Kearns Design | Kathleen Kearns

Kathleen Kearns is a creative, solution-driven design leader with over 30 years of professional experience as a creative director, brand specialist, and advocate for the arts. She is the founder of Kearns Design, a full-service design and branding firm that provides strategic brand development and creative design solutions for both business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) companies, as well as nonprofit organizations seeking to amplify their mission and messaging. A lifelong artist herself, Kathleen is passionate about supporting artists with epilepsy—an especially personal mission inspired by her daughter’s experience with epilepsy and other health challenges. Her advocacy extends beyond the arts, including a long-standing commitment to affordable, quality healthcare, with a focus on advancing women’s health. Kathleen’s professional career spans agency, corporate, and consulting roles, delivering award-winning branding and design solutions for a diverse range of clients, including national consumer brands, healthcare institutions, and nonprofit organizations. An active community leader, she has held leadership positions with Women in Design, the Chicago Creative Coalition, NAWBO Chicago, and United Power for Action and Justice. She has also served on the advisory board of the American Academy of Art, helping shape the future of art and design education. Through Kearns Design, Kathleen brings a unique combination of professional expertise, creative vision, and deep empathy, helping organizations—from businesses to nonprofits—clarify their messaging, strengthen their brands, and connect meaningfully with their audiences.