With 20+ years of experience at the intersection of product design, strategy, and systems thinking, I help organizations turn complex challenges into elegant, human-centered solutions. I've led cross-functional design initiatives at companies including McKinsey, Panasonic and Shutterstock, leading future product ideation + development, scaling teams, implementing global design systems, and driving product impact across legal-tech, media, SaaS and consumer electronics. As a bilingual designer (JP/EN) with roots in architecture and a commitment to inclusive, sustainable design, I bring a unique lens to UX leadership — blending business outcomes with deep empathy and systems clarity. Drove 100% adoption of firm-wide risk management tools at McKinsey. Helped scale design teams. Boosted Japanese market revenue at Shutterstock with UX localization. Founded a civic engagement nonprofit with 10,000+ volunteers. TED Fellowship (deferred) & Panasonic innovation award winner. Now seeking senior product design leadership opportunities where I can lead high-impact design strategy, mentor design talent, and shape visionary products with purpose.
2025 — Present
New York, United States
2005 — Present
Denver, CO, United States
2023 — Present
New York, United States
2018 — 2023
New York, United States
2013 — 2016
New York, United States
2010 — 2013
New York, United States
2002 — 2009
LIC, NY, United States
2000 — 2001
New York, United States
1998 — 2001
New York, United States
1992 — 1997
2016 — 2016
1990 — 1992
1994 — 1994
Feel free to contact me at kazumi@placeholder.flows.cv