Kehau Lyons

Experience

Founder & Creative Director 2023 — Present

Kehau Design Studio

Founded and built an independent design studio from concept to launch, specializing in event marketing collateral, brand logo development, custom clothing prints, and still life photography for small businesses, creatives, and lifestyle brands.
Developed full studio infrastructure including brand identity, service offerings, client onboarding workflows, pricing structure, and digital presence, positioning the studio for public launch in 2026.
Cultivated a portfolio of original work spanning print design, apparel, event branding, and still life photography, translating client vision into cohesive visual systems that balance cultural storytelling with contemporary design sensibilities.
Manage all aspects of business operations including client relations, creative direction, photography production, vendor sourcing for apparel, and project management from initial concept through final delivery.

Program Engagement Advisor / Academic Advisor Aug 2018 — Mar 2023

California College of the Arts

Managed a caseload of 200+ undergraduate students, providing comprehensive academic advising on degree requirements, institutional policies, and major program transitions, contributing to measurable gains in first- and second-year retention rates.
Led departmental participation across a 12-person team in New Student Orientation, Welcome Week, Admitted Students Day, and resource fairs, designing and delivering targeted programming for residential students at strategic points throughout each semester.
Conducted regular academic planning reviews and proactive outreach, processed curricular exception requests, and partnered with Program Chairs and Managers to inform course scheduling, enrollment management, and curricular improvements.
Implemented specialized retention strategies for underrepresented and underserved student populations, connecting students to campus resources and serving as escalation point for complex or exceptional cases.
Supplied critical case data and recommendations to the Academic Review Committee on probation and dismissal matters, and prepared reports analyzing student progress and degree completion for institutional stakeholders.
Leveraged Workday Student, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Office to maintain FERPA-compliant records, streamline advising workflows, and pilot new technology-based advising approaches across the department.

Lead Visual Designer 2016 — 2018

FareWell (now Better Therapeutics), San Francisco, CA

Established the visual style guide governing all marketing communications and digital assets, creating a cohesive brand system that scaled across social media, email, and product touchpoints.
Owned the marketing calendar and managed FareWell's Instagram and Twitter accounts, growing audience and brand awareness to drive measurable increases in product sign-ups.
Designed and executed integrated marketing communications across email and social channels in close partnership with the marketing lead, ensuring consistent messaging across every customer touchpoint.
Provided critical UX feedback throughout all stages of product development, collaborating closely with engineering, product, and health teams to shape user-facing features and flows.