Mark Kawakami
Senior Graphic Designer
Lakewood | United States
Skills
No information
Interests
Motorcycles
Art
Hockey
Custom cars
Industries
Dive
Lifestyle
Moto & Powersports
Music
Surf
Summary
Activity
Work experience
Mattel - Hot Wheels Packaging Design Department - Advance Play Group
Senior Graphic Designer | 05/2017 - Current
Worked in partnership with marketing and product design to develop packaging for newly created toys.
• Create brand identities and product stories for new Hot Wheels Advance Play toys
• Art direct product photography for new packaging designs to convey product play patterns
• Collaborate closely with outside design agencies to ensure projects are delivered on time and created to the ideas and concepts provided
• Manage and art direct graphic designers at the Mattel Asia office on final art and production materials needed for print
• Design digital app assets with outside vendors to ensure the brand consistency to the product
Joyrides Art Company
Freelance | 01/2007 - 08/2018
Highly skilled in photographing custom motorcycles, hot rods, real estate, products and action sports. Create logos, publications, letterhead, business cards, apparel graphics and branding (i.e., signage, look books, catalogs, posters). Portfolio consists of many clients in national publications, real estate brokers and apparel companies
The Speed Merchant
Co Founder-Creative and Marketing Director | 01/2007 - 03/2018
Aftermarket motorcycle parts and apparel company. Led all efforts of design including web development, graphic design, catalogs and photography. Since conception, the company has grown into a self-sustaining entity resulting in partnerships with Harley Davidson, Pabst Blue Ribbon, MoTul Motor Oil and distribution through Drag Specialties catalog
Senior Graphic Designer (Contractor – 2nd assignment) – Hot Wheels Brand Creative Department
Mattel - Hot Wheels Brand Creative | 03/2017 - 03/2017
Focused on supporting the Creative Director with finalizing marketing materials for the Hot Wheels diecast toys and playsets.
• Created marketing materials ranging from logos, point of purchase, promotional materials and advertising
• Facilitated final designs for advertising, merchandise posters, promotional banners and helped with the gallery redesign
Loser Machine / Dark Seas
Senior Graphic Designer - Freelance | 02/2017 - 02/2017
Responsible for creating new graphics and images to support the upcoming season of products.
• Created logos, labels for apparel and retail window signage that successfully communicated brand message to targeted customers
• Led the photography efforts for brand lifestyle, action and products to catalog and utilize for marketing and advertising efforts
Red Bull Media House
Senior Graphic Designer - Contractor | 10/2016 - 12/2016
Create digital assets to promote new media to be premiered on Red Bull TV.
• Managed projects of select titles and designed digital banners to showcase on the Red Bull network
Body Glove International
Art Director | 01/1994 - 05/2016
Created graphics for all Body Glove products, responsible for designing every aspect of marketing material to support the brand.
• Managed two graphic designers by overseeing projects assigned and maintaining on time project timelines
• Developed and created marketing materials for the brand that included advertisements, brand books, style guides, point of purchase, online marketing, tradeshows and special events
• Created tradeshow graphics for company tradeshow booth. Executed the production and ensured on time delivery of final assets
• Collaborated with Marketing and Video departments to create graphics and marketing materials for company produced movies such as; “Drop Zone” and “Live from the Moon”
• Conducted and directed photoshoots of products and lifestyle for marketing purposes
• Developed and created a monthly publication distributed in the South Bay communities to promote the brand and stimulate sales at the core retail shops
Education history
Otis Art Institute of Parson School of Design
BFA | 1986 - 1990



