When I am not designing, I am eating, cooking, doodling, and hanging out with my cats. I used to hang out with other people but now I just look at Maine Coons on Instagram and eat cheese on the couch.
My name is Teruko Tsubaki and I would love to work with you!
Currently, I live with my husband and three cats (Lady Rainacorn, Doctor Cucumber and Captain Zissou) in the Midwest. My design background covers everything from email design to environmental signage, and I have managed teams and even managers.
Besides my expertise in design and branding I am also great at collaboration and communication across departments. The positive attitude that I bring to my work is contagious and I always try to make my team feel like a family. Sometimes that means bringing bagels with lox to the morning meeting or running out for emergency mid-day coffee.
Some of my favorite things:
Cats – all kinds
Charcutterie boards
Earrings that are shaped like things
Wes Anderson movies and Ghibli films
Petrichor (bonus points if you know the Doctor Who reference)
Graphic Design Specialist
Buildertrend
Responsibilities include:
- creating unique designs that engage viewers on social media and encourage interaction
- partner with other departments to develop gated pieces to drive clicks and kick-off the sales funnel
- develop cohesive brand illustrations that keep Buildertrend as an industry leader
Supervisor of Graphics
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Responsibilities include:
- organize team deadlines and create design deliverables and schedules for project success
- oversee the distribution, approval, and production of all individual and team member projects manage printing and production materials, keeping a database of on-grounds signage to ensure proper upkeep
- inspire the public through innovative design that encourages further education and actions to promote conservation
- owned and executed design for the new Bison Overlook area at the Wildlife Safari Park which assisted in the highest attendance in the history of the park
- clearly articulate ideas to support designs with thoughtful reasoning and research for stakeholder support
- build and manage relationships with third-party partners for production and installation assist Design Manager with developing and managing the Design Services Department operational budget
- mentor Graphic Designers to help them grow their design skillset
Lead Graphic Designer
Election Systems & Software
Responsibilities include:
- manage design timelines and set project deadlines
- oversee projects from planning to printing
- collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to create innovative design solutions and solidify the company as a design leader in the industry
- design layouts and create templates on a Duplo machine to create engaging conference and tradeshow pieces
- organized statewide campaigns with custom booklets and educational materials
- present clear and compelling ideas to stakeholders, while managing expectations
- develop cohesive brand experiences across digital and print
- maintain and evolve the brand visual identity to create a relatable voice that appealed to broad audience
Innovative ideas
No fear of failure which means I always bring fresh ideas.
Enthusiasm for design
I love the challenge of ambiguity and
complexity, it makes the job exciting.
Passion for change
I want to use my design to make the world better with impactful companies and great products.
Confident speaker
I know how to tell a story with clear written, verbal, and visual communication.
Team player
I love to partner with people who work as hard as I do but don’t take themselves too seriously.
Adaptable & Flexible
I keep an organized list of priorities and like to stick to deadlines, but I understand that things don’t always go as planned.
AIGA NEBRASKA BOARD
Co-chair and chair for Barcamp Omaha
- led fundraising efforts by setting up a call list and contact spreadsheet to keep track of donation statuses
- coordinated with local designers for event branding
- created social media schedule and graphics for pre-and-post event communication
- organized volunteer contacts and day-of responsibilities and tasks
- oversaw event budget and wrote proposals for funds
(the event saw the highest ticket sales and donations from local businesses and individuals) - created organized templates to streamline information and make it easily accessible to other team members
(this templatized system not only saved time but helped to create standards for future events)
FREELANCE
Teriyaki Tsubaki Designs
My bread and butter is partnering with people who have an impact in their communities and create spaces for education and creativity. Some of my favorite projects include Ahma Surf in Sierra Leone, Step Up Omaha and Council Bluffs, and Urban League of Omaha. Whether I am simply designing a logo or creating conference materials, every project is meaningful.
I like to use my freelance to explore branding opportunities and challenge myself. It is a fun space to go wild without boundaries and helps fuel my creativity at work.
CALL ME, BEEP ME
If you want to collaborate email teriyaki.tsubaki@gmail.com or message me on social media.