Jem Yoshioka - Illustrator and Friendlyperson
I am a New Zealander with Japanese heritage. I am a determined and hard worker who looks to be the best I can be in any environment. I am highly adaptable and can work well alone or as a member of a team. I have excellent customer service skills, valuing the connections I make through relationships with customers and clients. I am friendly and sociable, both with fellow team members and customers. I look to deliver the best possible service to the customer, knowing that their experience with me affects their opinion of the entire business and their likelihood to return. I am an accomplished illustrator and have won awards for my illustration work
Illustration, Adobe suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), social media (Twitter, Facebook), Excellent written and spoken English (native speaker), Beginner spoken Japanese
Whanganui School of Design 2005-2008
Bachelor of Computer Graphic Design
Sushi Assistant: February 2011 - Current
Midori Sushi
My responsibilities include food preparation, customer service, and cleaning duties. I work in a small team in a confined space and my efficiency within my role is crucial to making sure that the lunch rush goes smoothly. At any time I have a dozen different things to do, and must prioritise these tasks to make sure that the customer’s experience is consistently excellent. We serve hundreds of customers, but the emphasis on making sure every person feels like they get an individual service is of high priority. I am the only non-fluent Japanese speaker, which I take as an opportunity to improve my spoken Japanese and learn more about Japan and Japanese culture.
Sales Assistant: May 2011 - Current
Holland Road Yarn Company
My responsibilities focus around customer experience. I am sole charge on the days I work and must open and close the shop, including balancing the till and EFTPOS machine at the end of the day. I have developed a rich knowledge base of the products we sell in order to help match the right yarn to the right customer/project. I help track the online orders and will pack and process any that come through on the days I am working. I go above and beyond what is regularly expected of me to provide an excellent service to customers, most of whom I come to know by name.
Freelance Illustration: 2005 - Current
For the last six years I have worked as a freelance illustrator. I have a distinctive style, but am able to adapt it to suit many projects and clients. I work both for private collectors and commercial publications, and everything in between. I believe that my job is an illustrator is to deliver work beyond the initial first idea a client has for the concept to something new. I value my client relationships highly and look to achieve excellent work on time and on budget.
2010 Mix & Mash Supreme Remix Award Winner
2010 The Case of the Midnight Note Transmedia Story Campaign
2006 Lino Magazine T Shirt Design Competition Winner - NZ category
Member Profile
Jem YoshiokaI'm an illustrator and graphic designer interested in web and its ability to tell stories. I am involved with Collective Noun, a group dedicated to telling stories using multiple media platforms and audience participation.
I am looking for work as an illustrator, designer (web or print), or working with digital content. I have experience in all these roles, please ask to see my CV if you are interested.
