About me

My name is Ryoko. In the US, where I have lived for all but one year of my life, it is pronounced: “Ree-oh-ko”. In Japan, where I was born, it rolls off the tongue in two syllables: “Ryo-ko”. The two characters, Ryo and Ko, combine to mean “clear child”. 

 

I am a former professional ballet dancer with over twenty years of experience in honing a craft. This is what I learned about myself during that time: I’m obsessed with articulating what is unsaid. I relish coaxing out “what more is there” and I find joy in discovering the ways in which unspoken messages can be communicated in a more meaningful and expressive way. 

 

The skills I gained as a ballerina have translated across various “stages'' over the years, from Lincoln Center to the Kennedy Center, to dancing in film, to teaching ballet internationally, to collective bargaining for dancer representation, to guiding yoga classes for all ages, to visual merchandising of retail products, and most recently to designing digital products. 

 

In all situations, I bring my dedication to refinement, organization, and communication to front and center. Just as my name suggests, I strive to make things clear. My mission as a designer is to bring joy and pride to my clients, by designing something that speaks true to them and fully captures the magnitude of their achievements so they can chase even bigger dreams. 

​

Download resume