Kathryn Iklé (pronounced 'E-clay') is a Dallas, TX UX professional, consultant, motivational speaker, creative, and versatile artist.
A native of Memphis, TN, she is a graduate of Hutchison School. While at Hutchison, she was the recipient of the Art Purchase Award; having an acrylic portrait painting on canvas bought and displayed to this day in the school’s permanent collection. She also served as an assistant archivist for the school and participated in a number of service projects, including ministering to senior adults in assisted living communities.
She attended Rhodes College, where she majored in art and earned design awards for Film Society Logo Design and Wireless Logo Design contests. She supported the school’s Christian student organization on campus by creating promotional materials, as well as organizing and hosting a campus-wide music concert.
She also attended Baylor University in Waco, TX, where she majored in Graphic Design and earned an advertising award from the Advertising Association of Waco, TX for an ad she created. Upon returning to her roots, Memphis, TN, she obtained a degree in Marketing and Art at University of Memphis, where she networked with up-and-coming artists and curated a student art exhibition at Opera Memphis benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Kathryn also holds a certification in Museum Studies from Harvard University.
Kathryn began her professional career working for Disciple Design, a division of Thompson & Company, a well-known local advertising company. While there, she further developed her eye for advertising and design. She then took on a sales, marketing, and events role at the Memphis Business Journal, creating advertisements for the newspaper, developing client relationships, generating revenue, and organizing major awards banquets such as Health Care Heroes and Top 40 Under 40 recognizing businesses and professionals in the community. Moving into the non-profit industry, she worked in Donor Relations for ALSAC, the fundraising arm of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she supported critical fundraising efforts for the hospital.
When the 2008 recession hit, she left ALSAC, St. Jude, to start her own e-commerce business, Iklé Creative Designs. She built the business from ground up, offering custom furniture, art, and accessories to clients. When asked what her goal was for her business, she replied, “I wanted to provide unique, affordable, and functional services and products to people who were going through a tough time in the recession.” Needless to say, her knack for business thrived and so did Iklé Creative Designs.
Several years later, Kathryn returned to the non-profit world at Bellevue Baptist Church. Starting in the Pastoral Care department, she developed relationships with members and guests and assisted with the organization of church-wide projects. Soon after, she was promoted to Director of Hospitality and Events Management. She managed over 80 volunteers and staff, as well as recruited and worked with members for essential committees. She developed policies and procedures to utilize resources more effectively, incorporated new ideas to engage members and guests, enhanced the organization's website, implemented an online payment system, and assisted in promoting and managing major events such as banquets, weddings, and the well-known Singing Christmas Tree.
Kathryn has been very active in supporting the community. For many years, she showcased her art and custom-made furniture at the Junior League of Memphis Annual Art Show and Auction with proceeds benefiting Hope House, a local charity. She donated a custom furniture piece to St. Mary’s Episcopal School for their Spring Fling Art Auction to aid in annual fundraising efforts, and she has coached Middle School girls volleyball at Evangelical Christian School.
Kathryn has taught both youth and adult art, creating and writing her own unique art education curriculum. She is a natural teacher - encouraging students to develop an appreciation for art, learning, and the world around them - and has partnered with many organizations such as the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy for their Arts in the Park program.
From producing art education social media videos for the Germantown Community Library to hosting art classes for senior living communities and corporate networking events, Kathryn loves to take her gifts, talents, and time, and invest in the lives of others.
Drawing on 17+ years of combined experience in UX, design, research, digital, marketing, agile, product, innovation, and technology, Kathryn has established a well-known reputation as a leader in the UX, technology, and creative industries. She worked at FedEx as the User Experience Lead in Digital User Experience. She developed innovative strategies and created outstanding digital experiences for the FedEx Mobile App and other global digital platforms.
After moving to Dallas, TX in 2019, she served as the User Experience/Business Analyst Leader in Technology Innovation for Topgolf Entertainment Group, creating strategies, leading teams, and establishing a UX Center of Excellence. She also served as the Creative Director for Global Genes, a global non-profit rare disease advocacy organization, leading their brand and marketing transformation. Kathryn currently serves as Vice President of Strategy & Design at Citigroup Bank.
Her extensive industry knowledge has enabled her to offer creative and strategic consulting services through Third Entity to a variety of individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses. Many have benefited from her problem-solving skills and innovative thinking. Clients testify that she takes vision to a whole new level, offering new and fresh solutions to any challenge.
Kathryn is an advocate for the arts and is always looking for opportunities to collaborate and support other artists. She is very involved in the Dallas arts community. She serves as the President of the McKinney Art Club in McKinney, TX, and is a member of the Visual Arts Guild of Frisco, Arts Centre of Plano, Denton Greater Arts Council, and Dallas Museum of Art League.
Kathryn's art has been recognized by Art & Color 365 magazine, as well as all SHE makes magazine, and can be found in permanent collections at the Hutchison School, Memphis, TN, and at the Art Center in Dover, NH. In addition, Kathryn's work is available in person at the McKinney Art Gallery in McKinney, TX and via her online store.
A native of Memphis, TN, she is a graduate of Hutchison School. While at Hutchison, she was the recipient of the Art Purchase Award; having an acrylic portrait painting on canvas bought and displayed to this day in the school’s permanent collection. She also served as an assistant archivist for the school and participated in a number of service projects, including ministering to senior adults in assisted living communities.
She attended Rhodes College, where she majored in art and earned design awards for Film Society Logo Design and Wireless Logo Design contests. She supported the school’s Christian student organization on campus by creating promotional materials, as well as organizing and hosting a campus-wide music concert.
She also attended Baylor University in Waco, TX, where she majored in Graphic Design and earned an advertising award from the Advertising Association of Waco, TX for an ad she created. Upon returning to her roots, Memphis, TN, she obtained a degree in Marketing and Art at University of Memphis, where she networked with up-and-coming artists and curated a student art exhibition at Opera Memphis benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Kathryn also holds a certification in Museum Studies from Harvard University.
Kathryn began her professional career working for Disciple Design, a division of Thompson & Company, a well-known local advertising company. While there, she further developed her eye for advertising and design. She then took on a sales, marketing, and events role at the Memphis Business Journal, creating advertisements for the newspaper, developing client relationships, generating revenue, and organizing major awards banquets such as Health Care Heroes and Top 40 Under 40 recognizing businesses and professionals in the community. Moving into the non-profit industry, she worked in Donor Relations for ALSAC, the fundraising arm of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she supported critical fundraising efforts for the hospital.
When the 2008 recession hit, she left ALSAC, St. Jude, to start her own e-commerce business, Iklé Creative Designs. She built the business from ground up, offering custom furniture, art, and accessories to clients. When asked what her goal was for her business, she replied, “I wanted to provide unique, affordable, and functional services and products to people who were going through a tough time in the recession.” Needless to say, her knack for business thrived and so did Iklé Creative Designs.
Several years later, Kathryn returned to the non-profit world at Bellevue Baptist Church. Starting in the Pastoral Care department, she developed relationships with members and guests and assisted with the organization of church-wide projects. Soon after, she was promoted to Director of Hospitality and Events Management. She managed over 80 volunteers and staff, as well as recruited and worked with members for essential committees. She developed policies and procedures to utilize resources more effectively, incorporated new ideas to engage members and guests, enhanced the organization's website, implemented an online payment system, and assisted in promoting and managing major events such as banquets, weddings, and the well-known Singing Christmas Tree.
Kathryn has been very active in supporting the community. For many years, she showcased her art and custom-made furniture at the Junior League of Memphis Annual Art Show and Auction with proceeds benefiting Hope House, a local charity. She donated a custom furniture piece to St. Mary’s Episcopal School for their Spring Fling Art Auction to aid in annual fundraising efforts, and she has coached Middle School girls volleyball at Evangelical Christian School.
Kathryn has taught both youth and adult art, creating and writing her own unique art education curriculum. She is a natural teacher - encouraging students to develop an appreciation for art, learning, and the world around them - and has partnered with many organizations such as the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy for their Arts in the Park program.
From producing art education social media videos for the Germantown Community Library to hosting art classes for senior living communities and corporate networking events, Kathryn loves to take her gifts, talents, and time, and invest in the lives of others.
Drawing on 17+ years of combined experience in UX, design, research, digital, marketing, agile, product, innovation, and technology, Kathryn has established a well-known reputation as a leader in the UX, technology, and creative industries. She worked at FedEx as the User Experience Lead in Digital User Experience. She developed innovative strategies and created outstanding digital experiences for the FedEx Mobile App and other global digital platforms.
After moving to Dallas, TX in 2019, she served as the User Experience/Business Analyst Leader in Technology Innovation for Topgolf Entertainment Group, creating strategies, leading teams, and establishing a UX Center of Excellence. She also served as the Creative Director for Global Genes, a global non-profit rare disease advocacy organization, leading their brand and marketing transformation. Kathryn currently serves as Vice President of Strategy & Design at Citigroup Bank.
Her extensive industry knowledge has enabled her to offer creative and strategic consulting services through Third Entity to a variety of individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses. Many have benefited from her problem-solving skills and innovative thinking. Clients testify that she takes vision to a whole new level, offering new and fresh solutions to any challenge.
Kathryn is an advocate for the arts and is always looking for opportunities to collaborate and support other artists. She is very involved in the Dallas arts community. She serves as the President of the McKinney Art Club in McKinney, TX, and is a member of the Visual Arts Guild of Frisco, Arts Centre of Plano, Denton Greater Arts Council, and Dallas Museum of Art League.
Kathryn's art has been recognized by Art & Color 365 magazine, as well as all SHE makes magazine, and can be found in permanent collections at the Hutchison School, Memphis, TN, and at the Art Center in Dover, NH. In addition, Kathryn's work is available in person at the McKinney Art Gallery in McKinney, TX and via her online store.
All Images & Text Copyright 2022 Kathryn Ikle, Ikle Creative Designs All Rights Reserved