ABOUT
Cooper Kao is a brand/visual designer. He helps people who need custom branding design and strategy create long-lasting brands that best represent their core values. Through extensive research, close collaboration and thoughtful positioning for the brand, he aims to translate the client’s vision into a strategically designed brand that empowers them to connect with the target audience on a deeper level.
Recently, he has been interested in learning more about front-end development. When he is not designing, you can find him bouldering at Dogpatch Boulders.
Recently, he has been interested in learning more about front-end development. When he is not designing, you can find him bouldering at Dogpatch Boulders.
Education
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, CA
BFA in Graphic Design
Spring 2016–May 2019
Northeastern University
Boston, MA
BFA in Graphic Design
Fall 2014–Fall 2015
Skills
Design
Logo Design
Brand/ Identity
Brand Strategy
UX/UI Design
Design System
Prototype
Packaging
Publication
Typeface Design
Photography
Filming
Motion
Design System
Letterpress
Risograph
Coding Language
HTML
CSS
Javascript
jQuery
Software
Adobe Creative Suite
Google’s G Suite
Keynote
Glyphs
Sketch
InVision
Figma
Principle
Soft Skills
Organization
Collaboration
Strategic Planning
Empathetic
System Thinking
Leadership
Open to Criticism
Research
Positive Attitude
Self-directed
Experience
Visual Designer
Addepar
November 2019–Present
- Design Addepar marketing initiatives
- Design Addepar Website
- Developing new Addepar brand and design system
Design Intern
8VC
July 2019–October 2019
- Design 8VC marketing initiatives including event branding, invitations, posters, and presentations
- Work with web developers on designing website flow, visual and experience
- Refresh 8VC brand
- Establish visual system for 8VC events
Design Intern
Cicero Institute
July 2019–October 2019
- Design Cicero Institute’s website and websites for their focus fields.
- Design presentation decks, whitepapers and Word and PowerPoint templates.
Freelance Designer
Various Locations
Summer 2017–present
- Redesigned the website of a custom shoe company, including restructuring of information architecture and user experience as well as redesign of the user interface
- Designed branding for startup company including identity and business collateral
- Created digital floor plan for architecture firm
Designer
TBD* Design Studio at CCA
September 2018–December 2018
- Led on branding project for Potrero Boosters Neighborhood Association—deliverables included identity, brand system, brand guidelines and business collateral
- Designed branding for Office of Civic Innovation—deliverables included identity, brand system and presentation deck
- Supported environmental graphics project for Cho Thompson—deliverables included graphics and patterns for school cafeteria walls
- Repositioned clients’ brands to best express their brand image through understanding of peer landscape
Visual Design Intern
PunchCut
May 2018–August 2018
- Collaborated with visual designers, interaction designers and a motion designer as a team on various client projects
- Designed user interface for websites and apps for e-commerce and medical research companies, as well as a visual prototype for a virtual assistant
- Designed a versatile identity system for Punchcut
- Prepared brand development workshops and presented design concepts to clients
Graphic Design Studio Manager
California College of the Arts
Summer 2017–Spring 2018
- Designed studio signage system
- Led orientations, organized studio space and managed studio resources
- Sent program-wide emails and assisted fellow student