Mikasa "Opus Black" designer?  

I'm trying to discover the designer of Mikasa's "Opus Black" china pattern.

The pattern was discontinued in 2002, and Mikasa was absorbed by Lifetime Brands in 2008. I've contacted Lifetime Brands, but they tell me that they don't have the information anymore.

I've also performed semi-extensive web searches and looked through the big retailer sites like Replacements, Inc.

Are there any good resources for this sort of information? Does anyone happen to know an old-timer at Mikasa?

Here, for your 80's-nostalgia amusement, is the pattern: