Kale Cordero | Sr. Graphic Designer | Joined Penumbra in 2018
Q. What is your current role at Penumbra?
As a graphic designer on the Creative team, I work with other teams across the company to design various print and digital materials, ranging from brochures, ads, presentations, animations, packaging, labels, invites, and booth graphics.
Q. What aspects of your job do you enjoy most?
I really enjoy working on a variety of design projects. It keeps things exciting and sure does keep me on
my toes. It also gives me the opportunity to learn new skills. For example, I used After Effects to learn how to do motion design, which I hadn’t really done before. Now, I’m able to comfortably make simple animations. Also, I feel like it’s been said a lot before, but I do really enjoy working with my team and all the other teams at Penumbra. It makes coming to the office fun!
Q. Describe yourself at age 10. What career aspirations did you have at that age?
When I was younger, I really liked playing video games, doodling, and drawing cartoons (actually, I still like doing these things!), and thought I’d like to be some kind of character designer for a video game company.
Q. Describe a travel adventure that you’ll never forget.
My favorite travel adventure was this past summer when my partner and I went to the Group Therapy Weekender music festival at The Gorge in Washington state. We’ve gone a couple times before with friends, but this was the first time we went just the two of us. It was such a magical experience. Everyone there was nice and friendly, and we even made a few friends from other states. The music was amazing; our favorite DJs performed probably the best sets I’ve heard from them yet. I already can’t wait for next year’s festival!
Q. Before working at Penumbra, describe the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
Before Penumbra, I worked at a grocery store as a chalk artist. Funny enough, I did not really have experience drawing with chalk. However, the company provided group lessons for all the chalk artists in the area to learn tips and tricks, and I was able to learn that way.
The drawings I did depended on what the store wanted to promote at the time. One of my favorites was a piece where I drew a school of fish swimming off the side of the chalk board to advertise the store’s sustainable seafood standards. For pieces I really liked, I’d be sure to take a picture. It was hard whenever I had to erase my drawings. However, not all my pieces got erased. I’ve gone back to the store a few times and it’s nice to see that some of my drawings are still on display.
Q. What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I never take off the necklace that I wear unless I’m absolutely required to. It’s a matching ring that I got with my partner and attached to a chain. I shower with it on, sleep with it on, and just always have it on. When we got the matching rings, I told my partner I’d always have it on. And, nine years later, I still do.
