Rising Stars: Meet Kat Street of Boulder

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kat Street.

Hi Kat, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Creative Director and Designer passionate about building inspiring spaces, I found my creative stride working as an Art Director at a trailblazing Miami ad agency known for its guerrilla marketing stunts, That role took me on a 10-year globe trot, but the most transformative part was living and working in Sweden at the agency’s European headquarters. Being immersed in a culture where design is so firmly rooted in their DNA – it changed my perspective on the environments we inhabit, especially our work-spaces.

Returning to the US, I pivoted to freelance spending most of my time in emerging co-working spaces. But across the board, they felt so unmotivating. And I wasn’t alone. Conversations with women founders revealed a shared desire for more creative environments to do business in, highlighting how traditional workspaces often don’t align with women’s leadership ethos. This inspired me to design a new kind of workspace with warmer aesthetics, biophilia, feng shui principles and brand-building support for women entrepreneurs. After two years, the opportunity arose in Boulder, where I brought my first bespoke communal workplace concept to life—Mothership Boulder. At Mothership, a tapestry of events unfolded– from branding photoshoots to wellness immersions, vibrant gallery showings, career pivoting workshops and focused gatherings for women trailblazers.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
To self-fund Mothership into reality, meant stepping outside Boulder. I took an executive role at a global ad agency in New York City. It was a remote/hybrid mashup with four days onsite in NYC, then back to Boulder for weekends with my family. (This was pre-pandemic.) That 10-month devotion was grueling for myself and my family. Yet, the opportunity funded the build and, the hustle culture of the city kept me focused on the end goal.

And then, of course, there was finding childcare throughout it all – still an epic challenge, especially for women. The village really showed up here for me though. My in-laws came over from Europe to help, and I had a circle of career-focused mothers who were juggling it all. They became a crucial support network then, and still are today.

Lastly, timing. We were on schedule to open the doors March 20, 2020. A week prior, Boulder went into their pandemic lockdown. My business model relied on in-person community, and gathering was prohibited. I had an SBA loan, a mortgage, and other expenses piling on with no incoming revenue. We made it through, but it completely wrecked my nervous system.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
So many things in play. It’s a delicate balance between still leading branding projects as an Executive Creative Director for global agencies and diving into the world of spatial design, which is increasingly pulling me in. I’m very drawn to creating more considered work spaces, and would love to get into some bigger challenges like reimagining educational environments. Last year, I redesigned the exterior of an international Montessori School in Boulder and delivered a complete rebrand package—brandmark, signage, film, apparel, and visual identity. I also collaborate with local real estate agents, offering design upgrades to prepare properties for the market. All while, continuing to manage Mothership, curating content and overseeing private bookings & tours for the space.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
Living away from the coasts pushes you to explore with more determination since the cool things and diverse creative culture aren’t just around the corner. You can learn a lot about yourself with that challenge in front of you. But undeniably, I feel more alive and inspired at sea level. I grew up near the water so it’s ‘home’ in a sense, and find clarity when close to that nature source.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mothershipboulder.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mothershipboulder/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katstreet/
• Other: https://www.katstreet.co/

Image Credits
Kylie Fitts Rae Scott Eleanor Williamson Alexandré Brexa Pinto