“An ukiyo-e print of a frustrated art director at his desk with a laptop and a calligraphy poster on the wall”, 2022. DALL-E.
THIS IS AN OBLIGATORY SHORT BIO
In 2005, fresh out of high school in Sapporo, Japan, I decided on a whim that I should get education in America. 4 months later, I found myself in Seattle totally at a loss, not even being able to order a sandwich at Subway (for this reason I still don't like Subway). After managing to graduate college with a journalism degree, I convinced myself to try my luck in the advertising industry as a designer.
Many years later, I'm somehow still here.
As an UI/UX Designer turned a Content Art Director turned a proper Art Director, I’ve worked on any kind of projects thrown at me. I've always been a very hands-on and scrappy creative who aims to nail the fine details for as long as the time & budget allow. I also believe in collaborating with folks outside the creative to get the job done effectively and efficiently.
I sure wasn't expecting my life to be like this 4000+ miles away from home, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.
It’s very nice to meet you.
A RELIABLE WAY TO CONTACT ME
Email me at howrandom@shoito.is.
A SLIGHTLY LESS RELIABLE WAY TO CONTACT ME
LinkedIn is alright, too, if that's your thing.
THINGS I'M HAPPY TO DO
Art Direction, Campaign Development, Branded Content, Graphic Design, Web Design
THINGS I'M A BIT RUSTY BUT STILL CAN PERFORM
Digital Product/Service Design, Scrappy Content Capture & Editing
THINGS I SIMPLY CAN'T DO
Illustration, Illustration, Illustration
TOOLS I CAN MOST DEFINITELY USE
Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom, Premiere, Sketch, Figma
EARNING
TGD (Associate Creative Director, 2023-), DNA (Senior Art Director, 2020-2023), Freelance (Senior Art Director & Designer, 2019-2020), Perch Partners (Senior Art Director, 2019), POSSIBLE / Wunderman Thompson (Art Director, 2018-2019 | Content Studio Art Director, 2015-2018 | Designer, 2014-2015), Pop Art, Inc. (Interactive Designer, 2010-2013)
LEARNING
University of Oregon (B.A. Journalism/Advertising, 2010)
REASSURING
I do have a Green Card (EB-3).
SOME OF THE BRANDS I WORKED WITH
Amazon, AT&T, BECU, Boom Technology, Coca-Cola, Domo, Inc., Microsoft, Patagonia, Seattle Sounders, Skype, TacoTime NW, Ziply Fiber
THANKS FOR SCROLLING ALL THE WAY DOWN
I look like this most of the time, but I swear I'm really excited to be talking to you.