Kayla Roolaart is a design-obsessed, community-driven tastemaker.
Her work celebrates craft, the art of gathering, and often centers food. Most recently, she revitalized the heritage home design brand, Dansk, and before that, she curated tableware for Food52.
Now serving: a newsletter at the intersection of food, fashion, & design that's leaving No Crumbs
Brand Portfolio
Dansk
2023 – 2024
At Dansk, I oversaw merchandising efforts and identified emerging categories to guide product development for upcoming seasons, leveraging market research and historical data. I collaborated across product development, design, supply chain, and planning teams to ensure timely, high-quality launches. My efforts included reissuing archival designs to reconnect with loyal customers while attracting new audiences, driving continuous improvement through data-driven decisions, and successfully executing launches across multiple websites and in marketing channels.
Food52
2020 – 2023
At Food52, I managed merchandising, buying, and assortment planning within the Tabletop category. I successfully launched new products, secured emerging market opportunities, optimized processes, fostered collaboration across teams to ensure seamless product rollouts, and spearheaded initiatives like Mugs52; all while fostering vendor relationships and advancing DEI efforts. I created seasonal stories for marketing, conducted market analysis, secured cost savings, and negotiated agreements that improved margins. My work resulted in a best-in-class assortment with outsized category growth.
About
Kayla graduated from The New School with a BA in Food Studies, drawn to its emerging, innovative nature at the intersection of culture, media, design, and sustainability. After graduating, she found her way to Food52, where she started as an assistant buyer and eventually became the merchant behind the iconic heritage brand, Dansk.
Kayla is an enthusiastic cook, avid film photographer, mega design nerd, amateur craftsperson, savvy thrifter, and a damn good host. Her current obsession is creating whimsical cakes inspired by the incredible people in her life.
