Hei, nice to meet you.
I’m Krystyn Heide.
As a creative partner, I thrive in diverse environments where I can help shape user experience and nurture innovation.
2005-13
I joined Squarespace as the founding designer and second employee, where I developed components of the webapp (design, experience, front-end) and led initiatives from research to deployment.
In my eight year tenure, we grew from two to hundreds of employees, with millions of creative and small business customers.
2020-22
At Teamshares, I designed the brand identity, hired and onboarded senior talent, managed the design program, led digital product R&D, and created a cross-functional design system using Google Suite, Figma and React components.
Additionally, I volunteered for the ACLU, and taught a remote course to Parsons students in the BFA Communication Design program.
2013-18
I founded my own research and design practice. I worked with social-good companies like Skillshare, a learning community; Action, an activism tool for NGOs and publishers; COTA, a platform using data science to improve oncology care; and the creators of Cryptopunks, the inspiration for the Ethereum ERC-721 standard that powers digital collectibles; and Fortune 500 companies like Wall Street Journal, American Express and Blue Shield of California.
2017-20
I transitioned to design leadership at DEPT® helping companies like PBS Kids, Verizon Smartcities, Linux Foundation, and Education First to build leading edge, immersive experiences.
During this time, I also taught graduate students in the Parsons School of Design’s Master of Professional Studies program.
2022-now
I earned my Master of Arts in Design at the University of the Creative Arts in London. My thesis, Designing for Neurodiversity, studied the use of technologies like machine-learning and artificial intelligence to design systems for users with sensory perception and autism spectrum disorders.
I will complete a DesignOps learning cohort led by Adam Fry Pierce, UX Chief of Staff at Google, in December 2023.