Miwa Ikemiya (she/her/hers)

Miwa Ikemiya has a diverse work experience in various roles. Miwa is currently the Co-founder and Chief Design Officer at Coast App since April 2018. Prior to that, they worked as the Chief Design Officer at Townsquared from January 2013 to April 2018, where they conducted design research, oversaw brand strategy, social media marketing, identity, and user experience. Before that, they worked as a Researcher at Microsoft from September 2012 to December 2012, focusing on the intersection between Craft and Human Computer Interaction. Miwa also served as the 3D/Materials Design Director at ECOPOESIS SYMPOSIUM, California College of the Arts from January 2012 to March 2012, where they led a team in designing and constructing living plant signage. Additionally, they had a role as a Research and Prototyping Intern at SPARSE in 2011, where they conducted design research on urban bicycle commuters and built prototypes for bicycle accessories. Miwa also worked as a Creative Coordinator at Shen Wei Dance Arts from 2009 to 2010 and was an Asian Cultural Council Artist Fellow at REYUM INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND CULTURE in 2008.

Miwa Ikemiya attended The Dalton School at an unspecified time period. Miwa obtained a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts and Asian Studies from Amherst College, where they studied from 2002 to 2006. Later on, from 2010 to 2012, they pursued a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Product Design and Interaction Design at the California College of the Arts.