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Employee Spotlight: Kate Ratner, Co-Founder and Creative Director

July 29, 2020
Lily Caffrey-Levine

At Cloud Construct, we are a talented and fun-loving group. Though we all work remotely from our homes each day, we still maintain a high level of camaraderie through daily conversations, virtual happy hours, and work together days (when safe to do so).

In this installment of our Employee Spotlight series, get to know one of our co-founders and the Cloud Construct Creative Director, Kate Ratner. Kate shared with us more on her design background and where she draws inspiration from. Having been on the Cloud Construct team since the beginning, we’re excited for you to learn more about Kate and her work!

Meet Kate!

Cloud Construct: Before working at Cloud Construct, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?

Kate Ratner: My first full time job was at Brand Design Studio, a part of the graphic design department of the Artists’ Union of Russia. It was the only design agency in the entire country at that time, focusing on logo and brand design. The greatest benefit was having the best design mentors and very talented coworkers. We also had guest speakers—designers from all over the world—among them leading American designers such as Lou Dorfsman and Massimo Vignelli.

CC: What places have you lived in?

KR: Just two. Before the Boston metro area I only lived in Moscow, Russia.

CC: How did you first learn about Cloud Construct?

KR: A mutual friend introduced me to Arra Derderian at the Globe Bar and Café in Copley square. Then Cloud Construct was born.

CC: What did you want to be when growing up?

KR: A Visual Artist, I always draw and paint.

CC: What drew you to Cloud Construct originally? And how has Cloud Construct changed since?

KR: We always wanted to design for cool projects using new “frontend dev” possibilities. I love to work with startups—people have the same level of enthusiasm as we do. I love creating new brands and plan for their future development. I like to help existing brands define their visual language and architecture that will work for them on a long run. I love to organize complicated dashboards. We grow and learn constantly, and it makes us better partners for our clients.

CC: What are 3 words to describe Cloud Construct?

KR: Honest, creative, enjoyable

CC: What do you like to do on your days off?

KR: Hang out with my family and friends and also have some inspirational creative experience by seeing artwork or nature.

CC: How do you balance your career at Cloud Construct and family?

KR: Working from home and not having a two-hour daily commute definitely helps, but also brings some challenges. I feel that having a firm schedule helps me the best. For example, few days a week I have a gym class at 6 and have a hard stop with my work.

CC: If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be?

KR: It would be my late father – my greatest loss and regret that we never talked enough.

CC: What is the favorite part about working for Cloud Construct?

KR: Collaboration with different disciplines

CC: Do you have a favorite newspaper, blog?

KR: I used to love U&lc, Emigre Magazines, Communication Arts. Dribbble is by far my most inspirational source these days.

CC: What do you find the most challenging at Cloud Construct?

KR: We are very busy with our projects, trying to provide the best service for our clients so sometimes great internal ideas don’t get implemented as quick as we would like to.

CC: What do you like most about Cloud Construct?

KR: Team of very talented, smart, and passionate people language and architecture that will work for them on a long run. I love to organize complicated dashboards. We grow and learn constantly, and it makes us better partners for our clients

CC: If you were an animal what would you be?

KR: A raccoon – they are talented, creative, smart, and handsome devils. Also they are the best parents in animal world.

CC: Do you have a favorite quote?

KR: “Design is a good Idea” —Emigre Magazine

CC: What has been your favorite project at Cloud Construct?

KR: It’s hard to say, we had a lot of great clients/projects. I loved to work for GVault and ScootRoute, but I think my favorite is QS Investors. Great marketing team, great company, great ideas - great collaboration, re-thought brand and matching website.

CC: What have you gained from working at Cloud Construct?

KR: A ton (still learning everyday): Experience & Product design, designing for complex data-driven applications and dashboards, ton of design software (XD, Sketch, InVision Studio) Axure, creating websites in Webflow venturing in HTML/CSS, video creation and editing, creating better presentations, business planning …and more and more.

CC: What advice do you have for prospective Cloud Construct candidates?

KR: You have to be able to stay very motivated and organized – there is no pressure and structure of an office environment. You have to love what you do – we all get very involved with our projects. Take your work seriously to be creative and innovative, eagerly adopting to new ideas.

CC: What is on your wish list for the next 10 years with Cloud Construct?

KR: Continue to grow, adopting new technologies, adding more awesome people to the team, and maintaining our drive to create something awesome.

CC: Best vacation you’ve been to?

KR: Argentinian Patagonia – magnificent, raw, and challenging. Also, a road trip in Switzerland – the best art museums/collections. Here are some photos from Switzerland and from Patagonia!

CC: If you had to eat one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

KR: Ice cream – what else?!

CC: If you were stuck on an island what three things would you bring?

KR: Paint, brushes, paper – I have professional artistic training and painted all my pre-employment life, I’d like to return to it one day.

CC: What is your favorite thing to do in the wonderful city of Boston?

KR: Just walking around Boston Harbor or Copley square makes me happy. Boston is very unique and very beautiful.

CC: You’re happiest when?

KR: Designing

Author Photo
Lily Caffrey-Levine
Marketing Manager
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Or call us at:
1.617.903.7604

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Drop us a note
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Or call us at:  
1.617.903.7604