Gold and Silver - Clio Awards
MVP Award - Wilson
Best Golf Bag - Golf Digest
Best Booth Award - Sydney Snow Expo

"I had the privilege of working with Naotaka Aogaki as one of our leaders on the Brand Design team at Wilson Sporting Goods. He is hands down one of the most strategic and multidisciplinary professionals I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. His expertise spans the intricate nuances of product graphic design and the big-picture strategy of global campaigns, and he brings an unparalleled ability to think holistically while also executing at an exceptional level. Naotaka’s problem-solving mindset allows him to approach challenges with clarity and purpose, consistently delivering work that surprises and delights. His ability to align creative vision with business goals stood out time and again. What truly sets Naotaka apart is his unique ability to use creativity to solve a wide-range of business challenges in a clear and collaborative way. He thrives in cross-functional environments, elevates every project he's working on and inspires those around him. If you’re looking for someone who embodies strategic thinking, creative excellence, flawless execution and clear leadership, Naotaka is the one. I can’t recommend him highly enough."

GARTH WEBER
SVP, CHIEF BRAND AND MARKETING OFFICER,
DULUTH TRADING COMPANY

"I can say with full confidence that Naotaka Aogaki has been everything from a creative spark plug and change agent for our internal brand design group, to a guru and architect of our most forward looking brand innovation work, to most recently an inspiring coach with a fresh take for leading our growing Brand Studio team. He played a key role in shaping our Brand Identity, elevating our Wilson Labs innovation storytelling to new heights, and pushing the capabilities of our in-house photo, virtual and content studios. Simply put, he is a unicorn Creative Director. He excels at the creative, leading a team, and keeping complex projects on track. Whatever role he is playing he shows up with positivity, tenacity and passion. He is one of the more thoughtful creatives I’ve worked with collaborating without ego or judgement, inspiring others through his one-of-a-kind vision and creative Midas touch and challenging his teammates and his brand counterparts to dream bigger and bolder. He is pragmatic but doesn’t compromise an ounce of creative potential. He is a strategic storyteller who masterfully translates insights into creative genius. And all of that comes across in his work and in his approach with a refreshing humility, genuine sensitivity for budget and timelines, and empathetic receptivity to feedback. I am a better marketer for having worked with Naotaka and I imagine I’m one of many who can say their game has been elevated because of his talent."

AMANDA LAMB
VP, GLOBAL BRAND,  
WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO.

"In my 42 years in the design industry, I have met only a handful of people with the natural creative talent of Naotaka Aogaki. He has a limitless amount of amazing creativity to tackle any design challenge. Not only in his own hands-on talents, but also the ability to art direct, teach, mentor and guide his direct reports and colleagues on his team to stretch and reach above and beyond. He is such a thoughtful Creative Director, immersing himself in the “why” of the project, doing tireless research before he begins each project. Every design solution and element of his work has a strategic, meaningful purpose to connect to the consumer to address their needs and wants of the product or the service offering. He balances what he believes the market wants with what the client needs and has mastered how to please both sides. No one will work harder as well, his work ethic is second to none that I have ever hired in the creative industry. All of these above attributes are what make up his overall design DNA talents. Even stronger than those are his personal and spiritual DNA, he is a man of very high character and moral values with a constant thirst for growth. Anyone who is lucky enough to get the chance to work with Naotaka will be very fortunate."

JEFF KORTENKAMP
CREATIVE BUSINESS DIRECTOR,
WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO.