My creative home is nrf studio – the space where I practice graphic design and create art here, in Berkeley, California. I earned my BFA in Graphic Design from the California College of the Arts (CCA). My professional career began working for design and marketing firms in San Francisco. It was at Michael Mabry Design that I absorbed and grasped the standard of quality for executing refined design and typography.

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The opportunity to move to Tokyo, Japan, changed the trajectory of my creative path, and I had the privilege of working as a senior designer for the esteemed designer and sculptor Takenobu Igarashi.

My time in Japan was a transformative experience. It reconnected me with my ancestral heritage—the land of my grandparents, who immigrated to the United States. This period deepened my understanding of my upbringing in Berkeley while also allowing me to appreciate Japan's aesthetics and rich cultural landscape. It felt like a journey of coming to terms with and embracing different parts of myself, which inspired me to create from a genuine, holistic, and spiritual perspective.

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Upon returning to Berkeley, I began to practice what I describe as communication alchemy – synthesizing information and metaphor into practical design and marketing tools. I collaborate with clients whose visions and purpose align with my values of authenticity, commitment to service, and quality. Together, we develop brand strategies, logo designs, signage, packaging, and various collateral. I've been fortunate to receive recognition for my work, including the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant Graphics for chef Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg.

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As an artist, I'm interested in exploring the interplay of light and letters, meaning and matter. Photography has always been a means of expression beyond words and language. And my Vandercook letterpress provides a grounding balance with the Epson archival printer; ultimately, both are tools I use to compose thoughts and evoke imagery – on the beautifully tactile washi (handmade paper) or warm, utilitarian newsprint. My creations aim to reflect this journey, which often manifests into Miscellaneous matter (Misc. matter). 

 -noreen rei fukumori