A woman with purple curly hair smiling and holding a tabby cat close to her face, with a cactus plant and brick wall in the background.
Spotify logo with the text 'Listen to my playlist' in a circular pattern.

My Origin Story

I started out in the agency world, hopping between big teams and tiny ones, designing everything from tourist brochures to social media ads. The work was fine but it never felt like mine. I was burnt out from selling out.

After years of freelance gigs on the side, working with roller derby teams, cannabis startups, and breweries, I realized my best work happened when I got to design for the weirdos. The rule-breakers. The people doing things their own way and don’t want to fit in a box.

So I quit. In 2023, I took the leap and launched Katie Rou Design full-time, and I haven’t looked back. These days, you’ll find me crafting badass brands by day, bothering my cat by night, and always making time for a local beer and a fantasy novel or two.

Let's get to work

What KRD stands for

Clarity over Clever

I keep it human. This is about honest conversations, mutual respect, and making decisions that serve the project not my ego.

No Filter Needed

Trendy isn’t the goal. I design for the real you, chaotic, bold, heartfelt, and all in. This is about showing up as yourself and owning it.

Design that Gives a Sh*t

Every detail matters. I care about what your brand stands for, how it looks, and how it feels. This isn’t just pretty it’s purposeful.

Let's get to work

Brand Design ⋅ Logo Design ⋅ Strategy ⋅ Packaging ⋅ print design ⋅ digital design ⋅ motion graphics ⋅ brand design

Brand Design ⋅ Logo Design ⋅ Strategy ⋅ Packaging ⋅ print design ⋅ digital design ⋅ motion graphics ⋅ brand design

Two cans of Mission Brewing's Bring Me Along Mexican Lager with salt and lime, held in a hand. In the background, a glass of beer with a logo, on a marble surface.

Are you...

A weirdo with a dream?
Tired of blending in?
Looking for a brand that actually feels like you?

If you said “hell yes” then let’s talk.

Let's get to work

Brand Design ⋅ Logo Design ⋅ Strategy ⋅ Packaging ⋅ print design ⋅ digital design ⋅ motion graphics ⋅ brand design

Brand Design ⋅ Logo Design ⋅ Strategy ⋅ Packaging ⋅ print design ⋅ digital design ⋅ motion graphics ⋅ brand design

  • Colorful abstract background with gradient hues of purple, pink, orange, yellow, green, and blue, featuring geometric shapes like circles, diamonds, and hexagons.

    "Katie has gone above and beyond for our company to not only handle our high-volume of design requests in a timely manner, but she's also come up with creative graphics, GIFs, and taglines for our marketing materials that I don't have the creativity for. She handles our print, web, email, and social graphics with a little twist on each version so we can keep things fresh and eye-catching. I've never had any issues reaching her for urgent requests, which is so valuable for us when we have time-sensitive demands from our clients. Not only does she work like an A+ teammate and provide quality work, she's also enjoyable to work with whether it's on conference calls or email comms. We're blessed to have found Katie and I'd work with her again and again."

    Mark Kazinec | Co-Founder & COO | Best in Grass

    View Project
  • A black and white artistic illustration of a person's profile with a brain, illustrated with flowers and leaves, as if growing out of or replacing the brain.

    “Katie is a rare talent. I have yet to find anyone as prompt with delivering final designs, a keen eye to detail and an imagination that sets every project apart. I've made it a point to tell all my friends in the music and tech world about her skills.”

    Seanloui Dumas | Musician | Founder of Black Renaissance

    View Project
  • Red background with faint, stylized compass designs.

    “I have been using Katie as my go-to freelance graphic designer for over 7 years, and even continued her services across two different breweries I have directed. Her creative approach to beer can art has resulted in cans that not only catch the eye but also tell a compelling story. Her designs consistently stand out on the shelf, giving our products a unique voice in a super competitive market.”

    Aaron Long | VP of Sales & Marketing at Mission Brewery

    View Project
  • Dark green background with abstract, swirling, curvy line pattern.

    “Every business needs that person who just gets your brand and knows how to bring it to life visually, and that’s Katie. She’s our go-to for complex design, her work has played a huge role in shaping how we show up to the world. She understands the connection between design, messaging, and impact, and it shows in everything she creates. We can't recommend her enough.”

    Jessica Pagni | CEO & Founder | Montgomery 30 Marketing

  • A collection of business cards with the name 'Chrissy Tolley' printed on them in bold, white, stylized font on a blue background. Some cards have an orange section with additional text, and there is a yellow sun icon with a small square in the middle on each card.

    “I chose Katie because I knew just how intuitive she would be in understanding my vision and brand. I honestly think she understood it better than I did. Katie's professional, loving, and phenomenally gifted at what she does. I'm so glad I invested in myself and the future of my business by trusting Katie.”

    Chrissy Tolley | Owner | Chrissy Tolley, LLC

  • Illustration of mountains with clouds and birds in sky, set against a purple background.

    “It was a joy to entrust such a large portion of my new business into Katie’s capable hands. I highly recommend KRD for all your design needs. She didn’t just create a brand for me, she created beautiful artwork. I couldn’t be more happy with her capturing my vision for my brand. It was awesome working with her and I look forward to working on more projects in the very near future!”

    Monica Medina | Founder & Owner | Earth To You Farm & Sanctuary

  • Multiple small plastic pots with soil and young green plants growing inside.

    “We have worked with Katie over the past several years on special projects and branding for our business. She is spot on, taking the time to understand where the business is at, its place in the marketplace and how best to capture the sensibility of the business while reaching the targeted audience!”

    Scott Rogers | VP | ECommerce | Marketing | Retail at GrowersHouse

    View Project

Let’s get social

A little peak into what's been on my screen the last few weeks 👀 I'm so grateful that I'm able to work remotely and am not tied to a specific location. The last few weeks I've been traveling and finding time to work in between enjoying life. From
Client: “I just need a logo.” Me: “So you want to fail?” A logo is only a small piece of the larger part that forms your brand. Without a cohesive brand identity, your logo is essentially adrift. Don’t get me wrong, a
"Rebel Branding" isn't always bright colors and in your face graphics. I say it's more about how you're challenging the norms in your business. Montgomery 30 Marketing (M30) is all about helping businesses flourish by taking the stress
Trendy brands are like fast fashion, quick to grab attention but eventually end up in the trash. Stop treating your business’s brand like it’s disposable. Invest in a brand designer who takes the time to research and build a strategy tha