Rick Kitagawa Design / Lift Off Art
Rick Kitagawa

Creative Business Coach/ Visual Artist

Rick is a visual artist, writer, and creative career coach based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He currently teaches young artists how to break into the creative industry at the Academy of Art University, and also assists creatives with job hunting and marketing. His former students have taken jobs at SEGA, Anthropology, Image comics, and the NBA.

Rick is also a practicing fine artist and illustrator as well, and is a sponsored demo artist for various art brands such as Sennelier, Jacquard, Fabriano, Ampersand, Isabey, Cretacolor, & more. He creates dark art that examines the human condition through the lens of feminism, horror, and symbolism. Read more
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Recent work

The All-Seeing Witch
1 item in project
Red Riding Hood
1 item in project
Azmodan t-shirt design
2 items in project

5 recommendations

  •  
    Jade J.

    Shared via email

    I'm a former student of Mr Kitagawa at the Academy of Art University. Last summer, as I was applying to jobs, he helped me preparing the writing materials, as well as the interview. He is a very responsible and caring mentor and was able to give me valuable advice during the process. I learnt a lot from him.

    Yes, I would definitely recommend him to my friends and family if they are in need of a similar service.

  •  
    Aurora Meneghello

    Added by Rick Kitagawa Design / Lift Off Art

    Rick is incredibly easy to work with. I found him always responsive, on task, and full of great ideas.
    Rick's professionalism is inspiring and it sets him apart. On top of that, he is always up to date with the latest trends and thinks outside the box.
    Lastly, Rick is not only a very skilled designer, he's also very well connected and can help you find additional help if needed.
    Highly recommended!

    Original recommendation
  •  
    Float. Float on...

    Shared on twitter.com

    @RickKitagawa That, sir, was a dope article with very good and useable advice.

    Original recommendation
  •  
    Olivia Lam

    Shared on linkedin.com

    I’ve had the privilege of experiencing a number of the courses Rick designs and teaches. He delivers the material with such care and attention to detail, making sure students grasp the large picture concepts as well as understand the nuances of the techniques. Fun while professional, he’s a great instructor, artist, and pleasure to work with.

    Original recommendation
  •  
    Dan Fitzpatrick

    Shared on linkedin.com

    Rick does fantastic graphic design. I hired him to design a company logo and create brochures and marketing material. He was very personable and got the job done on time. He did not mind making changes and was good at working with a business as a customer.

    Original recommendation