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I am a passionate, creative designer who shares my love for design through the environments and experiences I compose. I will never forget the first time I watched Don Norman’s Ted Talks lecture, “3 Ways Good Design Makes You Happy.” His message resonated with me, introducing the idea that your environment can change your attitude. It is with this approach that I strive to create uplifting and unique spaces for people to live and work. I set myself apart from other designers by striving to design and create experiences that go beyond the built environment.

I love having the opportunity to impact lives with my designs, and I want that passion to shine through my creations.

Katie WittesDesigner

witteskj@gmail.com513.546.4350

kw

kw Education

2009-2014University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OHCollege of Design, Architecture, Art, and PlanningMajor: Interior DesignGPA: 3.45 on a 4.0 scaleParticipated in the Professional Practice Co-op Program, alternating semesters of college study with semesters of work in the field of Interior Design.2008-2009Greenville College, Greenville, ILMajor: BusinessClass of 2012GPA: 3.7 on a 4.0 scale2004-2008Kings High School, Kings Mills, OHGPA: 4.0 on a 4.0 scaleClass Rank: Top 10%

Work Experience

Fall 2014-PresentHibler Design Studio Berrien Springs, MITitle: Interior DesignerResponsibilities: Lead Interior Designer for the firm; design and create 3D interior spaces in Revit; create product booklets in InDesign; attend client meetings

Spring-Summer 2014The Getty’s Group Chicago, ILTitle: Intern Interior DesignerResponsibilities: Rendered perspectives and elevations in Photoshop; drew plans and elevations in AutoCAD; attended client meetings

Spring 2013FRCH Design Worldwide Cincinnati, OHTitle: Specialty Retail Interior Design Co-opResponsibilities: Worked with the graphic design team to create retail environments for several high-profile companies; sketched ideas; fixed AutoCAD redlines; drew plans and elevations in AutoCAD; created perspectives in Sketchup; rendered in Photoshop; attended ideation meetings; specified furniture and materials.

Fall of 2011•Summer 2012Interbrand Design Forum Dayton, OHTitle: Environmental Designer and Space Planner Co-opResponsibilities: Worked hand-in-hand with the graphic and marketing teams to brand the retail spaces of several high-profile companies; sketched out plan ideas, drew in AutoCAD; created perspectives in Sketchup and rendered in Photoshop; Made changes to plans and renderings; specified furniture and materials.

Freelance (2013-present)Responsibilities: Logo and brand design for start-up companies

Activities & Honors

CollegeHonorable Mention for the PAVE 2012 Student Retail and Brand Design Competition; placed in the top 12 out of 428 entries.

Design chosen to be displayed in the McAlpin Showroom for a Design Competition within the Residential Studio.

Deans List every year

Special Skills

Proficient in: Revit AutoCAD Sketchup Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerpointExperience in: Rhino References

available upon request

Senior Capstone: Ette- Custom, Chic, PetiteProgram and ResearchDesign DevelopmentBrand StrategyDAAPWorks Final PresentationPAVE Retail Design CompetitionBonobos Retail DesignPAVE Gala and Submission ImagesHistoric Preservation: Music Venue DesignThe RemixHistoric Preservation: Restaurant DesignPlankCorporate Office DesignRestoration Hardware Corporate OfficeResidential Loft DesignThe LighthouseProfessional Practice ExperienceInterbrand Design ForumFreelance Work

Tableof

Contents

SeniorInterior Design

Capstone

2013-21045th Year Design StudentSenior Capstone DesignEtteCustom, Chic, PetiteThe ProjectTo create a capstone design that demonstrates one’s perspective as a designer, and places he/she towards the desired specified profession within the world of design.

This is a brief overview of a year-long project. For more detail about this design, please refer to the Ette booklets: Program and Research, and Design Development

Clooing oat makes you feel confident, beauuful, and even a llle bl taaer!Make shopping fun again!

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Clooing oat makes you feel confident, beauuful, and even a llle bl taaer!Make shopping fun again!

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Programand

Research

The ProgramEtte is a mobile, pop-up boutique catering to petite women. It merges both online and physical retail shopping to create a customized, efficient, and unique brand experience for the shoppers.The ResearchThere is a lack of conversation between the two types of shopping experiences, as well as a hole in the market for petite professional wear. Creating a mobile boutique allows for women all over to access the physical store and to experience the unique brand. Customizations and virtual fitting rooms are trending in the retail world. Shoppers are also looking for unique experiences that stand out from other retailers. Brands like Anthropology and Nordstrom have both recently entered the petite world, but are lacking in accessibility, customization, and unique experiences. Research into several different modes of transportation and pop-up designs, led to the final decision to make Ette a pod-style pop-up, with 3-4 different pods, each with a unique program (i.e. retail, fitting, lounge). The pods can be arranged several different ways, allowing the store to pop-up in many different types of locations. City, park, neighborhood, it doesn’t matter; Ette is capable of reaching the petite women all over the United States.

DesignDevelopment

The DesignThe goal for the design was to create a unique space that merged the digital, customizable aspects of online shopping with the physical, sensory part of brick and mortar shopping. The design also needed to portray the brand, and to create a shopping experience for the customer unlike anything they had experienced before.

eeecustom chic petite

dressing roomdresses tops pants jackets shoes

BrandStrategy

Custom, Chic, PetiteEtte is all about customization and professional clothing for petite women (5’4” or smaller). Ette is a suffix used at the end of words to mean “a smaller form of something.” All of the graphics throughout the space are specifically created for this brand. Even the clothing fixture has graphics that resemble the different shapes of a woman’s body, and all of them are under the 5’4” mark.

Clothing that makes you feel confident, beautiful, and even a little bit taller!

Make shopping fun again! Your unique style, just one click away, wherever you are.

Check us out, at ette.com The right fit, for the right price.

DAAPWorksFinal

Presentation

Capstone RevealAfter over a year of research and design, the Class of 2014 presented their final concepts to the school and guest professionals. Requirements were to have and models and posters, but tokens of designs and brands were recommended and helped add a level of reality to the conceptual designs. The ette display provided 3 different levels of perspective. The models showed an aerial perspective of the different layouts, while the poster showed a conceptual design and scaled perspective, and the hangers, shoes, and shoe box showed a very detailed perspective of the brand.

PAVEDesign

Competition

Fall of 20124th Year Design StudentStudent Design CompetitionRetail StudioPAVEThe Planning and Visual Education Partnership.The CompetitionTo create a pop-up store design for the men’s clothing store, BONOBOS, for the PAVE 2012 Store Design Competition. This design won Honorable Mention, and placed in the top 12 out 428 entries.

BONOBOSRetail

Design

InspirationThe Inspiration behind The Bonobos Den is a mixture of a man cave, a bar, and a pool hall.ConceptThe concept is “the ultimate men’s closet.” I created a store that allowed men to try on the pants and move around in them to get a good feel of the fit. I aimed to enhance what the Bonobos brand is all about: great fit and great service.

PAVEGala &

Submission

The SubmissionNovember 1st, 2012. Submitted in a custom cigar box with Bonobos-labeled cigars. The packet was printed 11x14 and bound at Staples.The GalaDecember 5th, 2012The University of Cincinnati had 6 students place in the PAVE Competition.

HistoricPreservation

Design

Spring of 20123rd Year Design StudentSketchup/PhotoshopThe ProgramTo create a music venue inside of an old abandoned church with a restaurant on the lowest level. ConceptThe idea of my project is to create a contrast between the existing and the insertion. The name of the venue is The Remix.Programming in collaboration with Catherine Murray, Carli Werthmann, CJ Frey, Lauren Schenk, and Micah Washington.

HistoricPreservation

Design

InspirationOdile Decq’s Paris opera house inspired the shapes and movement of my design. The addition is modern, new, and fluid, while the existing structure is rigid, structured, and historic.The RemixThe music venue is on the upper level of the church, while the lower level is dedicated to the restaurant. The Balcony level is existing, with an asymmetrical balcony addition closer to the stage.

HistoricPreservation

Design

Spring of 20123rd Year Design StudentSketchup/PhotoshopThe ProgramTo create and design a restaurant in the lowest level of an old abandoned church. The design is to be in conjunction with the music venue.ConceptWe designed this concept to form a dialogue between the venue and its context by inserting an organic structure that spans from the exterior to the interior.Restaurant Design in collaboration with Carli Werthman. Programming in collaboration with Carli Werthman, Catherine Murray, Micah Washington, CJ Frey, and Lauren Schenk.

HistoricPreservation

Design

InspirationAfter much research, Carli and I found inspiration through modern restaurants and discovered unique ways to use wood planks.PLANKThe Restaurant on the lower level uses wood planks to create an organic ceiling shape to form a dialogue between the renovated church with its new program, and the surrounding location of West

CorporateOffice

Design

Summer of 20123rd Year Design StudentRevit/PhotoshopThe ProgramTo create corporate office headquarters for a brand of your choice, and to incorporate that brand throughout the entire design.ConceptThe brand I chose was Restoration Hardware. I pinpointed three main points of the Restoration Hardware brand, and used these points to create spaces within the corporate office design. The three main points were Branding, Classic, and Restore.

CorporateOffice

Design

InspirationInspiration came from the company itself, and the rebranding that they went through in 2010. Restoration HardwareBrand: Restoration Hardware went through a huge rebranding in 2010Classic: Their furniture is classic and traditional.Restore: I created an environment for the employees to relax and feel restored.

ResidentialLoft

Design

Winter of 20112nd Year Design StudentRevit/Hand RenderingThe ProgramTo design a loft space within a given space in downtown Cincinnati for a client from Charleston, South Carolina. ConceptSince the client is from Charleston, South Carolina, I used inspiration from her home town. Charleston is known for its lighthouses, so I used the concept of a lighthouse.

ResidentialLoft

Design

InspirationThe inspiration behind the loft design comes from the transition between light and dark as you approach the top of the lighthouse.The Lighthouse: Moments of Light in SpaceThe loft is divided into the public and private spaces (the entertaining spaces and the master suite), and these two spaces each represent a portal of light and are the main focus areas of the loft.

ProfessionalExperience

2011-20132nd-5th year Design StudentFRCH (Spring 2013)Interbrand Design Forum (Fall 2011-Summer 2012)Karen Garlanger Designs (Fall 2013)Professional PracticeThe University of Cincinnati requires that all Interior Design Students alternate between periods of college study and semesters of professional work within the field of Interior Design. I have completed 5 periods of professional practice, accumulating 2 years worth of practice within the field of Interior Design.

InterbrandDesignForum

Job DescriptionMy position was Environmental Designer, and I also helped in the Space Planning, Shopper Sciences, and Materials groups. I used Photoshop, Sketchup, Revit, AutoCAD, InDesign, and Illustrator. I also hand sketched plan options, ordered materials, picked out palettes, and communicated with clients. Projects I worked on include Family Dollar, MEAD Back to School Aisle layout, H&R Block Kiosk, Motorola Flagship store, Davids Bridal Boutique, and Central Indiana Ethonol Corporate Office.

FreelanceGraphicDesign

Job DescriptionOn my own outside of my current job, I help friends and aquaintances create brands for their start-up companies. I create logos, banners, labels, invites, and brand standards for their companies to help give them a direction and a voice within their potential markets. I also helped to create all of the posters and graphics for the Interior Design--Class of 2014--DAAPWorks Capstone presentations. Finally, I help create invites for friends and family for certain important events.

soap company

SouthernVines

Babies Rock!please come, if you may, to celebrate

on the way!

Date: Saturday, August 3othTime: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Momma Pugh’s House5052 W. Birch Lane

Pentwater, MI 49449

Katie is having a baby!

Caleb Wittes

Please RSVP to:kathy.harl@cru.org

by November 3rd, 2014

Katie is registered at:

Babies R' Us & Target

Please bring your favorite Children’s book instead of a card!

Please join us in celebrating

At Grandma Harl's House2990 Larchwood Ct.Maineville, OH 45039

at 2:00 P.M.on November 8th, 2014

Bo oh boyy,

FreelanceGraphicDesign

Job DescriptionI have been helping a small start-up non-profit company, Disciple40, create inspirational images with Bible verses and quotes for their instagram, website, and facebook page. Below are a few examples of the images I have created. All of the photography and images are my own.

kwThank you for your time.