iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Catt Small @catt.design · 23/07/2026

Edwin Morris is a wholesome guest

Catt Small @catt.design · 01/07/2026

Episode 1 is live! I sat down with Meghan Logan, Lead Product Designer at Stripe, to talk about what it actually means to add value at the staff level. Watch on YouTube: youtu.be/ZixSBw81UxQ Listen wherever you get podcasts: rss.com/podcasts/cat...

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Catt Small @catt.design · 21/06/2026

Okay design nerds. Show me your Config nails.

Elaborate blue and pink nail design with silver elements.

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Catt Small @catt.design · 21/04/2026

I'm riding 40 miles in the 5 Boro Bike Tour May 3 to raise funds for @gdocexpo.com! GDoCExpo has granted over $400K to game devs of color. Last year's event had 1,200+ attendees online & at 14 IRL watch parties, 1M+ showcase views. Donate now, it's tax-deductible: givebutter.com/GDoCBike/cattsmall

Help me take another bonkers pic this year

(Pic is me on a bike in the rain, shouting triumphantly with my fist in the air)

Donate to GDoCExpo and I'll ride 40 miles

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Catt Small @catt.design · 16/04/2026

Thanks, #IAC26, for having me! And congratulations to Abby Covert for the book launch today 🔥

Timeless Sensemaking book, The Staff Designer book, and both authors smiling

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Catt Small @catt.design · 16/04/2026

Who's feeling major pressure to move fast thanks to top-down Al mandates and folks chanting "get on the train or get left behind"? 🙋🏾‍♀️ I spoke a bit about this during a recent lightning lesson because I wanted to acknowledge the state of the world and offer an opportunity.

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Catt Small @catt.design · 12/12/2025

My book, "The Staff Designer", was officially published by @rosenfeldmedia.com this week! 200+ pages of IC design leadership advice including personal experience and 20+ interviews with staff designers & managers ✨ It's performance reviews season. Get you a copy: rosenfeldmedia.com/books/the-st...

Now available! The Staff Designer by Catt Small

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Catt Small @catt.design · 25/11/2025

Apparently my Staff Designer course is one of the top performers in Maven's sitewide sale. It's lovely that the subject has resonated with so many people! I love teaching IC design leaders. 🥹 Today's the last day to get 25% off, grab your spot before midnight PT! maven.com/catt-small/s...

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Catt Small @catt.design · 20/11/2025

People keep saying nice things about my course. Wild that over 150 students have participated since July of last year.

I cannot recommend this enough! I love how this course was relatable, tangible, and actionable! As someone who has been curious about how to approach next steps in my career, I now have a better understanding of what I can act on.

Thanks for the course. It came at the perfect time. As the first Staff Designer at my company, I've been navigating how to define the role and everything around. This course gave me the frameworks, language and confidence to step up and shape the role.

It's rare to find a course that goes into so much detail and gives so much guidance along the way. I highly recommend Catt and this course if you have any knowledge gaps about the Staff/Lead Product Designer roles and moving into a IC/leadership position!

This was an excellent course! It provided a blend of actionable guidance for day-to-day work and a deep understanding of the Staff Designer's role and expectations.

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Catt Small @catt.design · 05/11/2025

Final minutes of canvassing I cannot wait

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Catt Small @catt.design · 04/11/2025

Canvass shift 1 of 2 done. Fully running on fumes but we're almost there. Motivated by free buses and obliterating Cuomo's ego.

Selfie of the poster in a Hot Girls for Zohran shirt.

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Catt Small @catt.design · 04/11/2025

I spent a year writing a book and now it's real WOWEE! So I made an unboxing video. Help me make it meme status 🙏🏾✨ Pre-order The Staff Designer from @rosenfeldmedia.com to get 15% off and it'll be delivered to your doorstep this December!! Direct link: rosenfeldmedia.com/books/the-st...

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Catt Small @catt.design · 03/11/2025

I have two zetrocards and am in so many canvassing whatsapps from all my efforts.... I'm so tired

Bootleg Barbie taking a hit from a blunt

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Catt Small @catt.design · 26/10/2025

Ran into Zohran canvassers on the way to vote and showed them my Hot Girls for Zohran shirt 🥰

Catt smiling and holding a Zohran Mamdani flyer, wearing a Zohran shirt under coat with "I voted early" and "vote for Zohran" stickers on it.

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Catt Small @catt.design · 20/09/2025

Still parsing all the things that went so well about the tenth @gdocexpo.com. Probably will be for a long time. It was especially meaningful to receive a token of appreciation from the home that I love. Grateful for everyone who had helped make 2025 the best version of the Expo yet. 🙏🏾💖

Me receiving a certificate from the NYC Mayor's Office.

Pretty sure photo credit goes to: Alexia Mohabir

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Catt Small @catt.design · 15/08/2025

YEEEEEE she's officially a published author ✨ My book, The Staff Designer, is now available for pre-order on @rosenfeldmedia.com! In this book, you'll learn what it takes to operate successfully at the level above senior. Get 15% off by grabbing a copy now 👇🏾 rosenfeldmedia.com/books/the-st...

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Catt Small @catt.design · 13/08/2025

Design nerds! I'm hanging out with Femke and chatting design career growth tomorrow. If you're trying to get from senior to staff designer, this conversation is for you. Join us at 11am ET~ femke.kit.com/products/liv...

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Catt Small @catt.design · 25/06/2025

The Zetrocard canvass loyalty stamp card was GENIUS.

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Catt Small @catt.design · 25/06/2025

The Bronx has my heart forever but this is why I moved to Brooklyn.

Mamdani led by 17% in Brooklyn. A total of 358,011 votes were counted (94% of the final amount).

In the Bronx, Cuomo led by 18%. 104,506 votes have been counted (92% of the final amount).

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Catt Small @catt.design · 18/06/2025

I say that but then I go do this

Catt Small holding up a peace sign in a "Hot Girls for Zohran" shirt with an "I voted early" sticker on it.

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Catt Small @catt.design · 17/06/2025

I never want to think about this again

Catt Small with an "I voted early" sticker on her shirt

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Catt Small @catt.design · 16/06/2025

Wow y’all, I just found out my Staff Designer course was selected as one of Maven's top programs in Design! To celebrate the honor of being highlighted by Maven, I'm offering 20% off until Sunday. If you've been wanting to level up your career, now's the time. 🔗 maven.com/catt-small/s...

The Staff Designer course by Catt Small is featured in The Maven 100 for Design. Maven believes these are the skills that matter most.

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Catt Small @catt.design · 27/05/2025

I know I shouldn't be asking how this was allowed, and yet here I am asking: How was this allowedddddd

We're pleased to announce that on May 18, 2025, Discover Bank merged into Capital One, N.A. (“Capital One”). As a result, Capital One is now the issuer of your Discover Credit Card account. This notice applies to each Discover Credit Card account you may have. There is no action you need to take.

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Catt Small @catt.design · 19/05/2025

Hooooooomygosh I sent my editor the manuscript. Just printed it all out and I'm gonna start reading through the monster I've spent the past several months writing. Over 50k words. MY FEELINGS.

My book, printed on double-sided 2-by-2 pages and grouped into four sections. Laptop under the prints for scale.

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Catt Small @catt.design · 11/04/2025

Spent a few hours last night nerding out about the future of product design work with @hangxu.bsky.social and two other great design thinkers. Def a tumultuous time but we have a lot to consider, and we will learn a lot together. Cheers.

Rachel Hsiung, Jibran Kutik, Catt Small, and Hang Xu sit on a stage in panel format. Catt is speaking into a microphone.

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Catt Small @catt.design · 18/03/2025

Leaning into my tomboy roots today 😌✨

Outfit photo. Wearing a pink hat, Murakami print outer shirt with a Game Devs of Color Expo shirt under. Charcoal-colored leggings, pink and gray socks, and sneakers with pink platforms.

A closer shot of the top half of the outfit in selfie mode. This view shows all the matching jewelry.

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Catt Small @catt.design · 05/03/2025

So I did end up seeing the new G but it wasn't on my platform and I didn't want to run 🥹 but AHHH so good

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Catt Small @catt.design · 03/03/2025

I'm biking 40 miles for charity — the third year in a row — this May 🤪 If you have a couple $ to spare, help me raise $750 for BronxWorks! Donate here: fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/bronxwork...

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Catt Small @catt.design · 14/02/2025

A lot more twiggified now!

Selfie of a woman with a nostril and septum piercing.

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Catt Small @catt.design · 10/01/2025

Back on the indoor training rig cause it's brick asf out 🥺

Me clipped into my indoor training bike with a phone attached to the handlebars.

The back wheel of my bike is attached to a Tacx training machine.

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Catt Small @catt.design · 05/01/2025

Finally stopped being a chicken and got some cartilage piercings. It was barely a pinch! So relieved 🥹 let the healing begin!

Selfie photo. Two new ear cartilage piercings above three old ear lobe ones.

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Catt Small @catt.design · 03/01/2025

Now @bt-games-mac.bsky.social is giving us real talk about running an indie studio out in Tokyo! www.youtube.com/live/FVl_xZr...

Josh and Mac talking on the GDoCExpo livestream

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Catt Small @catt.design · 03/01/2025

Haven't played a shmup in a hot sec, gonna have to change that.........

Shootlanzer gameplay on the GDoCExpo stream

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Catt Small @catt.design · 03/01/2025

Now the @munitygames.bsky.social crew is on! Join ussss~ www.youtube.com/live/FVl_xZr...

Josh and the Munity Games team on the GDoCExpo livestream

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Catt Small @catt.design · 03/01/2025

goooood friggin viiiiibes and real talk about the conversations behind layoffs in game dev happening right now on the @gdocexpo.com livestream. @wallstormer.bsky.social and @suduwana.bsky.social are bringing it.

Livestream screenshot featuring Josh and Sherveen

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Catt Small @catt.design · 03/01/2025

TODAY from 3pm–9pm ET, @gdocexpo.com is hosting a livestream to fundraise grants for developers impacted by the record layoffs and other hardships in the gaming industry over the past year. Get notified when we go live: www.youtube.com/live/FVl_xZr... Donate: tilt.fyi/rKF58yt5JO

Developer hardship fundraiser featuring Sherveen Uduwana, Parth Soni & Sally Luc, Mac Kendema, Krystel Theuvenin & Sean Heron, and Miko Charbonneau

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Catt Small @catt.design · 28/12/2024

Today is my birthday eyyyy! If you have a few spare $ and wanna support my work, my friends and I at @gdocexpo.com are raising money for a game dev hardship fund and could use your help. Help us raise as much as we can before we go live with a special stream on Jan 3 👉🏾 tilt.fyi/rKF58yt5JO

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Catt Small @catt.design · 19/12/2024

Running a FREE workshop tomorrow, Dec 20, at 12pm ET~ Over the years, I've chatted with many product designers about getting to that next level. I'll cover common issues that block career growth, then we'll set goals for making moves in 2025. Don't miss it: maven.com/p/a9e14e/unb...

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Catt Small @catt.design · 25/10/2024

This onsen in Hakone has outdoor balcony tubs and is walking-distance to a hike featuring lots of crabs (didn't know that was a thing) maps.app.goo.gl/WkhfLq7Uk5Sr...

A rocky stream in a forest on a rainy day

A crab crawling through grassy moss, surrounded by wet leaves

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Catt Small @catt.design · 25/10/2024

Favorite hotel from this trip: a spot in Shinjuku that had a rooftop (18th floor) onsen with a view of the city. And you could check how crowded it was online 🥰 maps.app.goo.gl/UbpUrh7Fob45... (Photo is theirs, can't being electronics in there)

A rooftop indoor and outdoor set of Japanese baths

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Catt Small @catt.design · 23/10/2024

New claws from Couturiere in Tokyo 🥰

Japanese nail art. Pink with bow and pearl heart

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Catt Small @catt.design · 20/10/2024

Learned about Keiichi Tanaami this weekend and wow, I'm blown away by both the breadth of his work and his comfort with trying new things. He had a lot of trauma (war, illness) to work through and processed it through his art. Hats off to him, and may he rest in peace.

A series of panels featuring what looks like a cartoonish explosion of color.

A colorful medium scale house with a roof that looks like Betty Boop's hairstyle. There is a spider inside.

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Catt Small @catt.design · 21/09/2024

So nice meeting up with folks in the meatspace for @gdocexpo.com! Learned a lot for next year too. Thanks noo yawk 💕

Smiling group of people at the Game Devs of Color Expo watch party

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