How a Working Holiday Sparked a Creative Career in Graphic Design

Please tell me about yourself

I’m a self-taught designer with six years of experience, working both as an employee and a freelancer. My main focus is graphic design, and I especially enjoy creating logos, but I also work on visual identity (VI), web design, and print materials. I’ve also launched an interview media platform and a design curation media project, with a passion for connecting with inspiring people and works, and sharing them with the world.

What inspired you to start design, and what’s the story behind it?

It began when I took a year off after my second year of university and went to Australia on a working holiday. I grew up in rural Japan where life feels very predetermined: university, job, marriage, kids, a house, and decades at the same company. In Australia I met musicians, DJs, photographers, and actors who lit up when they talked about their work. Until then I believed work was something everyone disliked but had to do. Those conversations made me ask what I actually enjoy. I remembered loving drawing and making little paper magazines for my mom as a kid. I bought an iPad, started a picture diary, posted my sketches, and people responded positively. That pushed me to take it seriously. When I returned to Japan I began learning web design and landed a part-time job as a web/graphic designer. That’s where my creative career started.

How did it shift from an interest to a career?

For me it started as an aim to get a job rather than a hobby. Web design isn’t typically something you do as a hobby. I was studying it, then it became my career. I hesitated to call myself a designer at first and kept saying I was “still learning.” On my first day as a part-time web designer in June 2020, I stopped saying that and began introducing myself confidently as a designer.

Can you share a story about your very first project?

I designed a concert flyer for my dad’s friend, a violinist, even before my web job. I didn’t expect payment because I saw it as practice, but she insisted on paying. It felt strange at first because my idea of earning money was hourly, on-site work. Getting paid for creating something digital from my couch was a new experience and a mindset shift.

What does design mean to you personally?

It’s the thing I can focus on more deeply than anything else. I’m not an artist in the sense of expressing my own inner feelings. I thrive when there’s a concrete goal or a client’s vision to realize. Design suits me because it balances technique, creativity, strategy, and business. That mix fits my personality.

How has design influenced your life?

It truly changed everything. Since I studied foreign languages, I once imagined myself working at a hotel front desk. But after discovering design, I’ve had so many more opportunities to create alongside others and to share conversations that spark motivation. People need design more than they realize—when we talk about ideas or brands, it often turns into, “Let’s make something together.” As an introvert, those moments of focusing deeply with someone to bring something to life feel incredibly meaningful. And it’s not always about money.

What does Tokyo represent to you?

Opportunity and freedom. Compared with the countryside mindset I grew up around, Tokyo feels like a place where you can choose your own path. Japan can be conservative and polite to a fault, but Tokyo offers more room to move and be trusted on your own terms. I spent short periods in the Philippines, Australia, and the UK. Coming back, I noticed how strong social pressure can be in Japan, even when it isn’t said aloud. Your mindset is shaped by who you spend time with. In Tokyo, being around various communities broadened my perspective.

What goals or milestones are you aiming for?

I want to return to Australia because I love the people and the weather. I also want to grow umu into a strong media platform. More broadly, I want to be more than “just a designer.” What matters to me is enjoying creation and making people a little happier through what I make, regardless of client size or status. I want to build meaningful things with people who share the same energy and passion.

What’s your personal way of taking small steps toward big goals?

I’m not naturally good at routines. My tactic is to involve other people so there’s accountability and less room to back out.

When you feel down or unmotivated, how do you reset?

I switch contexts or rest. I might sleep, scroll for a bit, shower, go for a walk, meet a friend for a drink, or go shopping. Taking a break helps me come back with energy.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in design?

Make use of every connection you have. Talk to friends, family, neighbors, even the local shops you go to often. Studying theory has its value, but the real lessons come from hands-on experience. And if you feel lost or stuck, just keep moving. Don’t let opportunities in front of you pass by—grab them and give it your all.