Cheryl Mia Kao is a Taiwanese American Creative Director based in New York, known for bridging artistry, technical expertise, and business strategy to redefine home textiles, packaging, and lifestyle branding. Raised between Taiwan and the United States, she began her creative journey at thirteen and trained in fine arts at the Visual Art Center in Maryland before studying Fashion Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She later continued her studies at Politecnico di Milano, where she developed a passion for fabric manipulation and print design, further honed during an internship at Italian textile house Mantero Seta.

Recognized early as a Top 100 Threads Finalist by CFDA and published in Vogue Italia, Cheryl went on to design for more than 15 global brands under mass retailers like Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Dillard’s, and off-price businesses. Her career has since spanned leadership roles at importers and manufacturer. At Yunus, she pioneered AI-powered design systems that cut packaging costs by over 80%, launched 10+ private-label brands in under two years, scaled QVC sales from $100K to $1.5M, and introduced affordable sustainable fibers to the off-price market.

With over a decade of experience across design, packaging, and retail intelligence, Cheryl continues to push the boundaries of creativity and technology to deliver products and brand stories that resonate with today’s consumers.