nrf studio is the creative space of noreen rei fukumori, a graphic designer and artist in Berkeley, California. She received a BFA in Design at the California College of the Arts (CCAC) in Oakland, California; and began her graphic design career working for Michael Mabry Design in San Francisco. She moved to Tokyo, Japan to work as senior designer at the studio of designer /sculptor, Takenobu Igarashi; and later went on to work as art director for Creative Intelligence Associates, Brand Architects. Her time in Japan was a life enhancing experience as it was the  homeland of her grandparents who immigrated to the USA in the early 1900s. It was a period of reconciling her American/Berkeley roots with a nature that resonated with Japan and its culture. More than anything, the experience affirmed her passion and direction to create from an authentic, holistic perspective.

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Noreen returned home to Berkeley and established her studio in 1994. This was the inception of communication alchemy, working with clients to create brand strategy, logo design, signage design, packaging and collateral material by synthesizing information and metaphor for practical design/marketing tools. She received the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant Graphics for chef Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg, CA. Her artwork is rooted in a motivation to explore the infinite field of light + letters, the essence of being centered in awareness where thought evolves into  forms of expression = Misc. matter.