Kai Jaffe

About Kai Jaffe

I\'m someone who\'s been immersed in the world of design, product development, brand, and strategy for over 20 years. What drives me is the thrill of weaving these rich experiences together to drive top-line and bottom-line growth. I\'m not your typical strategist; I\'m the bridge between the big picture strategy and the nitty-gritty of getting things done. My purpose has always been to empower teams to shine, boost profits, and etch an indelible mark on brands or clients.Over the years, I\'ve led lighting brands, held the reins of P&L responsibilities, and orchestrated profit boosts of up to 25%. One of my core strengths is assembling and empowering teams to breathe fresh life into existing products or reimagining groundbreaking new ones, ushering them from concept to market. My biggest wins have involved leading diverse teams on the exciting journey to uncover those nuggets of consumer behavior insights that open doors to thrilling opportunities. It\'s all about that magical connection between data and insights with our strategic vision.My journey started as a designer asking “why” and today, my work is helping designers and architects solve their problems. Together with my teams, we\'ve won multiple awards for products and marketing, introduced new-to-the-industry benefits to over a million enrollees, and helped craft strategic roadmaps for a diverse range of companies, from big-league product companies to large SaaS companies and category defining manufacturers.TEAM LEADERSHIP• Leading with a strategic vision• Bridging team dynamics• Enabling high engagement & cross functional collaboration INNOVATION STRATEGY & GROWTH• Top-line & bottom-line growth• Creating actionable strategic roadmaps• De-risking business strategy PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT & PROCESS• Uncovering operational efficiencies to reduce risk• P&L accountability across channels• Leading Human-centered design thinking

Experience

1. Adjunct Professor

   California College Of The Arts

   Aug 2023 — Present · San Francisco, CA, US

   Class: Communication by DesignProgram: MDes, Masters of Human Interaction Design

Education

• Vassar College

  BA, Religion & Art History

• Pratt Institute

  MID, Master's of Industrial Design

  2003 — 2005

Skills

• Graphic Design
• Furniture
• Product Design
• Concept Design
• Rapid Prototyping
• Industrial Design
• Market Research
• Concept Development
• Design Thinking
• Packaging
• User Experience
• Marketing Strategy
• Systems Thinking
• Product Development
• Sustainable Design
• Product Management
• Cad
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Model Making
• Rendering
• Concept Generation
• Project Management
• Solidworks
• Ideation