Y. Bayi Smith

Multidisciplinary Designer & Educator: Industrial Design | UX | Visual Communication

Strategic and interdisciplinary designer and educator with experience spanning product design, UX/UI, visual communication, and higher education instruction. Teach foundational art and design courses at Coconino Community College while maintaining active professional practice through independent design consulting. Translate systems thinking, research, and visual strategy into effective solutions balancing user needs, technical feasibility, and communication goals. Led initiatives resulting in more than $475K in annual savings through packaging optimization, vendor consistency, and 3D asset reuse. Recognized for fostering inclusive learning environments, strengthening creative engagement, and delivering purposeful design connecting education, strategy, and real-world impact.

CONTACT

• 480.612.4929
• ujinone@gmail.com
• linkedin.com/in/bayismith
• Download Resume (PDF)

EXPERIENCE

Art / Design Faculty
Coconino Community College, AZ. -  2026 - Present

  • Design and develop curriculum and instructional materials for foundational art and design courses emphasizing visual literacy, design principles, and creative problem-solving
  • Cultivate inclusive and collaborative learning environments that strengthen student engagement, cohort community, and creative confidence
  • Integrate studio practice, critique, and contemporary visual communication methodologies into student-centered instruction
  • Support student success through accessible course design, structured assessment, and individualized feedback
  • Connect traditional art foundations with interdisciplinary design and UX/UI practices to prepare students for transfer and creative careers

Independent Design Consultant
Northern Sky Design Studio LLC. -  2025 - Present

  • Deliver interdisciplinary design solutions spanning graphic design, visual communication, and industrial design for a diverse range of clients
  • Direct projects from concept development through iterative refinement, presentation, and final production
  • Apply user-centered design methodologies to create strategic, functional, and visually effective communication solutions
  • Collaborate with clients to translate complex ideas into cohesive visual systems, brand experiences, and product concepts
  • Manage multiple concurrent projects while maintaining strong creative direction, organization, and professional client relationships

Industrial Designer (Product Design)
Target Corp., MN. -  2017 - 2025

  • Led design for Target owned brands Heyday ($230M), Dealworthy, and All In Motion, delivering 150+ SKUs annually across tech accessories, sporting goods, and outdoor categories.

  • Drove category expansion in audio, charging, camera, and computer accessories, along with outdoor products including Embark backpacks, SunSquad pool floats, and Open Door travel gear.

  • Introduced scalable 3D design and GenAI workflows, saving over $475K annually and cutting development timelines by 4+ weeks.

  • Created 3D material libraries and KeyShot standards to support consistency, speed, and vendor alignment across global teams.

  • Piloted tools like Vizcom, Firefly, and ChatGPT to enhance early concept development and cross-functional communication.

  • Collaborated with sourcing, packaging, and marketing to ensure seamless execution from concept through shelf-ready production.

Creative Design / Project Manager
Rio Salado College, AZ  - 2000 - 2017

  • Led a team of six designers producing digital and print content across the college’s internal departments and public-facing campaigns.

  • Directed development of brochures, digital ads, and web content with a focus on clarity, accessibility, and visual storytelling.

  • Built and maintained scalable design systems and style guides, supporting consistent messaging across channels and platforms.

  • Managed cross-functional campaigns from discovery through delivery, aligning creative strategy with stakeholder goals and timelines.

  • Partnered with web, media, and PR teams to integrate content across touchpoints and ensure brand coherence.

  • Balanced hands-on execution with team leadership, cultivating collaborative workflows & driving results across education & outreach.

Adjunct Faculty - Adobe CC
Rio Salado College, AZ  -  2012 - 2014

  • Taught online Adobe Creative Suite courses including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Dreamweaver
  • Designed and managed course content, grading, and communication through the RioLearn platform
  • Delivered project-based instruction rooted in design fundamentals and technical skill building
  • Provided personalized feedback and led peer critiques to foster creative growth and visual literacy
  • Supported diverse learning styles in asynchronous online environments with a focus on accessibility

FORMAL EDUCATION

MSD in UX Design
Kent State University, OH  - 2018 - 2020

The User Experience design program focuses on human-centered thinking, design, information architecture, and leadership through various research, data analytics, and testing methods. 
• Preview academic work

BSD in Industrial Design,
BA in Design Management & Minor in Sustainability
Arizona State University, AZ  - 2014 - 2017

The Industrial Design program focuses on how to create product and service systems that benefit society while minimizing impacts on the environment, can be realized through technology and engineering, create measurable value for the business, and satisfy people’s needs.

BA in Graphic Design
Collins College, AZ  - 1998 - 2000

Visual Communication Design focuses on building marketing collateral through strategic and critical thinking skills, developing visual language, and time management of overall development.

FORMAL EDUCATION

AI Prompt Engineering
Certificate - 2024 

UX Design - MSD
Kent State University - 2020 

Industrial Design - BSD 
Arizona State University - 2017

Design Management - BA
Arizona State University - 2017

Sustainability - Minor
Arizona State University - 2017

Graphic Design - BA
Collins College - 2000

SKILLS

Teaching & Design Competencies
• Curriculum Design
• Student Engagement
• Visual Communication
• Creative Critique
• Inclusive Teaching
• Design Thinking
• Collaborative Learning

Design Strategy & Development
• Early Product Development
• User-Centered Design
• Branding & Visual System building
• Marketing Campaign Development
• Trend & Market Research
• Project Management
• Product Mockup Development

 Tools & Visualization
• Adobe CC
• Shapr3D / Solidworks/Keyshot
• Procreate
• UX/UI Design (Xd & Figma)
• Miro (Collaboration tool)
• GenAI: (Vizcom, NewArc, ChatGPT)

 Collaboration & Execution
• Cross-functional Team Leadership
• Vendor & Merchant Collaboration
• Brand Guideline Compliance
• Built 3D Material Library
• Packaging & Marketing Alignment

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Let's Connect!

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