Ep. 172: Airbnb’s Hiroki Asai on Designing Environments for Creative Teams to Thrive

Airbnb’s Global Head of Marketing, Hiroki Asai, grew up riding his BMX through the orchards of Cupertino, CA. But it was the visual language of skateboard culture that ensnared his creative imagination and grew into a passion for graphic design. Always industrious, he took night school art classes as a teenager, went on to earn a BA in Graphic Design, and then got straight to work freelancing. Not long after, he began working with Apple - eventually rising in the ranks to Vice President of Global Marketing Communications. Over his 18 years with Apple, he directly influenced the branding, packaging and marketing that we have come to know as distinctly Apple. Now, with Airbnb since early 2020 (through the tumult of the pandemic, the IPO, and a recent major reconfiguring of how Airbnb serves up wander lust and discovery,) he’s leading and supporting creative teams that are adapting and responding to the needs of a rapidly shifting global society. As a leader, he knows the most effective place for creative teams to be is right up close to the problems that need solving (aka in-house and upstream.) And to do their best work, the creative process needs protection and structure. Amen.

Images, links and more from Hiroki!

Clever is hosted and produced by Amy Devers, with editing by Rich Stroffolino, production assistance from Ilana Nevins and Anouchka Stephan, and music by El Ten Eleven.

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