Creative leadership, on your terms.

I’ve led high-performing teams in-house for both consumer and fintech brands, and as the founder of my own agency — building studio culture, raising and holding a high creative bar, and guiding creative teams and leadership through complex initiatives like repositioning, re-orgs, product launches, and campaigns. View work samples.

While I am being selective about my next full-time role, I’m available to plug directly into your team as a fractional creative director: an embedded leader without the overhead, ramp-up, or long-term commitment of a full-time hire.

Tag me in to help with:

Kate Harmer
Strategy & Brand
  • Brand strategy, positioning, and repositioning
  • Brand architecture and messaging frameworks
  • Brand and creative audits
  • Design systems and brand guidelines
Team & Talent
  • Team re-orgs and restructuring
  • Hiring: sourcing, interviewing, leveling creative roles
  • Agency sourcing and vetting
  • Coaching and developing creative leads
Creative Direction & Execution
  • Creative briefing, feedback, and review cycles
  • Running key creative projects and campaigns end-to-end
  • Campaign direction across channels — OOH, CTV, social, influencer, paid, events, content, email
  • Pitch decks and key stakeholder presentations
Operations & Efficiency
  • Creative ops and workflow design
  • AI-enabled production systems
  • Scaling output without scaling headcount

Let’s work together

Fractional creative direction relationships are structured to meet your unique needs — an ongoing retainer for 2+ days a week, a defined project with a clear start and end date, or full-time interim coverage for a fixed term.

Reach out!

I’m excited to hear what you’ve got cookin’, whether it’s an exciting project or a full-time role.

I’ve worked with

Amazon, Atlantic Records, AWS, BILL, Bully Pulpit Interactive, KEXP, Microsoft, Pacific Science Center, Patagonia, Penguin Books, Pratt Fine Arts, REI, Sellen, Space Needle, Starbucks, Theo Chocolate, Thrive Market, Vulcan

Awards & Accolades

Magna Cum LaudeRhode Island School of Design
Distinguished Alumni AwardCornish College of the Arts
“Fresh” CreativeCommunication Arts
Print AwardPrint Magazine
New York Times Bestseller“The Book with No Pictures”

Speaking & Press

Amazon Conflux
Women Lead, AIGA
Build Brands Customers Love
Gather Seattle / Women In Design
WomanUp, AIGA

Community

Associate Board MemberPacific Science Center
Adjunct InstructorCornish College of the Arts

Education

MFA, Graphic DesignRhode Island School of Design
BFA, Graphic DesignCornish College of the Arts