Ari Takata-Vasquez

Ari’s interest lies at the intersection of design, human interaction, and economic development. As the owner & creative director of Viscera Studio, a design studio working with independent businesses. She has first-hand experience developing and building a brand in numerous settings including her brick and mortar shop, Viscera. As creative director, Ari has brought to life numerous product launches, marketing campaigns, developed partnerships, and even produced a magazine. She advocates on behalf of independently owned businesses as the executive director of the Oakland Indie Alliance. Ari’s undergraduate degree is in Architecture from the University of San Francisco and has a Master’s in City Planning with a focus on Urban Design from UC Berkeley.