Creative Director & Freelance Photographer/Designer
Toronto, Canada Area
- Current
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- Creative Director at Lifestyles Magazine
- Publisher at U&I Magazine
- Owner at media Smaku (Self-employed)
- Past
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- Graphic Designer & Prepress at Trader Corporation
- Scanning at Clarity Colour
- Graphic Designer at Digital Media Projects Office
- Education
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- Ryerson University
- University of Waterloo
- Connections
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38
connections
- Industry
- Graphic Design
- Websites
Taku Kumabe’s Summary
Creative Director for Lifestyles Magazine responsible for redesigning the publication from ground-up. Analyzing and streamlining production workflow for efficiency. Creating promotional material for publication. Photographing publication profilees on site for cover and inside usage.
Creator, publisher, and designer of upscale photography magazine, U&I Magazine, which accepts photography and written submissions from people like you and I.
As a semi-professional photographer, my photographs have been recognized by advertisement agencies in Australia, Korea, Jamaica, United States, and here in Canada (Toronto, Montreal). My photos have been enquired about by companies and individuals with respect to inclusion in international ad campaigns, restaurants, books, pamphlets, weddings, major presentations, and web sites.
Interested in expanding my graphic design skills outside the publishing industry while contributing my expertise in design and prepress to the broader graphic design industry.
Taku Kumabe’s Specialties:
Extensive knowledge and experience in both the prepress and designing aspects of the graphic design industry. Liaising with industry suppliers including printers and photographers. Comfortable dealing directly with clients, printers, executives, and peers. Thorough knowledge of the photography industry.
Taku Kumabe’s Experience
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Creative Director
Lifestyles Magazine
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Publishing industry)
January 2008 — Present (2 years )
Responsible for redesigning entire publication bottom-up.
Photographing images for magazine usage.
Creating promotional materials. -
Publisher
U&I Magazine
(Graphic Design industry)
2005 — Present (4 years )
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Owner
media Smaku (Self-employed)
(Self-Employed; Myself Only; Graphic Design industry)
January 1996 — Present (14 years )
Providing graphic design, photography, and desktop publishing services for small businesses. Currently focusing on corporate print collateral.
Creator, designer, and publisher of upscale printed photography magazine, U&I Magazine. -
Graphic Designer & Prepress
Trader Corporation
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; YPG; Publishing industry)
April 2005 — December 2007 (2 years 9 months)
Assisting Art Director and designing editorial layouts for Home and Décor magazine.
Assisting Art Director with design of single issue publications, annuals, and calendars.
Advertisement designs for new home builders for the New Homes line of magazines.
Prepress artist for Condo Guide, New Homes, and Home and Décor magazines, ensuring press-ready files are sent to printer.
Outputting EPSON proofs and proofreading magazines ensuring error-free and press-ready files for printer.
Problem solving design issues for smoother production workflow. -
Scanning
Clarity Colour
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Printing industry)
May 2003 — May 2004 (1 year 1 month)
Scanning high-resolution images with Heidelberg drumscan for use in magazines including House & Home, the Bay, and Cottage Life.
Correcting and retouching high-resolution images for colour and blemishes.
Outputting proofs with the Fuji Pictroproof, and providing editorial checks. -
Graphic Designer
Digital Media Projects Office
(Educational Institution; 1-10 employees; Graphic Design industry)
September 2000 — May 2003 (2 years 9 months)
Lead graphic designer providing graphic design support to staff and faculty members of Ryerson University. Consulting with staff and faculty members and designing presentations, brochures, websites, and graphics.
Project manager of the re-branding of the Digital Media Projects office, including its website and logo.
Best Advertisement Award winner for designing the advertisement package for the Ryerson One Card (university card), including identity, website, brochure, and poster.
Teaching workshops to staff and faculty members in graphic design, applications, and concepts. Tutoring staff and faculty members on a one-to-one basis on individual graphic design needs.
Taku Kumabe’s Education
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Ryerson University
Bachelor of Technology , Graphic Communications Management , 2000 — 2004
Two separate minors in Entrepreneurship, and Marketing.
Created website for communication between students in GCM.
Graduating TGPA of 4.02.
Dean's List (2001, 2003)
Recipient of Faculty of Communication & Design Award for Excellence (2001)
Recipient of the Quebecor Printing Award for Second Place Standing (2001-2002)
Recipient of the Quebecor Printing Award for Third Place Standing (2003)
Recipient of the St. Joseph Printing Award for Third Place Standing (2004)
Recipient of the William Somerville Memorial Scholarship (2003)
Recipient of the Student Services Leadership Program Certificate (2004)- Activities and Societies:
- Golden Key International Honour Society, Ryerson Chapter
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University of Waterloo
Mechanical Engineering 1995 — 1999
Successfully completed two years of Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering, including two years of co-operative program placements.
- Activities and Societies:
- ASME
Additional Information
Taku Kumabe’s Websites:
Taku Kumabe’s Interests:
Photography, Travelling, Dining Out, Rollerblading, Cooking/Baking
Taku Kumabe’s Groups:
TPMG
Taku Kumabe’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
