Karen Hodo
I chart the abstract, foggy terrain between people and the systems they navigate.
ABOUT ME
I’m a Chicago-based visual strategist and designer who champions mission-based organizations (whether for or non-profit) to ensure their design systems are clear, consistent, and broadly accessible.
With over 15 years of experience in design strategy, art direction, and systems development, I translate complex processes into practical, reusable guides, tools, and designs that administrative teams can maintain confidently.
Open to:
Full-time, part-time, temporary, or project based opportunities.
Hybrid or remote only
Services
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Audits, surveys, and usability reviews that reveal communication gaps to get your team on the same page
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Templates, campaigns, asset toolkits, and design systems that keep your messaging consistent, even as teams and tools change.
MY PRACTICE
In my design work and strategy, I promise to…
Guide organization audiences to the information, resources, and systems that benefit their quality of life.
Facilitate inter-departmental communication, connection, and trust.
Guide teams through how to efficiently generate of brand-aligned content without over-reliance on AI.
For any research I conduct, I promise to
Support audience and client agency through early collaboration.
Take accountability by documenting positionality, whether as a researcher or client. (Taking accountability)
Use ethical and effective sources to support any insights and conclusions. Insights are better when based on a balance of concrete and abstract realities.
Focus on reliable data collection grounded in human-centered, empirical, qualitative and quantitative methods.
WHAT I DO
Design audits and small survey pilots that shape project scope.
Focus on task definition and collaboration in creating a clear scope
Design visual assets with manageable, reusable parts like templates, task guides, campaign + brand toolkits, and more.
Insights and analysis based on measurable, contextual impact and by distilling existing systems into their most reliable parts, balanced with the most effective at the present stage.
INDUSTRIES
Healthcare, education, nonprofit, software, civic and community spaces.