A beauty brand is seeking an Art Director to lead creative efforts and enhance brand aesthetics. The ideal candidate will excel in leadership and communication, driving collaboration with teams and partners. They must demonstrate creativity, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, and a proven track record in diverse design areas. Strategic thinking, adaptability, and a commitment to excellence are essential traits for navigating the dynamic beauty landscape and achieving brand objectives. Job Details HYBRID: Century City / Los Angeles, CA - two days a week onsite PAY: $40-$48/hr$90K - $100K Salary TEMP Responsibilities:<ul><li>Lead and conceptualize promotional initiatives encompassing print, packaging, advertising, and merchandising.</li><li>Execute front end web development utilizing Square Space for the bi-monthly news/updates.</li><li>Develop tools and product designs by generating spec sheets, overseeing color matching, and packaging development for Private Label clients.</li><li>Generate video concepts and storyboard creation for videos, motion graphics, and GIFs.</li><li>Direct photography for still photography shoots.</li><li>Collaborate and oversee projects with members of the Specialty Creative Team and various cross-functional teams.</li><li>Oversee creative project coordination by facilitating communication among team members and external vendors.</li><li>Participate in meetings and collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to achieve shared project objectives.</li><li>Utilize email and Workfront to liaise with project sponsors, managers, and team members, ensuring adherence to project timelines.</li><li>Develop specifications and oversee creative progress for print, packaging, and tool projects.</li></ul> Qualifications:<ul><li>A Bachelor&#39;s degree in Graphic Design.</li><li>7+ years of experience within the Design Industry.</li><li>Prior experience as a Senior Designer or Art Director.</li><li>A professional portfolio that demonstrates your expertise and work as an Art Director.</li><li>Proficient communicator with strong leadership qualities and adept presentation abilities.</li><li>Demonstrates creativity and self-motivation, possessing agility to manage multiple tasks and troubleshoot effectively.</li><li>Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop.</li><li>Prior track record in identity, print, packaging, video, front-end web design, and tool development.</li><li>Exceptional skills in pre-press and press checking for print and packaging materials.</li><li>Exhibits strategic thinking skills with a history of problem-solving and initiative-taking.</li><li>Exceptional team player, fostering collaboration with internal, external team members, and vendors.</li><li>Showcases a strong work ethic, integrity, and dedication to achieving excellence.</li><li>Outstanding client-facing communication abilities.</li></ul> Please submit your resume and professional portfolio for consideration! You can use WorkGrades to collect and manage your references for free and share them with us or anyone else you choose by visiting workgrades.com/home/candidate. Candidates with references are always preferred by our clients. Now is the most important time to stand out from the crowd. We suggest that you ensure you have updated your LinkedIn profile and that you start collecting your references early. We will consider qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring. California applicants, please view our Privacy Notice here: https://careergroupcompanies.com/california-privacy-notice/.
 Syndicatebleu

Art Director

A branding and design firm is looking for a Creative Director to join their team in a temp to hire role! The ideal candidate for this role has experience working with luxury retail and promotional goods brands. They are a highly creative individual with a keen eye for detail and a track record of driving innovation in design, possessing exceptional communication skills and a collaborative spirit to thrive in a multicultural environment. They should bring a wealth of experience in 3D mockups, Augmented Reality, Generative AI, and more! Job Details TEMP TO HIRE ON-SITE: Los Angeles, CA PAY: $70-80/HR Responsibilities:<ul><li>Produce captivating visual presentations, proofs, and print-ready materials for clients and manufacturing partners, overseeing a robust portfolio of over 100 projects weekly spanning promotional and retail items.</li><li>Lead innovation in design and consumer engagement by leveraging cutting-edge technologies like 3D mockups, Augmented Reality, and Generative AI to deliver unparalleled consumer experiences.</li><li>Facilitate clear and efficient communication on the Salesforce platform with project managers based in Asia, ensuring smooth collaboration across diverse cultural backgrounds and languages.</li><li>Maintain adherence to client brand guidelines, ensuring consistency and coherence in all mockups to reflect the essence of their identities.</li><li>Drive creativity and trend-setting by generating fresh and compelling product ideas aligned with consumer packaged goods trends.</li><li>Uphold high standards of graphic design, ensuring all visuals align flawlessly with brand guidelines, showcasing exceptional creativity and attention to detail.</li><li>Curate and manage a comprehensive library of design assets, fostering ongoing inspiration and creativity.</li><li>Conceptualize and develop innovative product campaigns and graphics that leave a lasting impact.</li><li>Mentor and provide feedback to junior designers, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented culture.</li><li>Foster strong partnerships with product architects and project managers to streamline workflows and enhance creative briefs.</li><li>Engage in regular client calls to discuss creative direction, feedback, and project details.</li></ul> Qualifications:<ul><li>A bachelor's degree in Graphic Design or related field.</li><li>5+ years of related professional design experience.</li><li>Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, e.g. Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign.</li><li>Familiarity with Google Workspace and Pantone Connect is essential.</li><li>Exhibit experience in creating 3D mockups and renderings.</li><li>Experience with sourcing products overseas.</li><li>Be familiar with Salesforce, Slack, Mailchimp, Canva.</li><li>Expertise in copywriting.</li><li>Demonstrate experience in product development with factories.</li><li>Have knowledge of Generative AI.</li></ul> Please submit your resume for consideration! You can use WorkGrades to collect and manage your references for free and share them with us or anyone else you choose by visiting workgrades.com/home/candidate. Candidates with references are always preferred by our clients. Now is the most important time to stand out from the crowd. We suggest that you ensure you have updated your LinkedIn profile and that you start collecting your references early. We will consider qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring. California applicants, please view our Privacy Notice here: https://careergroupcompanies.com/california-privacy-notice/.
 Syndicatebleu

Creative Director with 3D mockup  and AI experience

A leading entertainment and gaming company is in search of a Creative Producer with a strong project management and production experience to JOB DETAILS TEMP HYBRID: LOS ANGELES, CA PAY: $56.00/HR Responsibilities<ul><li>Possess knowledge of best practices for Social and Paid Media initiatives.</li><li>Take on project leadership responsibilities, nurturing relationships with marketing, development, and creative teams.</li><li>Facilitate communication among the Development Team, Partners, and internal teams to monitor the status of builds, problem solve, track features, and provide updates.</li><li>Exhibit a fundamental grasp of development terminology (e.g., build, HUD, UX, UI), working independently with minimal supervision while remaining receptive to guidance and feedback.</li><li>Manage and uphold the quality of deliverables in alignment with standards and business objectives.</li><li>Execute all expectations and delivery dates to all teams contributing assets.</li><li>Proactively identify and resolve potential threats, adjusting schedules as necessary to meet final project deadlines.</li><li>Manage tools development and scheduling coordination across multiple teams.</li><li>Organize tasks and projects to meet deadlines and budget constraints.</li><li>Route creative materials to stakeholders, monitoring approvals and revisions.</li><li>Review materials for compliance with technical requirements, brand guidelines, and legal standards.</li><li>Demonstrate a track record of successfully managing multiple work streams under tight deadlines.</li><li>Possess a comprehensive understanding of project management, workflow, and infrastructure.</li><li>Cultivate and sustain positive relationships with partners, stakeholders, and vendors.</li><li>Act as a advocate for Marketing Creative in cross-functional meetings, disseminating information and clarifying next steps.</li><li>Develop processes to improve project management and workflow efficiency.</li><li>Resolve urgent partner issues with composure and effectiveness, even in high-pressure situations.</li></ul> Qualifications<ul><li>Must be able to work on-site in Orange County, CA within a hybrid schedule!</li><li>4+ years of experience in Project management, operational, account, or production, a consumer marketing or advertising background, collaborating with creative teams is preferred.</li><li>Proficient in video game production and capture is also preferred.</li><li>Exceptionally organized, with a proven track record of tracking and trafficking a high volume of assets.</li><li>Experience in dealing with stakeholders and overseeing multiple approval channels.</li></ul> Please submit your resume for consideration! You can use WorkGrades to collect and manage your references for free and share them with us or anyone else you choose by visiting workgrades.com/home/candidate. Candidates with references are always preferred by our clients. Now is the most important time to stand out from the crowd. We suggest that you ensure you have updated your LinkedIn profile and that you start collecting your references early. California applicants, please view our Privacy Notice here: https://careergroupcompanies.com/california-privacy-notice/.
 Syndicatebleu

Creative Content Producer (Gaming)

An entertainment and consumer brand is looking for a Project Manager specializing in managing Oracle Cloud Transformation projects for a long term temporary contract. Job Details Remote PAY - $70 - $89/ HR TEMP - Duration: Up to 6 months Responsibilities:<ul><li>Evaluate project task, milestones, and predecessors.</li><li>Oversee and provide input on Risks, Issues, Actions, and Decisions.</li><li>Assist IT Leads with updating the IT project plans – including Conversions, Reporting, and Integrations.</li><li>Support the Sr. Program Manager with creating documents for presentations.</li><li>Monitor various project management processes (Change Requests, escalations, etc.) to ensure progress and resolutions.</li><li>Convey project implementation options affecting cost, schedule, and risk to stakeholders.</li><li>Create documents for presentations to program leaders.</li><li>Assist the Sr. Project Manager and program leads with clerical and other tasks as requested.</li></ul>Experience:<ul><li>2-5+ years of experience managing extensive and complex implementation projects.</li><li>1-2+ years overseeing ERP migration projects.</li><li>Capable of effectively handling multiple simultaneous project tasks and schedules of varying complexity, resolving issues proactively.</li><li>Proficiency in MS Project, Excel, PowerPoint, and Jira.</li><li>Familiarity with software development life cycles.</li><li>Excellent analytical, problem-solving, facilitation, and conflict resolution abilities.</li><li>A background in finance is preferred.</li></ul> Please submit your resume for consideration! You can use WorkGrades to collect and manage your references for free and share them with us or anyone else you choose by visiting workgrades.com/home/candidate. Candidates with references are always preferred by our clients. Now is the most important time to stand out from the crowd. We suggest that you ensure you have updated your LinkedIn profile and that you start collecting your references early.
 Syndicatebleu

Oracle Cloud Project Manager

A leading health and wellness consumer brand is looking for Product Marketing and Communications Manager to support marketing collateral online and offline within a 3 month project! Job Details TEMP: 3 MONTHS DURATION ON-SITE: TORRANCE, CA PAY: $35-$37/HR Responsibilities<ul><li>Devise and overseeing the strategy and management of all product marketing campaigns within specific business categories.</li><li>Coordinate product marketing communications, planning and executing campaign elements in collaboration with cross-functional teams and members.</li><li>Review and revise all relevant product marketing communication materials for both members and customers, in close cooperation with product managers.</li><li>Ensure that all product marketing communications and touchpoints are aligned with business objectives and optimized for precise messaging and relevance, closely collaborating with regional and corporate teams.</li><li>Serve as the primary point of contact, closely working with cross-functional teams to coordinate communications across offline and online channels, such as websites, email, text messaging, flyers, and phone systems.</li><li>Manage product marketing communications calendars for launching campaigns, promoting products, and pre/post launch communications.</li><li>Collaborate with various marketing teams, including worldwide and North America to facilitate product launches and promotions within selected business categories.</li><li>Lead the way in updating and modifying online and printed product catalogs, collaborating with product managers, WW, web, marketing, and other cross-functional team members.</li><li>Plan and create product marketing materials, including overseeing content and design for all product-related literature, downloadable tools, annual operating plans, and branded apparel.</li><li>Conceptualize, source, and execute an annual calendar of product promotions and campaigns for pertinent categories.</li><li>Supervise product updates on various online platforms by working with the social media team, web team, DTS, and third-party collaborators to generate new content and update existing product-related online content for relevant categories.</li><li>Devise and organize an annual themed calendar for outbound communications with members and distributors, including themes for weekly supplements, standalone emails, hold messages, and SMS texts.</li><li>Assume responsibility for conveying and presenting product marketing campaigns and initiatives to distributor committees.</li><li>Create and manage the budget for product marketing campaigns and promotions, including processing invoices and obtaining executive approvals and necessary paperwork for promotions.</li><li>Take the lead in North America for any high-priority product marketing campaigns and initiatives on a global scale.</li><li>Travel to distributor events to provide on-site support for event logistics, including Extravaganza Latina and General Market.</li></ul> Qualifications<ul><li>3+ years of online communication or relative communications field experience.</li><li> A Master's degree in marketing, advertising, or communications is preferred.</li><li>1+ years of experience with online content development.</li><li>5+ years of Marketing, Advertising, Promotions or Marketing Communications experience.</li><li>Proficient in creative brief writing.</li><li>Exceptional communication abilities, both oral and written.</li><li>Effective interpersonal aptitude, capable of collaborating seamlessly with partners and vendors.</li><li>Highly focused on achieving results and adept at thriving in a dynamic work setting.</li><li>Skilled in juggling multiple tasks and displaying adaptability when faced with changing directives.</li><li>Proficient in problem-solving and consistently meeting deadlines, often requiring minimal supervision.</li><li>Demonstrates a proactive stance in approaching projects and a strong desire to take the lead.</li><li>Ability to speak Spanish, is advantageous. </li></ul> Please submit your resume for consideration! You can use WorkGrades to collect and manage your references for free and share them with us or anyone else you choose by visiting workgrades.com/home/candidate. Candidates with references are always preferred by our clients. Now is the most important time to stand out from the crowd. We suggest that you ensure you have updated your LinkedIn profile and that you start collecting your references early. We will consider qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring. California applicants, please view our Privacy Notice here: https://careergroupcompanies.com/california-privacy-notice/.
 Syndicatebleu

Product Marketing and Communications Manager

A leading toy company is in search of an Associate Brand Manager to assist their design team in a 3 week project! Job Details ON-SITE - EL SEGUNDO, CA HYBRID PAY - $25-$29/HR TEMP - DURATION : 3 WEEKS Responsibilities:<ul><li>Collaborate closely with the graphic design team to brainstorm and suggest innovative and creative visuals for strategic marketing activities.</li><li>Collaborate with the influencer team to supply necessary samples for influencers, assess influencer videos, and act as the brand lead for the social media team.</li><li>Administer the Master Price List by inputting pricing information, ensuring its accuracy and completion.</li><li>Organize the delivery of samples for marketing initiatives, such as influencer campaigns and photoshoots.</li><li>Handle the processing of invoice payments for marketing activations and maintain a record of invoices per brand.</li><li>Possess a comprehensive understanding of the product line and the ability to craft messaging and content.</li><li>Maintain up-to-date brand sell sheets and presentations for the benefit of global sales teams.</li></ul> Qualifications:<ul><li>A relevant academic qualification, including an undergraduate degree or equivalent professional experience, will be considered.</li><li>2+ years of experience in marketing or marketing-related function, ideally within a</li><li>2-3+ years of experience with kid-targeted category like toys, entertainment, food, sports, video games, or another type of Consumer Packaged Good product or brand.</li><li>MUST BE ABLE TO WORK ON-SITE IN EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA.</li></ul> Please submit your resume for consideration! You can use WorkGrades to collect and manage your references for free and share them with us or anyone else you choose by visiting workgrades.com/home/candidate. Candidates with references are always preferred by our clients. Now is the most important time to stand out from the crowd. We suggest that you ensure you have updated your LinkedIn profile and that you start collecting your references early.
 Syndicatebleu

Associate Brand Manager

A prestigious entertainment company is in search of an esteemed Art Director, boasting a refined expertise in the realm of luxury art direction, to lead their design team. The ideal candidate should exhibit a masterful command of print and production mechanicals, while showcasing an elevated portfolio brimming with their professional print and production mechanical projects. Job Details TEMP HYBRID - 2-3 DAYS A WEEK ON-SITE - LOS ANGELES, CA PAY $45-$50/HR Responsibilities<ul><li>Cultivate elevated, aesthetically alluring Evite designs for diverse events and occasions.</li><li>Craft sophisticated graphics and visuals for event registration materials, ensuring impeccable clarity and impact.</li><li>Design captivating graphics and visuals tailored to the essence of each event, maintaining a coherent thematic thread.</li><li>Forge presentation decks that effectively convey ideas and information to a diverse audience.</li><li>Employ Photoshop to execute tasks such as image masking, retouching, and enhancing visual elements.</li><li>Apply designs to mockup templates, providing a glimpse of their real-world manifestation.</li><li>Produce eye-catching and informative packaging designs for a variety of products or materials.</li><li>Oversee production tasks, encompassing the resizing of key art to precise dimensions, file preparation for print, and collaboration with packaging mechanicals.</li></ul> Qualifications<ul><li>MUST BE ABLE TO WORK ON-SITE IN LOS ANGELES, CA!</li><li>Possess 3-5+ years of experience as a Senior Production Designer.</li><li>Demonstrate proficiency in Print and Production Mechanicals.</li><li>Exceptional verbal and written communication skills are essential, as this role involves presentations to senior management.</li><li>A professional portfolio that demonstrates your experience with print and use of production mechanicals.</li></ul> Please submit your resume for consideration & professional portfolio for consideration! You can use WorkGrades to collect and manage your references for free and share them with us or anyone else you choose by visiting workgrades.com/home/candidate. Candidates with references are always preferred by our clients. Now is the most important time to stand out from the crowd. We suggest that you ensure you have updated your LinkedIn profile and that you start collecting your references early. We will consider qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring. California applicants, please view our Privacy Notice here: https://careergroupcompanies.com/california-privacy-notice/.
 Syndicatebleu

An entertainment company is seeking a Sourcing Manager who can fulfill the responsibilities outlined below, demonstrating expertise in procurement, production tracking, and strategic sourcing initiatives, while contributing to the company's vision for innovative and sustainable product development. An ideal candidate for this role would possess a strong aptitude for order aggregation, production oversight, and effective communication, with a proven track record of driving sourcing strategies that align with the company's objectives in sustainability and supply chain transparency. Job Details TEMP ON-SITE - KISSIMMEE FLORIDA PAY $33.00 -$36.67 / HR Responsibilities<ul><li>Facilitate the consolidation and approval of orders spanning all business units.</li><li>Track and generate production reports.</li><li>Adapt to evolving business requirements during the active season.</li><li>Effectively oversee the transition between Development Sourcing and Responsible Sourcing/Production when processing purchase orders.</li><li>Supervise vendor timelines for time and action (T&A) schedules, provide weekly progress updates, and manage any issues related to shipments for affected regions.</li><li>Take ownership of in-season requests for expediting, following up, or canceling orders, and address any production delays or challenges.</li><li>Assess initial work processes and establish more efficient methods for monitoring data and maintaining consistent communication with team partners.</li><li>Prepare standard or on-demand reports as needed, including time and action calendars, production schedules, and status updates.</li><li>Implement and monitor progress in line with strategic sourcing initiatives, such as Source Country Diversification, Sustainability, and Supply Chain Transparency.</li><li>Evaluate suppliers throughout the purchase order and production stages, collaborating with the Development Sourcing team to shape long-term supplier strategies for the business.</li><li>Contribute to sourcing strategies that align with the company's objectives, including Source Country Diversification, Sustainability, and Supply Chain Transparency.</li><li>Lead the development of consistent strategies in line with the overall vision of Experiences and Products and Global Product Creation (GPC).</li><li>Explore novel opportunities, concepts, methodologies, and materials to foster innovation in product development.</li><li>Utilize product knowledge to meet the diverse needs of partners and ensure effective collaboration with cross-functional teams and vendors.</li></ul> Qualifications<ul><li> MUST BE ABLE TO WORK ON-SITE IN KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA!</li><li>A Bachelor's degree in Product Development, Merchandising, Product Design, Business, or Supply Chain.</li><li>Minimum 3+ years of relevant experience, with a preference for experience in specialty retail or consumer products.</li><li>Knowledge of the procurement and production processes of various product categories.</li><li>A history of successful communication with manufacturers.</li><li>Strong attention to detail and exceptional organizational abilities.</li><li>Capable of managing multiple product SKUs and timelines in a fast-paced work environment.</li><li>Experience in building trust and credibility with diverse partners.</li><li>Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.</li><li>Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement, efficiency, and scalability.</li><li>Desire and capability to be adaptable, embrace change, and grow alongside the organization.</li></ul> Please submit your resume for consideration! You can use WorkGrades to collect and manage your references for free and share them with us or anyone else you choose by visiting workgrades.com/home/candidate. Candidates with references are always preferred by our clients. Now is the most important time to stand out from the crowd. We suggest that you ensure you have updated your LinkedIn profile and that you start collecting your references early. We will consider qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring. California applicants, please view our Privacy Notice here: https://careergroupcompanies.com/california-privacy-notice/.
 Syndicatebleu

Sourcing Manager

Our client, a Multinational Toy & Entertainment Company, is looking for a Documentation Coordinator to join their team on a temporary basis beginning ASAP. In this role, you will be responsible for migrating documents from existing systems into a new system, while ensuring documents are formatted and transferred correctly. This is a great opportunity for someone who has strong computer skills, strong attention to detail, and a high level of proficiency in Microsoft Office 365. Please note: This role is fully onsite, 5 days a week in East Aurora, NY. Responsibilities:<ul><li>Prepare technical documentation</li><li>Migrate documents from existing systems into a new system.</li><li>Ensure documents are formatted and transferred correctly.</li><li>Ensure files and folders are accurately managed and have correct labelling.</li></ul> Qualifications:<ul><li>Associate degree or equivalent experience in business or related field</li><li>Strong computer skills</li><li>Strong attention to detail and accuracy</li><li>High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office</li><li>Comfortable being on-camera during virtual meetings</li></ul> Please submit a resume for immediate consideration. You can use WorkGrades to collect and manage your references for free and share them with us or anyone else you choose by visiting workgrades.com/home/candidate. Candidates with references are always preferred by our clients. Now is the most important time to stand out from the crowd. We suggest that you ensure you have updated your LinkedIn profile and that you start collecting your references early.
 Syndicatebleu

Documentation Coordinator

Syndicatebleu

Our Client, a Major Gaming Company, is looking for a Video Game Producer to manage franchise projects from inception to completion.
&nbsp;
Responsibilities:
<ul>
<li>Spearhead Creative Development workflows for fast paced Social Content</li>
<li>Create, maintain, and distribute milestone schedules for all assigned projects</li>
<li>Lead weekly project status meetings and communicate milestones to stakeholder</li>
<li>Act as liaison between Marketing Creative Services, Internal stakeholders, and Game development teams</li>
<li>Work with Design Leads to ensure strategic and visual brand consistency of Warcraft</li>
<li>Schedule, lead and document all meetings needed for briefing, review, and approval of projects.</li>
<li>Manage outside contractors and agencies</li>
<li>Review all project deliverables to ensure they are free of typos, inconsistencies, and errors</li>
<li>Request and manage project budgets, provide reporting as necessary.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Requirements
<ul>
<li>A minimum of 5 years&rsquo; experience in project management/producing</li>
<li>Preferably a minimum of 3+ years&rsquo; experience in a creative environment</li>
<li>Experience with Project Management and software</li>
<li>Expert knowledge of the creative development process</li>
<li>Knowledge of digital content development for social, static and motion graphics</li>
<li>Ability to establish, build and maintain strong relationships with individuals and departments</li>
<li>Excellent critical thinking, written and verbal communication skills</li>
<li>Strong attention to detail with impeccable organizational and time-management abilities</li>
<li>Self-starting with the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with varying</li>
<li>Able to maximize shared resources, mitigate gaps, and pivot allocations as needed.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
You can use WorkGrades to collect and manage your references for free and share them with us or anyone else you choose by visiting workgrades.com/home/candidate. Candidates with references are always preferred by our clients. Now is the most important time to stand out from the crowd. We suggest that you ensure you have updated your LinkedIn profile and that you start collecting your references early.
&nbsp;
We will consider qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.
Syndicatebleu

Video Game Producer by Syndicatebleu

Syndicatebleu