I’m a product designer based in New York City, my journey started 15+ years ago. it was rather a natural progression from my background and education as a fine artist. I've always enjoyed the creative process fueled by trial and error, the sparks, the art of the possible. One aspect from my studio practice that I apply today is the process of working through ambiguity to arrive at something more concrete and delightful- I’m naturally a visual communicator. 

I have also learned the important lesson that being a designer encompasses so much more than just the visual. Through my work in a variety of industries, in leadership/business/strategic roles, and absorbing applied technologies, I've picked up the breadth and depth of what designers can do. l take a more methodological, streamlined approach to find user-centered, intuitive, scalable solutions that meet business objectives, drive value, and make the best use of technology. As a design lead, I have also learned how critical it is to collaborate well with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and clients. Designers do not work in a silo and need the ability to close the gap between all of these ecosystem partners, while always advocating for the end users. I'm passionate about learning new skills, both technical and soft. In my current role, I also organize weekly team-building activities with my cross-functional, tight-knit squad and mentor early career designers, which has been both empowering and rewarding. I’m always curious about what’s beneath the surface,  I’m looking forward to a path that utilizes my current skillset while exploring emerging technologies and growing as a designer.

Skills: Product Design, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Visual Design, Design Thinking Workshop, Persona Creation, User Journeys, User Flows, Wireframing, Prototyping, User Research, Usability Testing, Design System, Business Strategy, Branding, Video(storyboarding, script, and editing), Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Product Management, Project Management

Tools: Figma, Sketch, Adobe creative cloud(Photoshop/Illustrator/In-Design/After Effects/Premier), virtual white boarding tools(Mural/Miro)

Language: Japanese

Email: mikay67@gmail.com