DESIGN AND VISUAL ARTS
Michael Masumoto is an Arts polymath with an unusually large number of high-ability aptitudes; these aptitudes drive him to create a lot of interdisciplinary work. Although Michael's formal education gave him advanced degrees in Literature and Music (focusing on Dramaturgy, Opera Composition and Performance), he also received some formal training in graphic design, color theory and figurative painting.
As a Multimedia professional, Michael has done quite a bit of graphic design work over the years in addition to programming websites and interactive widgets. Michael designed all the furniture produced by Masumoto Herd, which won several major awards. He's a photographer and cinematographer heavily influenced by classic Technicolor films. He's also branched into 3D modeling and animation as an adjunct to his work as a filmmaker.
This section of the Masumoto Herd website is, essentially, a catch-all portfolio for assorted projects that don't fit conveniently in other areas.
LOGOS/BRANDING
Throughout his career, Michael has occasionally been called upon to design logos for businesses. In 2017, he created a selection of new logo treatments to flesh out his portfolio.
SOLAR CELLARS
Solar Cellars - Color Logo Treatment
Solar Cellars - B/W Logo Treatment
CANTELOUPE COOPERATIVE
Canteloupe Cooperative - Color Logo Treatment
Canteloupe Cooperative - B/W Logo Treatment
PALM SEA RESORTS
Palm Sea Resorts - Color Logo Treatment
Palm Sea Resorts - B/W Logo Treatment
ELEGANT TABLE
Elegant Table - Color Logo Treatment
Elegant Table - B/W Logo Treatment
DNA SPLICE DIAGNOSTICS
DNA Splice Diagnostics - Color Logo Treatment
DNA Splice Diagnostics - B/W Logo Treatment
DELIGHTFUL CANNABIS
Delightful Cannabis - Color Logo Treatment
Delightful Cannabis - B/W Logo Treatment
PORTFOLIO VIDEOS
Michael made three video reels to showcase his varied talents for potential employers. The content of these reels is not paticularly corporate but we think you'll find it all entertaining!
MICHAEL MASUMOTO'S VOICEOVER REEL 2018
(2018; HD; 2 min 43 sec)
Michael made this video Voiceover Reel in early 2018. Immediately after uploading it to YouTube, he discovered that modern voiceover artists no longer submit these old-fashioned reels to potential employers; instead, they deliver single, targeted tracks or groups of tracks which follow totally different category breakdowns. In addition, recording standards have become more sophisticated, requiring mixes that utilize new and much-improved EQ, compression and reverb plugins. His newer demos conform to these modern standards. However, Michael kept this video online because it's fun, showcases original artwork, and features more comic character voices than exist in his commercial demos.
MICHAEL MASUMOTO'S PORTFOLIO 2017
(2017; HD; 3 min 47 sec)
This portfolio video provides an overview of Michael's projects completed 2016-2017, including photos of Smoke, 1st Prize winner at Design in Wood 2017, San Diego.
MICHAEL MASUMOTO'S PORTFOLIO 2016
(2016; HD; 2 min 31 sec)
This portfolio video contains an assortment of commercial graphic design spec pieces, 3D modeling and animation work, and work-in-progress shots from various projects.
Additional Artworks
Michael works in a variety of media, both physical and digital. Click the links below to see additional samples of his work.
For more about Michael's musical work, please visit the Music section of this website. For more about Michael's movie and motion graphics work, please visit the Video section of this website. And, of course, for more about Michael and Kai's physical artworks, please visit our Art Furniture section. Thanks!
ABOUT THE ARTIST
For six years, MICHAEL MASUMOTO was the principal professor of Web Programming and Design at San Francisco State University's Multimedia Studies Program, at that time the #1 multimedia program in the world. Michael was an online education pioneer, producing and/or writing many web-based technical training courses. He also produced, wrote and programmed the first interactive talking children's book for the Web, the award-winning "Boogers and Boogeymen."
In 2010, Michael founded a high-end art furniture workshop in partnership with his husband, Kai Herd. Their work has won top prizes in competitions throughout California.
Michael holds a Master's degree in Music Composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He has composed and produced six operas, a string quartet, a bassoon quintet, a piano sonata, and many other works. Michael also holds a BA in Comparative Literature from the University of California, Berkeley.
Last Updated: September 30, 2018
COPYRIGHT © 2010-2018 MICHAEL MASUMOTO
