Kotaro Shimogori

January 6, 1960

Tokyo

Shimogori began his career as a graphic designer at Collagraphics in Los Angeles, where he worked from 1978 to 1988, developing experience in visual communication and branding. During the 1980s, he expanded into leadership roles in industrial design, serving as president of Isosceles, Inc. from 1983 to 1985 and later Platypus, Inc. from 1985 to 1988, both based in Los Angeles. Between 1989 and 1990, he held dual roles as director of international affairs at Musee Internationale in Los Angeles and as director of design at Yamada Lighting Company from 1989 to 1991, where he contributed to product and lighting design development. In 1990, he founded and became president of Kotaro Shimogori, Inc., a Los Angeles-based design firm, marking a transition into independent executive leadership. He continued to build his profile in industrial design as president of Industrial Design and Technology, Los Angeles, from 1993 onward. Alongside his executive roles, Shimogori worked as a creative director for Clegg Industries, Inc. beginning in 1993 and for Personalized Graphics Inc. starting in 1994, overseeing creative strategy and design execution. He also contributed to design education, serving as a lecturer at California Institute of the Arts (1985–1989), Otis College of Art and Design (then Otis Parsons, 1986–1989), and University of California, Los Angeles in 1990.

Kotaro Shimogori

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industrial designer design executive

Background

Kotaro Shimogori was born on January 6, 1960, in Tokyo, Japan, the son of Mamoru Shimogori and Tomoko (Otaki) Shimogori.

Education

He earned a bachelor’s degree from California Institute of the Arts in 1982.

Career

Shimogori began his career as a graphic designer at Collagraphics in Los Angeles, where he worked from 1978 to 1988, developing experience in visual communication and branding. During the 1980s, he expanded into leadership roles in industrial design, serving as president of Isosceles, Inc. from 1983 to 1985 and later Platypus, Inc. from 1985 to 1988, both based in Los Angeles.

Between 1989 and 1990, he held dual roles as director of international affairs at Musee Internationale in Los Angeles and as director of design at Yamada Lighting Company from 1989 to 1991, where he contributed to product and lighting design development.

In 1990, he founded and became president of Kotaro Shimogori, Inc., a Los Angeles-based design firm, marking a transition into independent executive leadership. He continued to build his profile in industrial design as president of Industrial Design and Technology, Los Angeles, from 1993 onward.

Alongside his executive roles, Shimogori worked as a creative director for Clegg Industries, Inc. beginning in 1993 and for Personalized Graphics Inc. starting in 1994, overseeing creative strategy and design execution.

He also contributed to design education, serving as a lecturer at California Institute of the Arts (1985–1989), Otis College of Art and Design (then Otis Parsons, 1986–1989), and University of California, Los Angeles in 1990.

Achievements

Shimogori received the Good Design Award from the Japanese Government in 1990 and the Roscoe Award from Interior Design Magazine in 1993, recognizing his contributions to industrial and interior design.

Interests

Avocations: ski, tennis, horse-back riding, scuba diving, traveling.

Connections

He married Mary Jeanne Thompson on June 22, 1994.

Father:: Mamoru Shimogori
Mother:: Tomoko (Otaki) Shimogori
Spouse:: Mary Jeanne Thompson

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Born

January 6, 1960

Tokyo
Nationality
American
Ethnicity

Japanese

Awards

Good Design award

1990, Japanese Government

1990, Japanese Government

Roscoe award

Interior Design Magazine, 1993.

Interior Design Magazine, 1993.

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