Kate Ouwenga
Creative Professional working and teaching at the largest Makerspace in the Chicago suburbs
Experience
Tech & Maker Specialist
Indian Prairie Public Library in Darien, IL
Sept 2023 - Current
• Teaches patrons technology and maker skills from 3D modeling and printing, CNC machines, and Laser Engraving to sewing, serging, and machine knitting in sessions that range from one-on-one to thirty-person classes
• Creates projects unique to our space that we use as teaching tools
• Investigates and repairs broken machinery
• Gives public talks about our space and the technology that we have available
Freelance Graphic Designer
Chicago, IL
2011 - Current
• Designs logos, iconography, and visual communications for individuals and small businesses from ideation to final product
Concept Artist
PUG Unit Gaming
2011 - 2012
• Created unique storyboard and character designs that illustrated key story concepts and personality traits
Community Leader
The Fempire
2010 - 2015
• Advocated for the rights of women and children on social media using international traditional media campaigns
• Built an online community from a tiny 500-person pool, to over 150,000 users
• Wrote blogs, updates, and lots and lots of jokes to keep our users informed on current issues affecting our community
Education
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Bachelor of Fine Arts with emphasis in Visual Communications
Parsons School of Design
New York City, NY
Skills
Software
Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, AfterEffects, Lightroom, Premier Pro, Dreamweaver, Acrobat, AutoDesk Fusion 360, TinkerCad, Corel Draw, Hatch Embroidery, Canva, Silhouette, Easel, Ultimaker Cura, Makerbot Software, Design-a-Knit 9, Cricut Maker, Microsoft Office, Mac OSX, Windows
Machines
3D Printers, Vinyl Cutters, Cameo, Cricut Maker, Die Cutters, Laser Engravers, CNC Routers, Sublimation Printers, White Toner Processes, Heat Presses, Large Format Printers, Knitting Machines, Addi Knitting Machines, Silver Reed Knitting Machines, Candle Makers, Sewing Machines, Sergers, Embroidery Machines, Button Makers, DSLR Cameras, AI
Languages
HTML, HTML5, CSS, CSS3, Javascript, and a little bit of Spanish, Dutch, and French
Creative
Oil, Acrylic, Charcoal, Graphite, Watercolor, Ink, Pastels, Chalk, Pen, Markers, Colored Pencils, Gouache, Ceramic, Fiber, Video, Sound, Photography, Sculpture, Biomaterials, 3D Modeling, Gen AI