Paul Hanaoka

About

Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Art and Business from Dordt University in 2010, I have built a robust career in design, primarily at Liferay. Starting as a Web Designer in 2014, I quickly expanded my role, creating Liferay's first web style guide and hiring additional designers. As UX Design Manager from 2017 to 2019, I designed the MVP of Liferay's first SaaS product and established a profitable UX consulting practice. Promoted to Senior Product Design Manager in 2019, I helped establish the Design division and developed remote hiring policies. As Principal Designer in 2021, I managed product design teams and evolved design systems into profit centers. Currently, as Director of Design since 2022, I lead a division of over 40 designers, built research capabilities, and integrated a data-informed approach into product and brand strategies.

Experience

• Director of Design · Liferay01-01-2022 – 01-01-2024

  - Led division of 40+ designers - Built Research capabilities and team - Brought data-informed approach into Product, Design Systems, and Brand

• Principal Designer · Liferay01-01-2021 – 01-01-2022

  - Managed Product Design teams, grew and hired managers - Established Design Ops function - Evolved Design Systems from cost center to profit center

• Senior Product Design Manager · Liferay01-01-2019 – 02-01-2021

  - With Liferays first VP of Design, established Design as a division with Brand and Product departments - Developed remote hiring and operating policies - Built consulting practice in APAC - Managed and hired internationally Brazil, Spain, and Japan

• UX Design Manager · Liferay11-01-2017 – 01-01-2019

  - Designed MVP of our first SaaS product - Hired designers, designed growth framework for UX team - Made UX profitable, built consulting practice in NA - Designed and developed liferay.design

• Web Designer · Liferay08-01-2014 – 11-01-2017

  Liferays first web designer hired to design and build pages to support our marketing efforts, I quickly grew my responsibilities to include all web properties, built Liferays first web style guide and hired my first two designers.

Education

• Dordt UniversityBachelor of Arts, Art / Business

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