RJ Sakai

RJ grew up in Los Angeles wondering what tourists thought when their glitzy vision of Hollywood maybe didn’t quite match up with reality. He creates tools and activities which facilitate unexpected conversations for governments, non-profits, and classrooms. As a design researcher he translates these conversations into useful insights, effective projects, and honest stories. With a self-created BA in cultural anthropology and graphic design from Hampshire College, RJ's work has led to immersion in Uganda, Cuba, small town Massachusetts, East Harlem, and Los Angeles. In 2017 he earned an MFA from the Media Design Practices program at ArtCenter College of Design.

Since 2000 he has had a goal to visit all the U.S. state capitals (36 down) and orange and blue are his favorite colors.

He currently works as the director of the Social Innovation Program at Sequoyah High School in Pasadena, CA, and volunteers as the chair of the Alumni Advisory Group of Hampshire College.