# Katie Otis

> Katie Otis built Design in Mind from a solo practice into a San Jose creative agency. Her work connects the spectacle of a conference entrance with the everyday usefulness of a volunteer’s template.

- **Role:** Founder, CEO and Creative Director at Design in Mind
- **Organizations:** Design in Mind, Yahoo, American Advertising Federation of Silicon Valley
- **Education:** San José State University
- **Known for:** Founded Design in Mind in 2002 and grew it through referrals and relationships., Led the agency whose Imagine 2019 work included a 14-foot mirrored logo and locally adapted event identities for four cities., Her agency supported San Jose Youth Symphony with a $25,000 Design in Kind project.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2002** — Worked at Yahoo and gained experience in environmental design.
- **2002** — Founded Design in Mind as a one-woman design practice.
- **2004** — Began volunteer branding, website and marketing work for Faith Network of the East Bay, according to her LinkedIn profile.
- **2017** — Participated in a St. James Park outreach distributing lunches, care packages and winter coats.
- **2018** — Lists an AAF Silicon Valley board role beginning in April 2018 on LinkedIn.
- **2019** — Her agency created event branding for the global Imagine series, including a 14-foot mirrored logo.
- **2021** — Featured as Dynamo Events’ March Eventprof of the Month.

## Achievements

- Founded Design in Mind in 2002 and grew it through referrals and relationships.
- Led the agency whose Imagine 2019 work included a 14-foot mirrored logo and locally adapted event identities for four cities.
- Her agency supported San Jose Youth Symphony with a $25,000 Design in Kind project.

## Links

- Website: https://www.designim.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieotis

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/katie-otis
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22