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About Me.

How my Product Design journey began.

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My journey into Product Design began while working on two major projects as a PR/Comms specialist for one of the world's largest beverage companies:

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  1. Managed the renewal of the company’s Japanese sustainability website, aimed at improving user retention and acquisition. Collaborating closely with designers during that process opened my eyes to how deeply PR and UX overlap — both are about understanding people, communicating clearly, and creating meaningful interactions.
     

  2. Promoting new accessibility features in the company's app, which was introduced in line with Japan’s amended Act for Eliminating Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities in 2024. Communicating the “why” behind those changes made me realise how design can directly impact inclusion and everyday experiences.

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Those experiences shifted my perspective. What began as a communications challenge turned into a fascination with design — how it solves problems, connects people, and shapes perception. That realisation ultimately led me to transition into UX/UI design.

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What drives my work today.

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Today, I’m a UX/UI designer with a background in Public Relations and Communications, passionate about creating digital experiences that balance user needs with business goals. I bring strengths in stakeholder collaboration, project management, and audience research, built through years of working with global brands.

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My background also gives me strong storytelling and content design skills, which help me craft interfaces that communicate with clarity and empathy. I enjoy the UX process — listening to users, uncovering insights, and turning complexity into inclusive, intuitive design solutions.

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My design philosophy.

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I design with a polycultural perspective, shaped by working across global teams and audiences. I am always open to connect, learn, and collaborate to create experiences that move people and make a difference.

Expertise

Research

  • Conducting qualitative and quantitative research and competitive analysis to understand user behaviors, motivations, and market context.

  • Developing empathy maps, personas, and journey maps to identify user needs and opportunities.

Communication

  •  Presenting and communicating  design concepts to key stakeholders.​

Experience

Product Designer
Aug - Sep 2025
London, UK

Sponsored Project with Salient Bio l King's College London

Product Designer
Feb - Sep 2025
London, UK

King's College London UX/UI Product Design Career Accelerator

Senior Account Executive
Jun 2021 - Apr 2025

Tokyo, Japan

Burson (formerly: BCW)

Public Relations Specialist
Apr 2019 - Jun 2021
Tokyo, Japan

Sunny Side Up

KCL logo_edited.jpg

© 2025 by Rie Kato.

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