# Evan Nakamura > Director Furniture Product Design - Pottery Barn Kids at Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/evannakamura Passionate and innovative design leader. Accomplished in leading a complex multi-product development process. A collaborator with exceptional skill to foster strong relationships with internal & external partners, cross-functional partners & clients. Highly skilled in design research & identification of new innovation opportunities. I am a multi-disciplinary designer with a diverse experience in furniture, lighting, architecture and product development centered around the built environment. I've played integral roles in start-ups, large corporations and boutique design firms. I bring my determination, creativity, leadership and positivity everyday. Let's get it done! Entrepreneurial, Innovative, Collaborative, Strategic, Hard Working, Results Driven, Process Oriented, Creative, Positive, Fun, Ethical, Intelligent, Leader. ## Work Experience ### Director Furniture Product Design & Development (Pottery Barn Kids) @ Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Jan 2022 – Present | San Francisco Bay Area • Drive concept design and development for division, with a focus on bedroom, nursery, occasional and upholstered furniture. (~$350 mm in annual revenue, top performing brand category). • Strategic partner with Merchants, Sourcing, QC and Engineering teams to deliver high quality, high margin products that meet business goals. • Oversee entire product development process including travel to overseas factories ensuring prototypes meet design, cost and quality specifications. Key point of contact for internal cross-functional partners, overseas sourcing team and domestic vendors. • Manage a team of designers and freelancers, including hiring, development, and directing daily work to ensure it supports the vision of the brand.  • Identify new product opportunities based on trend and competitor research to support brand growth. ### Head Design Manager Product Design & Development (Pottery Barn Kids) @ Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Jan 2021 – Jan 2022 ### Head Design Manager Product Design & Development (Pottery Barn Teen) @ Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Jan 2012 – Jan 2021 ### Director of Product Design & Development @ Project Frog Jan 2008 – Jan 2012 • Directed the design and development of Project Frog’s (a cleantech startup) manufactured approach to prefabricated commercial buildings. • Oversaw conceptual design through fabrication and construction. Clients: Kaiser, 7-Eleven, GE, National Parks Service and multiple school districts. • Responsible for leading design strategy with cross functional partners & construction team, ensuring design was on-brand, on budget and met customer business goals. • Traveled to meet with clients, supervised vendor fabrication at factories and monitored on-site construction. • Directed design and technical team. Recruited and hired product designers and architects. Planned development calendar, determined priorities and workflow. Hired and managed team of 12 technical consultant firms; built and maintained relationships and negotiated contracts. ### Product Design & Development Manager @ CHEFS Catalog Jan 2007 – Jan 2008 • Established Chefs first product design and development department. Managed product development process from conceptual design to production for furniture, lighting, tabletop and functional accessories. • Primary PD contact for internal cross-functional partners, overseas sourcing agents and vendors. Established and fostered new factory relationships. Traveled overseas to supervise designs at factories. • Directed team of freelancers and assistant. • Created new concept presentations based on trend and competitor research and presented to senior management. • Reviewed and approved all specification packages and samples for construction, design and finish. ### Designer (Pottery Barn Teen) @ Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Jan 2004 – Jan 2007 • Oversaw product development process from conceptual design to production for furniture, upholstery and lighting. • Trained new designers & managed freelancers. • Key contact with overseas agents & domestic vendors. • Traveled overseas to factories to ensure prototypes meet design & quality specs. • Collaborated with Sourcing, Merchants, Engineering & Product Information counterparts. • Produced new concept presentations & managed presentation process. ### Project Manager @ ELS Architecture and Urban Design Jan 2002 – Jan 2004 • Worked on large-scale commercial projects; budgets ranging from 30 million to 53 million. • Produced construction drawings & developed design schemes. • Lead & collaborated with consultant team to resolve technical issues. • Oversaw construction administration phase to ensure quality of construction & confirm design intent was met. • Managed designers & coordinated with project team. • Prepared presentations & presented to Principals & Clients. ### Designer @ Paulett Taggart Architects Jan 2000 – Jan 2002 • Worked on high-end residential, multi-family, tenant improvement & education projects. • Project budgets ranging from 500,000 to 3 million. • Directed junior designer & collaborated with consultant team. • Produced construction drawings & prepared presentations to Client. • Reviewed design with city bureaus to verify compliance with codes & guidelines. • Oversaw construction administration phase to ensure quality of construction & confirm design intent was met. • Prepared presentations & presented to Principal & Clients. ## Education ### BA in Architecture University of California, Berkeley ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/evannakamura - Portfolio: http://www.projectfrog.com/ - Portfolio: http://www.pbteen.com --- Source: https://flows.cv/evannakamura JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/evannakamura/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-13