Speakers

Born in Hyogo Prefecture, Kaoru worked as a veterinary nurse before switching careers to become a graphic designer. She began her design career at a cosmetics company, gaining experience in both design and product development before taking on responsibilities in business strategy and project management, overseeing the business as a whole and driving brand growth and market expansion. In November 2023, she joined the Local Vitalization Cooperator program and moved from Osaka to Asahikawa, where she now runs the Design Gallery and promotes local design initiatives. Through social media management and event planning, she highlights the region’s strengths and shares them with others. She also works on product development using locally sourced materials and creates designs under her freelance brand, Cope to Design.