Catherine HIcks
Designer and Disabled Person Advocate
SAN FRANCISCO, United States of America
I’m a designer, educator, & disability advocate with 2 years of experience creating online products for startups and global companies Living with multiple chronic illnesses, I combine professional expertise and personal experience to bridge the gap between disabled people & the tech industry
Available For
Online Events
In-Person Events
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Topics
The person has expertise delivering talks on the following subjects.
Personal Development
Health & Fitness
Business
Teaching & Academics
Design
Entrepreneurship
Coaching
Startups
Autoimmnune Disease
Press & Media Links
Bio
I’m Catherine Hicks, a seasoned designer and product developer with over two decades of experience working with companies like Apple and Amazon, as well as numerous early-stage startups.
As the founding designer of multiple startups that were successfully acquired, I specialize in transforming complex ideas into intuitive, user-centered solutions.
With a professional background as both a designer and a developer, I bridge the gap between creative vision and technical execution, bringing a holistic approach to product design.
Beyond my design work, I’m also a passionate educator, having taught in traditional classrooms and online bootcamps, where I help aspiring professionals build their skills and launch meaningful careers.
My journey has also been deeply shaped by my experiences as a disabled person. Diagnosed with multiple lifelong chronic illnesses in childhood, I’ve lived with the complexities of chronic and invisible disabilities throughout my life.
These experiences have given me a unique perspective on the world and a deep commitment to health equity and advocacy in the tech sector.
Navigating the challenges of the healthcare system and societal barriers has fueled my passion for amplifying the voices of those with disabilities and chronic illnesses and advocating for systemic change.
I use my platform to speak and write about the intersection of health, design, and disability justice. Through my advocacy work, I share personal stories alongside actionable insights on topics like chronic illness, invisible disabilities, and health equity alongside sharing my experience as a career product designer, entrepreneur and startup employee
As a speaker, I bring a unique blend of professional expertise and lived experience to my talks.
Whether I’m discussing how to break into the design industry, how to build your next great product, designing for accessibility, creating inclusive workplaces, or the importance of centering lived experiences in policy and design, I aim to spark meaningful conversations that drive change. I love connecting with audiences across industries—whether tech professionals, healthcare leaders, advocates, or policymakers—and inspiring them to build a more inclusive and equitable world.
As the founding designer of multiple startups that were successfully acquired, I specialize in transforming complex ideas into intuitive, user-centered solutions.
With a professional background as both a designer and a developer, I bridge the gap between creative vision and technical execution, bringing a holistic approach to product design.
Beyond my design work, I’m also a passionate educator, having taught in traditional classrooms and online bootcamps, where I help aspiring professionals build their skills and launch meaningful careers.
My journey has also been deeply shaped by my experiences as a disabled person. Diagnosed with multiple lifelong chronic illnesses in childhood, I’ve lived with the complexities of chronic and invisible disabilities throughout my life.
These experiences have given me a unique perspective on the world and a deep commitment to health equity and advocacy in the tech sector.
Navigating the challenges of the healthcare system and societal barriers has fueled my passion for amplifying the voices of those with disabilities and chronic illnesses and advocating for systemic change.
I use my platform to speak and write about the intersection of health, design, and disability justice. Through my advocacy work, I share personal stories alongside actionable insights on topics like chronic illness, invisible disabilities, and health equity alongside sharing my experience as a career product designer, entrepreneur and startup employee
As a speaker, I bring a unique blend of professional expertise and lived experience to my talks.
Whether I’m discussing how to break into the design industry, how to build your next great product, designing for accessibility, creating inclusive workplaces, or the importance of centering lived experiences in policy and design, I aim to spark meaningful conversations that drive change. I love connecting with audiences across industries—whether tech professionals, healthcare leaders, advocates, or policymakers—and inspiring them to build a more inclusive and equitable world.
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