Kai Nakamura-Wright
Design Lead
“The Maximalist”
UX Design Lead | Research-Driven | Users First
📍 San Francisco, CA💼 10 years experience🏢 Design
👤 About
Bold, expressive design that commands attention. Believes design should evoke emotion.
Kai redesigned Google Maps and you didn't notice — which means he did it perfectly. Best design is invisible and best designers are empathetic listeners first.
💪 Key Strengths
Visual storytellingBrand expressionMotion design
💼 Work History
Google
UX Design Lead
2019–2024
- Redesigned Google Maps for 1B+ users
- Pioneered inclusive design framework
IDEO
Interaction Designer
2014–2019
- 30+ global client projects
🏅 Industry Certifications
Nielsen Norman Group
✓ Nielsen Norman Group UX Certification
Google
✓ Google UX Design Certificate
Other
✓ Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF) Certification✓ Certified Usability Analyst (CUA)
Adobe
✓ Adobe Certified Professional (XD)
🎓 Education
M.S. Product Design
Stanford d.school
2014
🛠️ Skills
UX DesignDesign ThinkingUser ResearchPrototypingFigmaUsability TestingInclusive DesignDesign Sprints