Angie Kim

Angie Kim is the Founder of AYK, a handcrafted leather goods line, based in San Francisco, CA. In 2012, she lived and worked in India, where she was inspired by the abundant examples of handicraft she saw on the streets of Bombay. Upon her return home, Kim chose to take the leap and pursue the world of leather work & fashion. Since the launch of AYK in 2014, she has run a successful Kickstarter campaign that shares the story and journey behind the making of her handbags. 

Before the start of her entrepreneurial path, Kim worked for over ten years as an Industrial Designer, largely at the renowned design consultancy, IDEO. Her work has helped global companies, like TATA Education, JetBlue, Kobo, Bigelow Tea, and Eli Lilly address complexities by reshaping their brand and product offerings with strategic design solutions. Kim holds several patents, has been acknowledged with the French Institute of Design Award, IDEA Awards, and published in IDEO's design book, I Miss My Pencil. 

Kim is passionate about building AYK's brand and product line, and continues to share her Industrial Design experience by helping start-ups develop their product design and brand touchpoints to create a distinct and compelling experience for their audience.