Creative Mode+
+ Los Angeles
+ New York
+ Hollywood
+ Beverly Hills
Hello and Welcome!
I'm Raf Gonzalez, a Creative Art Director and UX Manager based in vibrant Los Angeles, California. My reputation stems from my innovative thinking, strategic approach, and proactive mindset, all infused with a healthy dose of creativity. With a keen eye for design and a talent for building strong teams, I bring a wealth of experience in leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills to the table.
Driven by the ever-evolving landscape of product development and technology, I thrive on implementing human-centered design strategies, leveraging cutting-edge tools like AI automation, and crafting data-driven solutions. My journey has led me to collaborate with renowned tech firms, entertainment studios, and digital agencies, where I've worn various hats from UX Management to Art Direction.
studios & brands
experience & skills
Skills
Product Design Thinking
Visual and Interaction Design
UX/UI Design
Prototyping
AI & Data Analytics
Information Architecture
Actionable Insights
UX Research & Testing
Art Direction
360 Degree Branding
Design Systems Creation
Product Management & Ownership
Tools
Figma
Sketch
InVision
Adobe XD
Adobe Animate
Final Cut Pro
Premier Pro
After Effects
Lightroom
Keynote
MS Office
Adobe Creative Cloud
Professional Experience
Extensive experience of over 15 years in User Experience design, with a solid understanding of web standards, technologies, and trends
Over 7 years of experience in rapid prototyping and a deep understanding of design systems, style guides, and pattern libraries
A decade of experience in creating promotional rich media for various social media channels
Over 15 years of experience in web design, production, and development, working with major brands and agencies in technology, entertainment, non-profit, and commercial industries.
what i do
Design
Creative Direction
Visual Design
UI / UX
Advertisement & Promotion
Email Campaign Design
Social Media Design
Digital
UX / UI
Interactive Design
Prototyping
Product Design
Information Architecture
Digital Strategy
Branding
Interactive Design
TV & Entertainment Branding
Social Media Branding
UX / UI
Prototyping
Product Design
Packaging
Art Direction
Package Design
Logo Design
Photography
Art Direction
Retouching
Product Photography
Fashion Photography
Collateral
Retail Packaging
Promotions & Events
Business Cards
Brochures
Photo by: WB-media
present and past experience
As the UX Manager, I lead a tight-knit team of designers, collaborating closely with stakeholders, product owners, researchers, analytics experts, and developers to craft and execute our design strategy. This involves everything from visual and interaction design to feature enhancements, testing, and final deliverables. Additionally, I oversee internal documentation, runway presentation decks, and enhancements to our component library. I play a crucial role in user testing reviews, prototyping, and final release evaluations. Currently, I'm deeply involved in Herbalife International's UX team, guiding our efforts in re-branding and digital transformation.
In my role as a Digital Art Director, I've taken charge of creating, implementing, and managing digital creative content across various clients and industries. This encompasses social media updates, online activities, and the design of brand new web and micro websites. I'm well-versed in optimization testing, managing email newsletters, updating website components, and crafting social media ad campaigns to support client missions and objectives. Collaborating closely with creative directors and strategy teams, I've contributed to seasonal digital campaigns for multiple food banks and mission network organizations nationwide. Working alongside development teams, I've strategically designed, developed, and deployed websites and micro-sites for clients, consistently driving significant increases in online traffic and donation growth.
Throughout my career, I've designed major campaigns for prominent North American non-profit organizations and state Feed America Food Banks®, including The Salvation Army Network, U.S. and Canadian Rescue Missions, American Red Cross, Project Hope, Mercy Ships, and more. I've spearheaded the visualization, design, and execution of numerous digital test optimizations across various platforms, contributing innovative ideas to enhance processes for social media campaigns and website redesigns.
During my tenure as a Senior Web Designer at Warner Bros/Telepictures Productions for over nine years, I played a pivotal role in producing, designing, and programming a plethora of online elements, ranging from websites and micro-sites to landing pages and animated banner ads. Working within the digital team for daytime TV shows such as Ellen, Extra, Bethenny and TMZ, among others, I collaborated closely with colleagues to ensure seamless daily content production and programming.
Let’s Connect!
Phone
(626) 246-2536
Email
rafgonzalez01@gmail.com
Resume