Hello

Curriculum Vitae

My name is Yukari Yamano.

I’m a designer and communicator specializing in UI design, visual systems, and cross-cultural engagement. My work spans cultural programming, bilingual content development, and inclusive storytelling—supported by a Master’s in Interdisciplinary Design Studies Field completed entirely in Japanese.

I approach design as a bridge: blending visual clarity, user empathy, and cultural insight to create experiences that resonate across audiences and mediums. From public engagement at the Seattle Japanese Garden to digital product design in the Bay Area, I’ve contributed to projects that support meaningful experiences across cultures, platforms, and communities.

I am currently exploring new opportunities where I can contribute as a communicator and creative collaborator—fostering cross-cultural understanding, human-centered design, and thoughtful storytelling.

• Seattle Japanese Garden • Design • Education • Skills & Tools • Hobbies & Interests

Professional Experience

Seattle Japanese Garden - Arboretum Foundation (Non-profit)

Programs & Events Coordinator ・ Seattle, WA・Feb 2020 – Mar 2025

JOB DESCRIPTION

I coordinated cultural programming at the Seattle Japanese Garden, overseeing event planning and public engagement while collaborating with artists, performers, and community organizations. My work included developing workshops with regional nonprofits, managing digital outreach through the website, social media, and blog, and coordinating tea ceremony demonstrations at the Shoseian Tea House. I also supported the Arboretum Foundation’s fundraising events, contributing to logistics, setting up the online auction, and helping tally live auction proceeds while fostering community engagement.

IN-PERSON INITIATIVES

Free First Thursday (Monthly, Free Admission)

Curated and scheduled monthly cultural programs featuring Japanese and Japanese American artists, lecturers, and performers.
Developed a structured lecture series to attract adult audiences and bring consistency to programming that had previously been ad hoc.
Negotiated and managed contracts, coordinated logistics, and oversaw event setup and clean-up.
Organized volunteers and ensured smooth execution of each event.

Family Saturday (Monthly, Free Admission for Children)

Designed and facilitated family-friendly cultural experiences focused on traditional Japanese arts and music.
Recruited and contracted local professionals to lead performances and programs.
Managed event preparation, volunteer coordination, and day-of support.

Seasonal & Special Events

Managed entire event operations—from scheduling and contracting artists to coordinating staff and volunteers.
Organized cultural programs tied to traditional Japanese holidays, including Koi Day (Children’s Day), Tanabata Festival, Tsukimi (Moon Viewing), and the Autumn Leaves Festival.
Planned and supported fundraising events such as concerts and garden parties, ensuring smooth logistics and cultural authenticity.

Workshops

Initiated and developed beginner-level workshops for youth and adults.
Partnered with Youth in Focus to create a photography program for underserved students.
Secured grant funding, structured the program for accessibility, and managed all logistics and outreach.

Tea Ceremony Demonstration

Facilitated annual and ad-hoc meetings with representatives from three tea groups.
Scheduled and supported regular demonstrations at Shoseian Tea House.
Conducted tea utensils inventory and coordinated tea house usage.
Drafted a new usage agreement to replace the outdated 2016 contract—resolving a long-standing gap in documentation and collaboration.

ONLINE INITIATIVES

Website Maintenance & Content Management

Role: Webmaster and Blog Contributor

Scope: Maintained and updated the Seattle Japanese Garden website, coordinating with the City of Seattle and the docent group Unit 86 to publish new pages and expand site content.

Responsibilities included:

Social Media & Community Communication

Role: Social Media Coordinator

Scope: Managed the Garden's social media presence to promote cultural programming and engage the local community.

Responsibilities included:

VISITORS DATA FROM THE FACTSHEET 2024

arboretumfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/Annual-Report-2024-2025.pdf

Total Visitors in 2024 – Over 10,000 visitors

Tea Ceremony Demonstration – 104 demonstration (Over 1040 visitors)

REFERRAL LINKS

seattlejapanesegarden.org/

facebook.com/SeattleJapaneseGarden/

instagram.com/seajpnsgarden/

arboretumfoundation.org/

Visit Portfolio

Freelance (Sole-proprietor)

Graphic Designer ・ SF Bay Area & Seattle, WA・Apr 2002 – Current

OVERVIEW

I handle all aspects of graphic design work, including building websites using CMS platforms, creating informational panels and logo designs, posters, package designs, and illustrations. I also manage each project independently—from initial planning and client communication to production timelines and final delivery.

Pricelock (Start-up)

UI Designer & Graphic Designer ・ Redwood City, CA・Nov 2011 – Mar 2014

OVERVIEW

As part of a lean, fast-moving startup team at Pricelock, I wore two creative hats—serving as both a graphic designer on the marketing team and a UI designer for the company’s digital products.

Marketing Design:
Supported campaign development by designing the corporate website, email templates, collateral materials, product campaign assets, and PowerPoint presentations. Helped shape the company’s visual branding across platforms to ensure consistency and clarity.
UI/UX Design:
Collaborated with executives, product managers, and engineers to deliver intuitive, visually compelling interfaces for all Pricelock products—including an energy auction platform and a professional social community for energy industry experts. Created web and mobile application designs, UI sketches, prototypes, flow charts, style guides, and documentation. Participated in testing and design reviews to ensure usability and quality.

Busse Design USA (UX Design Studio)

UI Designer ・ Emeryville, CA・Aug 2003 – Oct 2011

OVERVIEW

As a visual designer at Busse Design, I contributed to web, web application, and graphic design projects for over 50 companies. I handled all stages of production—from initial concept to final delivery—across both digital and print formats.

Designed UX flows, wireframes, and instructional manuals for client-facing applications.
Created visual assets including websites, logos, packaging, posters, and informational panels.
Delivered print-based design work for marketing and product teams.
Managed timelines and deliverables independently, ensuring consistency and quality across diverse client needs.

Internship

UI/Graphic Design Intern ・ San Francisco Bay Area, CA・2001 – 2002

DESIGN INTERN 3

Red Hat Inc. (May–Aug 2002, Oakland, CA)

Supported extranet platform design with sitemaps, wireframes, and UI layouts for the marketing team. During this internship, I met designer Kyle Hoyt, who later invited me to join Busse Design—marking the beginning of my long-term role in UI and graphic design.

DESIGN INTERN 2

Mouse Hause (2002, San Mateo, CA)

Created wireframes, UI sketches, and iconography for digital projects in collaboration with senior designers.

DESIGN INTERN 1

RKD Inc. (2001, Palo Alto, CA)

Worked on corporate communications and identity systems; gained foundational experience in branding and visual storytelling.

Visit Portfolio

Education

Kyoto University of the Arts: Interdisciplinary Design Studies Field

Master of Fine Arts

Graduated March 2025 ・ Online Program ・ Kyoto, Japan

Focused on cross-disciplinary approaches to design, integrating cultural studies, visual communication, and community engagement. Coursework included design theory, creative research, and collaborative project development.

For my second-year capstone project, I worked with four Japanese teammates to study Oiso Town in Kanagawa Prefecture. As part of our fieldwork, I visited Oiso twice and stayed for a week each time to conduct interviews, site observations, and collaborative field research on local culture and history.

\

SKILLS & SPECIALIZATIONS

Design thinking
Visual storytelling with cultural insight
Community-centered creative planning
Collaborative design research

San José State University: Graphic Design

Bachelor of Science

Graduated May 2001 ・San Jose, California, USA

Earned the Dean’s Scholar Award for academic excellence. Built a strong foundation in design principles, visual communication, and professional standards through studio coursework and hands-on projects.

Additional Education & Learning

Coursera – Online Courses (Ongoing)

Actively expanding skills in UI/UX design, project management, generative AI, and mathematics through self-paced coursework.

Free Code Camp – Online Learning (Ongoing)

Brushing up on HTML and CSS fundamentals to strengthen front-end design fluency.

Coursera – University of California, San Diego (2021)

Human-Centered Design Specialization Courses included:

Designing, Running, and Analyzing Experiments
Information Design
User Experience: Research & Prototyping
Input and Interaction
Design Principles: Introduction
Social Computing
Human-Centered Design: Introduction

Skills & Tools

SKILLS SUMMARY

Fluent in Japanese and English, with a strong foundation in bilingual communication, cultural programming, and visual design. Experienced in coordinating authentic Japanese cultural events and crafting public-facing content rooted in cross-cultural understanding. Actively expanding technical fluency through hands-on projects and online learning, including UI/UX design, HTML/CSS, and terminology research for gaming contexts. Passionate about building inclusive, engaging experiences that bridge language and culture.

Language & Communication

Bilingual Communication (Japanese/English)
Written Translation (Japanese/English)
Verbal Interpretation (Event Support)

Cultural Engagement

Event Coordination
Cultural Programming
Community Engagement
Japanese-language Academic Research & Writing

Digital Outreach

Social Media & Blog Management
Web Maintenance & Content Creation

Technical & UI Design

UI/UX Design
HTML/CSS/JavaScript (basic)

Communication Tools

Bloomerang (Volunteers)
Greater Giving (Fundraising)
Constant Contact (Email Marketing)
Marketo (Email Marketing)
Square (POS)
Jira (Agile)

Design Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud
Microsoft Office
Squarespace & Wix (CMS)
Figma
Miro

Currently Acquiring Skills & Tools

Unreal Engine (Game Development)
Blender (3D Modeling)
Glide (No-Coding Application Building)
Generative AI

Hobbies & Interests

The Way of Tea

Japanese Tea Ceremony (Urasenke School)

Member of Chado Urasenke Tankokai Seattle Association

Visual Arts

Painting and drawing as part of personal creative practice, inspired by nature, Japanese aesthetics, and storytelling

Creative Tools

Exploring Unreal Engine and Blender to expand creative expression in interactive media

Favorite Games

Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Monument Valley, Gorogoa

Visit Portfolio

Linkedin Profile