From Ballet to Technology: On Reinvention and Creative Identity

From Ballet to Technology: On Reinvention and Creative Identity What happens when the career you’ve been building for so long becomes just one chapter in your story? Meet Rina Takikawa , a designer and builder whose career spans classical ballet, consumer technology, and early-stage startups. After more than a decade of professional ballet training and dancing internationally, she moved into technology and has spent the past seven years building products and companies from the ground up. She previously served as Head of Design & Experience at a $15M consumer fintech startup acquired in 2024 (backed by Hustle Fund, Bee Ventures, F7 Ventures), and is currently part of the founding team at TempoAI, building video intelligence and content distribution software. Rina was also among the inaugural fellows selected for A16z's Design Engineering Fellowship this year, and has spoken at UX Copenhagen, Shopify, NYU, among others. Through an interview-style conversation, Rina will share what it takes to reinvent yourself, build new skills, and navigate the changing world of work. She’ll then be joined by Yoichiro Tamada, Partner & Creative Director at YL Projects, for an open conversation and audience Q&A. Whether you're exploring new directions or simply curious about how others navigate change, this is an opportunity to exchange perspectives and connect with fellow designers and creatives. Agenda 18:30 Welcome 18:45 Rina’s story: an interview 19:15 Break 19:30 Open conversation and Q&A with Rina and Yoichiro 20:00 Mingling Meet the hosts Kinddesign is a community for designers and creatives to connect, exchange ideas, and find inspiration. After hosting meetups in Copenhagen, Berlin, and Buenos Aires, we're excited to bring Kinddesign to Tokyo. Follow us on Instagram to explore past events. YL Projects is a global creative and communications agency bringing together strategic thinking and creativity across cultures to help brands grow, adapt, and connect. Discover more on Instagram . Expect an evening of inspiring stories, open conversations, and good company. We look forward to meeting you! P.S. The event will be held in English, but you're welcome to speak Japanese, too.