Katlin C Spears

Staff Content Designer

About

Accomplished Staff Content Designer with over a decade of experience in UX writing, product strategy, and scaling sophisticated content systems. Specializes in developing AI content guidelines and model evaluation, fostering user trust through intuitive UX, and driving product growth through data-driven experimentation. Proven expert in shaping impactful messaging across diverse platforms, successfully launching high-value features, and empowering cross-functional teams.

Work

Handshake
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Staff Content Designer

San Francisco, CA, US

Summary

Led advanced UX content strategy and design for B2B products, focusing on AI-powered features, system scalability, and employer-centric growth initiatives. Promoted from Senior to Staff Content Designer after 2 years.

Highlights

Drove B2B product growth by spearheading UX content strategy and experimentation, optimizing employer-focused messaging to enhance engagement.

Designed and scaled comprehensive content systems, including AI interaction guidelines (NotebookLLM) and voice & tone, improving cross-functional team efficiency and product consistency.

Collaborated with PM, Engineering, and UXR to successfully launch AI-powered features, ensuring clear affordances and building user trust through intuitive interaction models.

Developed unified language across complex user journeys, significantly improving user comprehension and driving measurable increases in conversion rates.

Led enablement initiatives, providing PMs and designers with self-serve writing frameworks that reduced content bottlenecks and accelerated feature delivery.

Crafted product messaging for new employer offerings, partnering with marketing to ensure consistent messaging across the user journey.

Art of Problem Solving (AoPS)
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Content Director

San Diego, CA, US

Summary

Directed UX content strategy for K-12 learning products, optimizing user retention and engagement across the full academic journey. Promoted from Content Specialist to Content Director after 1 year.

Highlights

Managed comprehensive UX content strategy for K-12 learning products, successfully reducing customer churn and improving retention rates throughout the academic journey.

Built and evangelized content guidelines and usage patterns, unifying voice and messaging across all marketing and product touchpoints.

Executed A/B tests on call-to-action language, UI copy, and upsell flows, achieving measurable lifts in user activation and conversion.

Developed high-impact, story-driven content campaigns that effectively acquired new audiences, engaged leads, and streamlined the overall customer experience.

Directed a cross-functional team of designers, writers, animators, and engineers, successfully executing high-converting product campaigns and meeting key customer retention objectives.

SOUTH (Agency)
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Partner & Content Director

Charleston, SC, US

Summary

Scaled content operations and delivered full-stack content strategy for diverse clients, leading creative teams and defining product voice for internal SaaS.

Highlights

Achieved promotion to Partner by successfully scaling the content organization, expanding services across healthcare, nonprofit, and education sectors.

Delivered full-stack content strategy (including research, information architecture, messaging, and editorial) for over 50 web and application development projects.

Defined product voice and messaging for internal SaaS division, crafting all UX copy and leading successful go-to-market content initiatives.

Directed a distributed creative team, overseeing design, engineering, and strategy functions to ensure cohesive project execution.

American University
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Content Consultant

Washington, DC, US

Summary

Drove editorial strategy and unified brand messaging for six graduate schools, leading multi-channel campaigns and comprehensive editorial projects.

Highlights

Spearheaded editorial strategy for six graduate schools, successfully unifying American University's brand messaging across both print and digital platforms.

Collaborated with marketing, design, and media agencies to execute multi-channel brand campaigns, including inbound (landing pages, emails) and outbound initiatives (e.g., NYTimes.com, Inside Higher Ed, Chronicle for Higher Ed).

Managed editorial content for key university communications, including websites, convocation scripts, provost communications, annual reports, and event promotions.

Garfinkel + Associates
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Writer / Account Manager

Washington, DC, US

Summary

Managed 50+ annual writing projects, owning creative strategy, execution, and client relationships across diverse sectors.

Highlights

Developed and implemented integrated content solutions for web platforms, marketing campaigns, and various publications, enhancing brand consistency.

Education

University of Missouri
Columbia, MO, United States of America

M.A.

Journalism

University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA, United States of America

B.A.

English and Studio Art

Skills

Content Design & UX

Content Design Systems, UX Writing, Voice Guidelines, AI Content Guidelines, Information Architecture, Content Design Operations, Content Education, Scaling Content, User Journeys, Interaction Models.

Product Strategy & Growth

Product Storytelling, Growth Messaging, Team Enablement, Systems Thinking, Product Strategy, UX Strategy, Content Experimentation, Go-to-Market Strategy, A/B Testing.

AI & Design Tools

Figma, FigJam, Writer.ai, ChatGPT, NotebookLLM, Claude.ai, Arize, Usertesting.com, Qualtrics, Dovetail, Optimizely, Confluence, Linear, Hex, Notion.