. As the team’s expert in UX for kids, my mission was collaborating with child development specialists to build an engaging onboarding flow and activities that encouraged social-emotional learning and good digital citizenship. I tested concepts continually with real kids using prototypes that utilized motion and game mechanics. Working with artists, I designed a platform for delightful multiplayer games teaching communication skills. The app is now used by over 7 million kids in 195 countries. This strengthened my ability to leverage testing and prototyping to connect authentically with young users through educational experiences. ### Lead Product Designer, Disney Interactive Labs @ The Walt Disney Company Jan 2013 – Jan 2017 | Glendale, CA In 2014, Disney lacked a streaming platform while Netflix dominated. My small “labs” team was tasked with a proof of concept for Disney's very first streaming service. With minimal intial specs, my first mission was to understand & communicate stakeholder and consumer expectations. Over the first 6 months, I held requirements-gathering workshops & created service blueprints that synthesized stakeholder expectations with consumer insights. During an ambitious “build it” phase, I spearheaded our UI & motion design system and architected the app’s robust login & signup systems. DisneyLife launched successfully in the UK, Ireland, and the Philippines. It served as the precursor to Disney+, now the world’s most successful dedicated streaming platform with over 146 million subscribers. This once-in-a-lifetime experience strengthened my ability to synthesize user insights & stakeholder requirements into a unified vision and also deliver a product that exceeded customer expectations. ### UX Designer, Disney.com @ The Walt Disney Company Jan 2012 – Jan 2013 | Glendale, CA Crafted information architectures, wireframes, and prototypes to ensure cohesive experience for the reimagining of Disney.com. Favorite projects include redesigns of DisneyJunior.com and DisneyPrincess.com. ### Product Manager @ The Walt Disney Company Jan 2011 – Jan 2012 | Burbank, CA ### Intern, Content & Game Development Lab @ The Walt Disney Company Jan 2011 – Jan 2011 | North Hollywood, CA Led narrative design for unpublished, story-driven mobile game. Collaborated with artists to visualize game environments and characters. Partnered with Unity engineer to design gameplay prototypes. ### Cinematographer and Editor @ Parsons the New School for Design Jan 2011 – Jan 2011 | New York, New York Videographer and editor for transmedia book and documentary focused on elite fashion designers and Parsons alumni including Donna Karen, Isaac Mizrahi, and Prabal Gurung. Camera operator for location shoots and interviews. Non-linear editor for full-length and short documentaries to be featured in the book and at events. ### Intern, Online Content Development @ The Walt Disney Company Jan 2010 – Jan 2010 | North Hollywood, CA Developed and pitched concepts for original online video content. Crafted storyboard and screenplays to present to producers and media makers at Disney.com. ### Original Content Editor & Producer @ The Walt Disney Company Jan 2009 – Jan 2010 | New York, New York Pitched and produced original online video content for Disney.com. Collaborated with Disney producers and creative directors to refine projects. ### Producer & Camera Operator @ The Media Center of Fairfield University Jan 2008 – Jan 2009 | Fairfield, Connecticut Produced and directed broadcasts of Fairfield University sport events. Coordinated all interviews used in pre-game and half-time segments. Operated courtside camera for broadcasts. ### Documentary Filmmaker @ Ignatian Solidarity Corps. Jan 2008 – Jan 2008 | Manila, Philippines & Sydney, Austrailia Cinematographer for documentary focused on the role of service and social justice in Jesuit education. Filmed and participated in service projects throughout the Philippines. Recorded students' participation in World Youth Day 2008. ### Media Instructor @ Youth Power Partnership Jan 2007 – Jan 2007 | Bridgeport, Connecticut Taught courses in television production aimed at teenagers. Mentored students during planning, filming, and editing individual segments for their original show concepts. ## Education ### Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Design & Technology Parsons the New School for Design ### Dual Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Film, Studio Art Fairfield University ### Fine Arts in Art History, Cinema Studies, Studio Art, Art History, Film Florence University of the Arts ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/katreilly - Portfolio: https://katreilly.com --- Source: https://flows.cv/katreilly JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/katreilly/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-13