I am a son, Japanese American, avid concert-goer, and language nerd (4.5 and counting). In my spare time, you can find me running around with a camera, trying new food, and scouring LA for the best cafe.
Professionally, I am a product designer focused on the intersectionality of technology, design, and language. To me, design has the ability to bring people from all backgrounds together through the power of technology. With my background in cultural advocacy and linguistics, I strive to design for accessibility and DEI.
Coming into college, I had my eyes set on SWE (full leetcode and everything). However, after joining a creative services club, Innovative Design, and USC's premier startup incubator, LavaLab, my mind was opened to the world of design. Always a creative, product design was the perfect niche for me. Since then, I've been pursuing a career as a product designer creating everything from a lab inventory management system to reimagined Japanese playing cards. Combining my experience in development with my passion for design, I'm excited to see what opportunities are up next!
I am currently a Junior at the University of Southern California studying Computational Linguistics with a minor in Business and minor in Designing for Digital Experiences and am seeking Product Design and Product Management Roles for Winter 2024 and Summer 2025.
ABOUT
EXPERIENCES
- Coordinated programming for professional development and USC creative community
- Oversaw committee of 4 to host 5+ semesterly events including panels, networking events, and conferences
- Managed organization's LinkedIn group and grew membership by 40%
- Planned Riptide, USC's largest design and technology conference with 100 attendees
VP of Externals and Web Designer
Innovative Design
Jan 2023 - Present
- Assisted in the fullscale redesign of the Discover Nikkei website, a community platform for Japanese Americans, on an international team
- Integrated new features using Figma, Bootstrap, HTML/CSS, and Javascript including translations from Japanese, Portuguese, and English
UX Designer and Frontend Developer
Japanese American National Museum
Jul 2023 - Jan 2024
- Collaborated with a team of PMs and Developers to create an MVP over 6 weeks for a B2B startup
- Won "Best Pitch" at Demo Night and $500 to continue working on the product
- Designed a digital product, marketing assets, branding, and pitch deck for Demo Night and conducted over 30 user interviews and AB testing
Product Designer
LavaLab
Sep 2023 - Dec 2023
- Covered personal photography and videography shoots and large-scale events (2000+ attendees)
- Managed social media and marketing for services including personal website
- Received critical acclaim from the Arts Council of Conejo Valley and CA 26th Congressional District
- Worked with the likes of Kevin Wu (KevJumba), Lana Condor, and more
Photographer and Videographer
Kawaguchi Visuals
Jul 2019 - Present
VALUES
ADAPTABILITY
EMPATHY
INNOVATION
As a designer with a background in development and business, adaptability is at the core of my professional ethos. I thrive in dynamic environments, embracing the ever-evolving landscape of technology and design to keep my skills cutting-edge. Whether mastering new design tools or adapting to the latest coding frameworks, I integrate design with development processes to ensure projects are visually compelling and technically sound. My ability to pivot quickly in response to client needs or market shifts has been instrumental in delivering successful outcomes across various industries.
Empathy and innovation are also central to my approach. Understanding the user’s perspective is crucial for creating impactful experiences, and my business acumen helps align user needs with strategic objectives. I invest time in user research to inform every decision, ensuring solutions are user-centric and aligned with business goals. Additionally, innovation fuels my passion for pushing boundaries; I explore emerging trends like augmented reality and AI-driven tools to create forward-thinking solutions. My business background empowers me to evaluate these innovations' feasibility and impact, fostering a culture of innovation that anticipates future demands and sets new standards for excellence.
Kawaguchi Visuals
Capturing the Little Moments (and the Big Ones, Too)
Brand Development
Freelance
Web Design
Photography
Reimagined Hanafuda Playing Cards
Japanese Tradition, Made Bauhaus
Brand Development
Development
Graphic Design
Entrepreneurship
Product Design
Melodify - Spotify Listening Data Visualization
Hours of Listening, Visualized in Seconds
Brand Development
Development
Web Design
Product Design
Catalyst - Lab Inventory Management System
Laboratory Inventory Management,
Made Simple
Brand Development
Product Design
Web Design
Entrepreneurship
Logo Design
Case Study Coming Soon