Salvador Orara is a “best of both worlds” designer with deep expertise across industry and academia in building teams, developing skills and abilities of designers, and motivating cross-functional teams, leadership, and collaborators towards a unified vision; with over 20+ years designing brands, products, services, and systems. A champion of the “voice of the customer” in all aspects of decision making and business planning to instill ethical and humane values and principles in balance with business goals and technical feasibility. He is currently the director and professor of an academic program focusing on innovation through human-centered design and creative problem solving at the University of Portland. 
CV and select work upon request.
Available for consultation.​​​​​
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(case studies and reflections are on the way for various experiences below)
Industry Timeline

2019 – Present, Director of Innovation
University of Portland
2016 – 2019, Chapter President, Interim Treasurer, Content Director
AIGA Portland
2015 – 2019, Lead User Experience Strategist
Jaguar Land Rover
2012 – 2015, Founder & Creative Director
The Rare Studio
2010 – 2012, Teaching Assistant Undergrad & Graduate courses
Art Center College of Design
2005 – 2010, Senior Graphic & Interaction Designer
The Map Office

Notable Freelance Experiences

Research Advisor
American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
User Experience Researcher and User Interface Designer
Pentagram
Photographer
Pentagram
User Experience Strategist
Downstream
Creative Director (User Interface)
Beatshare Inc.
Brand Designer
Pentagram
Creative Technologist & Installation Engineer
Like Now
Design Researcher
Nokia

Teaching Timeline

2019 – Present, Innovation Professor of Practice
University of Portland
2018 – 2019, Adjunct Associate Professor, Graphic Design
Pacific Northwest College of Art
2013 – 2015, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Interaction Design 
Art Center College of Design
2013 – 2015, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Graphic Design
Woodbury University 
2012 – 2013, Adjunct Instructor, Communication Arts
Otis College of Art and Design

Notable Talks & Workshops

Lead Facilitator: Nursing Faculty Development Seminar, University of Portland
Design Thinking for Nurses Training Seminar, University of Portland
The Rare Studio: Lost Friendships, Fuck Up Night, Pacific Northwest College of Art
Social Innovation Pathways, CODE240, Hosted by Jaguar Land Rover
Rapid Prototyping & Physical Computing Workshop, Razorfish: Austin TX
Presenter & Workshop Facilitator: Journey Mapping Non-Profit Experiences, AIGA Chapter Retreat
Lecturer, Art Talk, George Fox University
Designing Automotive Innovations, Design Week Portland (2018)
Published Presenter, IEEE VISAP, Baltimore, MD
Published Presenter, Critical Information Series, School of Visual Arts

Some Awards

Shiley Summer Research Grant

Graphis Poster Competition

Art Center Thesis Scholarship

Art Center Research Grant

Art Center Student Scholarship

AIGA 50 Books/50 Covers

AIGA 365 Poster Award

Armin Hoffman Award for Excellence in Graphic Design

UArts Senior Project Award (Interactive Media)

Art Directors Club of NJ (Web Design)
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