Hello friend!
I'm a multidisciplinary Design Lead who thrives on crafting compelling brand experiences through visual storytelling and human-centered design. I'm passionate about fostering collaboration in cross-functional teams and guiding projects from initial concept to production. My love for learning and new challenges led me to diverse skill sets and experiences spanning advertising, experiential design, architecture, and in-house brand design. Over 13 years of experience, I worked in New York and the Bay Area, and I currently enjoy being part of the vibrant community in Oakland, CA.
 
Email  kayaono@gmail.com      Phone  917.868.5154     Links   Linked In | WNW | Behance

Experience
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Waymo Senior brand designer (Contract via Linkage Design)
Mar. 2023–Present, Mountain View

Drive brand and product graphics to articulate the brand's mission during the brand refresh as Waymo's commercialization matures. Actively contribute to realizing the new brand guidelines by designing a wide range of PR and marketing collaterals.

• Develop an experiential playbook to guide external vendors that aligns with Waymo's brand refresh, ensuring a consistent brand experience.
• Develop a marketing collateral playbook and design tool kit to maximize efficiency and consistency across the platform.
• Collaborate with marketing and product teams to create compelling designs, including experiential marketing collaterals, print and social ads, and various PR materials.
• Develop office design and environmental graphics

Gensler Experience Design Lead, Full-time, Apr. 2019 – Mar. 2023
Crafting compelling brand experiences in built environments integrating design and technology.

• Creative lead and design for digital experiences in built environments such as corporate headquarters, experience centers, and retail.
• Led and managed projects throughout the process, from developing experience strategies to overseeing content production.
• Facilitated creative workshop.
• Cross-functional collaboration and coordination. 
• Developed pitches and business development collaterals.


Clients: Adobe, Telus, San Francisco International Airport, LinkedIn, 88 Kearny


Obscura Lead Designer, Full-time, Jul. 2016 – Apr. 2019
Creating immersive storytelling and user experience in architecture and events.

• Creative lead and design for experiential installations. 
• Developed concepts, prototyping, and executing final design
• Collaborated in cross-functional teams, including industrial designers, producers, software, and system engineers.
• Developed pitches and business development collaterals.

Clients: UCSF, MGM Cotai, Harper, CNN, Magic Planet 
 
Freelance Designer/ Illustrator, Apr. 2013 – Present
• Created illustrations, experiential installations, branding, packaging, and advertising. 
• Collaborated with agencies, production companies, and independent businesses.


Hornet, Logan, Psyop, Charlex, 1st Avenue Machine, MPC, Eyeball, Royale, Loyal Kasper, ODD, Plus, Shilo
B-Reel, Local Projects, Wieden + Kennedy, Johnson & Johnson, Shutterstock, Stag & Hare, Ogilvy & Mather...etc.



Brand New School Designer, Full-time, Oct. 2011 – Mar. 2013
• Created style frames and storyboards for TV and digital advertising.
• Collaborated with advertising agencies.

Clients: Bank of America, GE, Google, Tic Tac, Twizzlers, Target, Subway...etc.


Stardust Studio Designer, Full-time, Jan. 2010 – Sep. 2011
• Created style frames and storyboards for TV and digital advertising.
• Collaborated with advertising agencies.

Clients: BET, Google, Mercedes Benz, Verizon, Burlington, StarKist...etc.
Awards
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Interior Design's Best of The Year Award 
IIDA Design Award 2021 
Retrofit’s Metamorphosis Awards—Interior Design
Graphis New Talent Annual 2011, Gold
The Art Directors Club National Scholarship: Graphic Design 2009
AIGA Flux09: Poster Design
SVA Motion Graphics Award 2009
Advertising / Graphic Department Scholarship 2009
Advertising / Graphic Department Scholarship 2008

Education
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School of Visual Arts
Graphic design/ Motion graphics major, graduation 2010
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