about

Kiko + Kids

get to know me

In adolescence, I hated “art time”.  A perfectionist at heart, I tried my best to master academics instead of the arts, but the arts continued to follow me. With every professional position held, whether in the public or private sector, I found that graphic design was a “part of the job” that came quite naturally. Before long, I was designing events including planning, organizing and executing all components and creating marketing and communications tools to promote the companies, non-for-profit organizations and events I was involved with.

I could not fight the career path ahead of me, so in 2003 I pursued a formal education in design from the Art Institute where I graduated with honors and was awarded First-Runner Up in the Senior Spotlight Competition. Make no mistake, I did not choose design—design chose me and I have never looked back.

My passion for service and philanthropy has married well with my passion to design solutions that accomplish client goals within the constraints given. Using my degree in business and marketing from the University of California at Riverside, combined with my education in design, I tackle each project from the point of view of the audience and the eye of an artist.

Over the years, I have used my skills to benefit the community, donating design services for event and marketing materials to such organizations as the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Los Angeles and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles as well as serving Japanese American organizations such as the Nisei Week Foundation, Cold Tofu Improv and the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center [ESGVJCC].

I continue to seek out every opportunity to use the gifts I was given toward the benefit of my community. I hope my social values and heart for others will be passed on to my three beautiful daughters and will inspire others to do the same.

I am happily married to Gary Cheng, the love of my life for over 20 years, and am the proud mother of three intelligent and kind humans.