Christa Katz

About Christa Katz

Creative Graphic Designer & Illustrator with 9+ years in illustration for apparel, home goods, and publishing. I have built a career as an Apparel Surface Designer working with Kroger (Fred Meyer) and Hanna Andersson. My best strengths are design/illustration, project management, and positive communication.In addition to my Apparel Surface Design career, I own and operate my stationary brand WILD OPTIMIST. Now 9 years old, the brand features greeting cards, stickers, patches and art prints. Wild Optimist is stocked in 100+ retailers across the United States. Wholesale distribution is available online at faire.com and buyolympia.com.I have enjoyed working as a freelance illustrator with Microsoft, Papyrus, HarperCollins, Compendium, Chronicle, Elk Cove Vineyards, and Eccolo. These partners have taught me about the power of creative collaboration to craft successful products. For Microsoft I illustrated images focused on global outreach and diversity for their website, twitter, and instagram. For Papyrus and Compendium, I designed greeting cards and journals that were stocked in Target stores nationwide. For HarperCollins I created two children’s books, “Did You Know That I Love You?” and “A Peaceful Garden”. Steven Malk represents me at Writer\'s House Literary Agency. My first Children\'s book,\"Did You Know That I Love You?\"(2014), has been positively reviewed by The New York Times, featured on The Today Show, and endorsed by Brooke Shields. Core Skills:Graphics, Print & Pattern DevelopmentAdobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)Trend Forecasting & Market ResearchTechnical Specifications & Production FilesProject & Time ManagementPresentation & Communication Skills

Experience

1. Senior Designer

   Compendium

   Apr 2026 — Present · Seattle, WA, US

   Thrilled to be brought onto the team full time designing and art directing cards, journals, and books.

Education

• Seattle Pacific University

  Illustration/New Pictures BA, Creative Writing minor

  2009 — 2013

Skills

• Visual Communication
• Illustration
• Illustrator
• Art
• Advertising
• Social Media
• Creative Writing
• Fine Art
• Proactive Self-Starter
• Graphic Design
• Microsoft Office
• Creativity
• Painting
• Newsletters
• Graphics
• Powerpoint
• Microsoft Excel
• Indesign
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Mac
• Photoshop
• Visual Arts
• Sketching
• Children's Books
• Public Speaking
• Empathy
• Wacom Tablet
• Corel Painter
• Storyboarding
• Character Concept Design
• Oil Painting
• Writing
• Editing
• Branding Experience
• Posters
• Drawing
• Os X
• Fiction Writing
• Paper Craft
• Custom Invitations