EDUCATION
2018 Iowa State University
Bachelor of Industrial Design
Ames, IA
ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT
Spring 2022 University of Kansas
Lecturer
Department of Design, School of Architecture and Design
Lawrence, KS
Spring 2020 University of Kansas
Lecturer
Department of Design, School of Architecture and Design
Lawrence, KS
PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT:
2021-present Ford Motor Company Dearborn, MI
Color and Materials Designer
Color and Materials Designer for Lincoln vehicles programs. Responsible for multiple vehicle programs at a given time, influencing the target consumer through trend research partnered with marketing, trend direction, color and material program strategy and design, and specification. Work management and engineering to establish visual standards for vehicle appearance and collaborate with these teams through the production process.
2019-2021 Garmin International Olathe, KS
CMF Designer
Lead CMF Designer for Garmin consumer products. Responsible for color palettes for each product line and segment at Garmin, overseeing all color matching and setting the standard for acceptable color matching, establishing the CMF design process, revising and documenting the color matching process. Work directly with upper management on design proposals and CMF opportunities. Collaborate with CMF engineering to establish visual standards for internal quality control guidelines. Orchestrate and maintain development schedules for all color matching. Work with internal innovation team to execute materials innovation and design new materials. Travel to Taiwan and South Korea for color matching and materials innovation. Forecast trends by creating in-depth research studies into behavioral trends in major consumer categories and connect how they affect product aesthetics for Garmin and trends that our consumers are conscious of, leading to impact in CMF decisions for all Garmin products and product launch marketing.
2018-2019 Newell Brands Kalamazoo, MI
CMF Designer
CMF Designer for Newell Brands and responsible CMF on Breville, Calphalon, Crock-Pot, Mr.Coffee, Oster, Sunbeam, Contigo, Bubba, Sharpie, Coleman, reaching a wide array of CMF from appliances, to writing, to outdoor and recreation products. Responsible for CMF proposals and color matching including trend research, color palettes, CMF specification, and color matching for all projects.
TEACHING | COURSES TAUGHT
The University of Kansas
Spring 2020 INDD 508
Spring 2022 INDD 508
TEACHING | GUEST LECTURES, CRITIQUES AND WORKSHOPS:
2021 Lecture: Material Session. Color and Form at Offsite Advanced Design
2020 Workshop: Creating Repeated Patterns. Materials and Processes at University of Kansas
2020 Guest Critic: Solidworks Rendering Reviews. Materials and Processes at University of Kansas
2019 Lecture: What is CMF? Materials and Processes at University of Kansas
2019 Lecture: An Introduction into Keyshot. Materials and Processes at University of Kansas
RESEARCH | PUBLICATIONS
PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES:
2021 Walters, K., New Trend Landscapes: Coronavirus’ Long-Term impact on Fashion and Trend Forecasting, Pages on Art and Design Journal. Milan, Italy Major, International
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:
2020 Walters, K., Design for Utopian Futures. International Design Conference, September 23, virtual global, Major International
2018 Industrial Design Society of America Iowa State University Senior Merit Awardee presented at the Industrial Design Society of America Midwest Conference 2018 in Chicago, Illinois
2018 Barnhart, B., Walters, K., The Gap: ID women’s struggle after graduation to pro-practice. Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA) Women In Design Summit, October 20, Chicago, Illinois Major
2016 Alliance of the Arts at Research Universities Student Symposium in Detroit, Michigan: student summit and collaborated with final presentation of final projects with selected project team
PEER-REVIEWED CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS:
2018 Barnhart, B., Walters, K., Self-efficacy: A Barrier for Women in Industrial Design, Exploring the Causes of the Gender Gap in Industrial Design. Annual Conference of Design Principals & Practices (DPP), March 6-7, Barcelona, Spain, Major, International
PEER-REVIEWED CONFERENCE PAPERS:
2020 Walters, K. Design: Horizontal and Vertical Design Conference, Moscow, Russia: peer Reviewed Paper “Nance: Satirical Jewelry Design for Feminist Perspectives in Augmentation” Major International
2019 Barnhart, B. Paepcke-Hjeltness, V., Cyamani, A. Walters, K. IASDR - Conference, Manchester, UK: peer Reviewed Paper “Fostering Creativity Through Fast Paced, Quick, Down-and-Dirty Ideation” Major International
2018 Walters, K. Hegemony in Industrial Design: A Study of Gendered Communication Styles” oral presentation at the International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education 2018 - London, UK Major, International
2018 Barnhart, B. Walters, K. The Hot Industrial Design Sketch: Perpetuating the Dominance of the Male Industrial Designer paper presented to the International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education, London 2018 Major, International
2017 IASDR Re-Research - Conference, Cincinnati, OH: “Changing the Perceptions of Making” with Betsy Barnhart Major
SHORT PAPER PEER-REVIEWED ABSTRACTS:
2017 Barnhart, B., Walters, K A. Changing the Perceptions of Making. (Peer Reviewed Abstract) Poster presented at the IASDR Re:Research- Conference, Cincinnati, OH. Major
PEER-REVIEWED CONFERENCE POSTERS:
2017 Barnhart, B., Walters, K A. Changing the Perceptions of Making. Poster presented at the IASDR Re:Research- Conference, Cincinnati, OH. Major
POSTER PRESENTATIONS:
2017 Walters, K. Changing the Perceptions of Making. Research in the Capitol - DesMoines, IA: presenting research poster “Changing the Perceptions of Making”
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS:
2018 Walters, K. "Hegemony in Industrial Design: A Study of Gendered Communication Styles” oral presentation at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research 2018 - Edmond, OK
2018 Walters, K. "Hegemony in Industrial Design: A Study of Gendered Communication Styles” oral presentation at the Iowa State University Research Symposium 2018 - Ames, IA
2018 Barnhart, B. Walters, K. Women, The Missing Player for Innovation in Industrial Design, Cumulus Design Conference, Barcelona 2018 Major, International
ACCEPTED ABSTRACTS:
2018 Barnhart, B., Walters, K., Addressing the Gap: Women Industrial Design Students Lack of Participation in Practice, Abstract accepted to the International Conference on Research into Design. Bangalore, India 2019 Major, International
MAGAZINE ARTICLES:
2019 Barnhart, B., Walters, K., Uncomfortable: the effects of gendered communication in Education Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) 2019 Winter INNOVATION magazine
GRANTS AND FUNDING
2016 What is Happening?
Alliance of the Arts for Research Universities Student Project Grant - $3,000
RESEARCH | CMF DESIGN:
2021 Lily Entry-level fashion smart watch with new hidden display technology to appear as a jewelry piece.
The Instinct Solar was ground up new design featuring innovation as the smallest smartwatch on the market and focused on creating a jewelry accessory rather than a black screened smartwatch or hinting at analogue watches. The lineup was categorized into 3 Sport entry-level color ways with silicone bands and 3 Classic premium color ways with leather bands. The design was intended for the altheisure and lathe-luxe consumers who want to blend fitness into the fashion of their everyday lives. The new hidden display technology required significant material research and development with CMF engineering and travel to South Korea to work directly with vendors to bring this product to market. Major, international
2020 Instinct Solar Mid-level outdoor smart watch with new solar charging technology, Garmin International
The Instinct Solar was a CMF refresh and new addition to the original Instinct launch. Designed a CMF refresh that utilized the key core colors from the original lineup and was inspired by their heritage outdoor colorways that were amplified by the addition of 2 additional core outdoor colorways that sell at a higher percentage than the previous colorways that they replaced and are the highest selling non-black colorways in the Instinct product line. 2 Tactical SKUs were also carried over from the original Instinct and 1 classic black colorwa carried over into Instinct Solar and designed a new moss refresh of the Tactical CMF. The line expanded the Instinct Solar to have Camo and surf SKUs. Designed repeating patterns and full CMF for the camo and patterned surf SKUs. Solar panel color was difficult to tune, so worked closely with engineering team to definite the level of accepted color on the solar panels. Major, international
2020 Contigo Couture Trend Direction Mid-Level travel mugs, Newell Brands
Designed the Trend Direction, some patterns, and created manufacturing documents for the patterns for the 2020 gas transfer pattern travel mug CMF refresh. Major, international
2020 Puddle Jumper CMF and Trend Implemented across all Puddle Jumper products, Newell Brands
Desined the Trend Direction and directed the illustration team to create the new patterns and graphics for the 2020 refresh of all Puddle Jumper products. Created an intensive trend study and direction along with a color palette for all webbings and sublimation. Worked directly with the sublimation vendor to improve color accuracy. Major, international
2020 Quatix CMF Marine Smartwatch, Garmin International
Designed the CMF for a marine smartwatch and refreshed the line’s color. The traditional color use was sport based CMF and refreshed the line to using traditional sailing colors, dark neutrals, and sophisticated neutral colors. Major International
2020 Oster Counter Top Oven Mass market counter top oven, Newell Brands
The Oster Counter Top Oven is the first product to launch in a full lineup of new Oster products that are fun and playful and hearten to it’s entry level price point which lead to the use of grey glossy plastic with black accents to lend to its entry price, but refined at the same time. Major, International
2020 Calphalon Cool Touch Oven Premium level counter top oven, Newell Brands
Calphalon cool touch oven uses new technology for innovation in the counter top oven space that has cool sides so that the sides reduce burning the user on contact. At a higher price point, the CMF functioned to hint towards high end appliances with an all black color scheme with satin black tinted accents to allow for premium metallic shine and matte painted body parts for elevated textural CMF application. Major International
2019 Mr. Coffee 12 cup Programmable Entry level coffee maker for Wal-Mart and Target, Newell Brands
New entry level coffee maker for Wal-Mart and target with new additional CMF options to remove Black and Decker products from these shelves at under the thirty dollar price point. The refreshed grey and pastel colors achieved that goal. Major, International
2019 Mr. Coffee 12 cup Switch Entry level coffee marker for Wal-Mart
Designed a black and white colorway for an innovation product line for Mr. Coffee was created and the new refreshed 12 cup switch coffee maker. Major International
2019 Easy Measure Coffee Maker Mid-level coffee maker
The easy measure coffee maker originally launched in early 2019, but needed a refreshed silver colorway to sell at a higher price point and to more premium department stores and speciality kitchen and home decor stores. Major, International