About
Maya is a freelance art director & designer specializing in live experiences.
Work Experience:
As an Art Director and 2D/3D Designer, I have spent over a decade creating live events, interactive environments, and social moments for Google, YouTube, HBO, Spotify, Tiffany & Co., Kokuyo, and more. I’ve worked at some of New York City’s best experiential and event agencies, collaborated with studios in Tokyo, and freelanced on both sides of the globe. I’ve experienced the highs (e.g. art-directing a Grammy’s party attended by the one and only Beyoncé…or having my very first project in Japan win the Grand Prize), but I’ve also experienced the lows (like getting a near-concussion during a windy install in Miami!)
Stories aside, my experiences over the years have shaped my approach and given me a global perspective on how to bring culture, craft, and creativity together to create memories.
Skill Set:
I'm skilled in concept-to-completion creative and 2D/3D design. A former boss once called me a Swiss Army knife, complete with every tool to take on the A-to-Z of design: creative ideation, design direction, 3D modeling, graphic design, technical drawings, sourcing, hand-crafting, presenting, and styling on-site. I use Sketchup/Enscape/Podium, the Adobe Creative Suite, and Vectorworks to design, and I create super-organized, self-explanatory collaborative decks. I’ve managed small design teams and coordinated with producers, project managers, account managers, and vendors to ensure that the creative vision is brought to life.
Random other skills include origami/paper art (my work has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens and InStyle magazines), and independently running a dance studio I founded in Tokyo, now in its fourth year (yes, I can lead you in a dance break!)
My Story:
From a young age, my play dates always had a creative mission: craft a themed tea party, choreograph a dance, film a commercial, create a collaborative collage, etc.
Today, I get to do all of this professionally, as an art director who creates experiential touchpoints for all kinds of brands and occasions.
Why events? Besides the fact that it combines a little bit of all things creative, I love a reason to invite people to gather IRL, wow them from the moment they enter, and leave people with a lasting impression. Events and experiential spaces have the power to take us out of our normal routines to educate, celebrate, enchant, and give us reasons to connect and aspire to something greater.
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Whether it’s a brand activation, a media launch, a festival, or a one-day-only moment, I look forward to working with you. Feel free to reach out for collaborations and project opportunities below!
✨ Let’s create magic together~
