Julio Aranda, MFA (He/Him)
I'm a Texas based graphic designer with a passion for brands and the stories they tell. Driven by continuous learning and life's simple joys — like a vanilla latte and almond croissants — I thrive on crafting innovative visual narratives that ignite brand success. I'm passionate about advertising design, a coffeeholic, and a proud
dog dad.
All great relationships start with a conversation so don’t be shy, julioaranda91@gmail.com.
Professional Experience
Cheil Dallas | Art Director, Contract
Dallas, Texas, United States
November 2024 - January 2025 (3 months)
Description: Lead creative direction and execution of organic social-first projects, crafting engaging organic content that drives brand engagement across platforms. Develop and implement design strategies for social media campaigns, ensuring visual consistency and alignment with brand identity. Partner closely with social strategists, copywriters, and marketing teams to create compelling content that communicates core messages, elevates the brand, and resonates with target audiences. With a balance of creative leadership and collaboration, blending unique visuals with the strategic goals of the brand.
Dallas College | Brand Designer, Contract
Dallas, Texas, United States
August 2024 - October 2024 (3 months)
Description: Lead and execute creative design projects for branding, ads, and online content, ensuring consistency and alignment with client messaging and branding goals. Responsible for creating and finalizing optimized print and digital deliverables, including PowerPoint/Keynote slide decks, collateral, branding systems, signage, ads, and website assets. Collaborate with marketing to maintain brand guidelines and deliver effective, cohesive content across platforms.
Brownsville Wellness Coalition | Marketing and Outreach Manager
Brownsville, Texas, United States
June 2024 - Present (5 months)
Description: Developed and implemented strategic marketing plans to boost brand visibility and drive engagement across digital, print, and social media channels. I led outreach efforts, building strong relationships with key stakeholders and community partners to enhance brand awareness and foster collaboration. Additionally, I analyzed campaign performance, leveraging data-driven insights to optimize strategies and ensure alignment with business objectives.
Rhodes Branding | Art Director, Contract
Columbia, South Carolina, United States
April 2023 - December 2024 (1 year 8 months)
Clients: Beaufort County School District, Portland Public Schools, WeLead
Description: Lead creative projects for print and digital, developing and executing designs for branding, ads, and online content. In partnership with marketing, I ensure our designs convey client messages in line with branding goals and maintain consistency across all platforms, while balancing leadership's vision.
Quillio Studio | Art Director | Full-Time
Brownsville, Texas, United States
August 2015 - Present (8 years, 7 months)
Clients: Dairy Queen, The North Face, Santander, NanoBebe, Blue Rhino, All Saints, City of Brownsville
Description: As an Art Director, I craft and execute creative strategies for print and digital media, including branding, ads, and social media. I merge strategic vision with creative design to lead projects from start to finish, working both solo and as part of a team to create impactful designs that engage clients and fulfill campaign objectives.
Tequila Group | Art Director, Contract
McAllen, Texas, United States
December 2023 - December 2024 (12 months)
Clients: Brownsville International Airport, COSTEP, City of Brownsville
Description: Responsible for continually innovating the process, the ideas and the strategies to better support and grow client accounts. Communicate and justify conceptual and directional choices. Generate useful, usable ideas across all existing and emerging experiential, social and digital platforms.
McKinney Ventures | Senior Graphic Designer, Contract
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
March 2023 - April 2023 (2 months)
Clients: Titleist, Footjoy
Description: Spearhead visual strategies to elevate client branding across various media platforms. In this creative leadership role, I crafted compelling designs using expert knowledge of design tools like Adobe Creative Suite, and Google Slides to ensure client presentations align with client goals and brand guidelines.
ClassWallet | Senior Graphic Designer, Contract
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
March 2022 - November 2023 (9 months)
Description: Conceptualized and executed creative solutions across both print and digital mediums, including branding materials, advertising campaigns, website and social media content. Collaborating closely with the marketing and creative teams, I ensure that designs effectively communicate client messages and meet campaign goals.
WMHarper | Senior Graphic Designer, Contract
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
September 2021 - February 2022 (6 months)
Clients: Barrette Outdoor Living, Haymaker Coffee, Lexar, Doable Health, Rounded, FYX Gaming, YourBio Health
Dscription: Senior Graphic Designer specializing in Branding, Editorial design, Corporate design and UI / Digital design. Responsible for develop creative materials and managing projects.
City of Brownsville | Senior Graphic Designer, Full-Time
Brownsville, Texas, United States
June 2020 - February 2022 (1 year 4 months)
Description: Conceptualized and executed a pivotal role leading the city's initiatives across various mediums such as digital, out-of-home/large format print, and experiential marketing. Driving major brand campaigns from concept to execution, ensuring innovative and impactful delivery. Daily responsibilities included managing and guiding the creative department, encompassing designers, strategists, and content producers.
Red Creative Agency | Art Director, Full-Time
McAllen, Texas, United States
June 2018 - June 2020 (2 years)
Description: Crafted campaign vision using unique graphics and media, setting creative standards and enhancing production, quality, and service. Coordinated with marketing and social teams, aligning priorities with business goals for timely, budget-friendly, high-quality outputs. Developed visual strategies and new production processes, analyzing market trends, consumer needs, and the competitive landscape.
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy | Lead Graphic Designer, Contract
Brownsville, Texas, United States
October 2019 - May 2020 (8 months)
Description: Responsible for extending and protecting the language of the brand collaborate with other team members from concept to execution on a variety of projects big and small.
Ilyse Terri | Graphic Designer, Contract
Miami, Florida, United States
June 2019 - March 2020 (1 year)
Description: Developed engaging graphics and designs for product packaging and social media ads, focusing on Facebook and Instagram. Collaborated with teams to create interactive designs and managed feedback and revisions. Ensured brand consistency across all channels, and created collateral, signage, and corporate identity materials.
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Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) in Graphic Design (August 2019-May 2024)
Academy of Art University, San Francisco, California, United StatesBachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design (August 2011-December 2017)
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas, , United States -
Branding / Brand Strategy / Art Direction / Brand Architecture / Social Media Communications / Editorial Design / Interactive Marketing / Display Advertising / UX/UI / Product Development / Strategic Planning / Leadership / Brand Management / Digital Strategy / Project Management / Presentation Design / Advertising / Online Marketing / OOH / Hand-lettering / Social Media Marketing / Typography / Packaging / Marketing Strategy /
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3D Lettering: Modelling and Texturising with Cinema 4D by Zigor Samaniego
A Guide to Local Government Branding by ICMA University
Adobe Premiere Pro for Beginners with Alex Hall
Analogic Type Design by James Edmondson
Animation for Typographic Logo Designs with Holke 79
Artistic Lettering: Tips to Decorate your Letters by Joluvian
Basic Principles of SEO by Natzir Turrado
Bringing Old Time Alphabets to the Now by Julien Priez
Calligraphy and Lettering for Instagram with Procreate by Nubia Navarro (nubikini)
Characters with Character by Marta Cerdà Alimbau
Cinema Lettering by Ivan Castro
Creating Graphic Design Mockups by Asis
Creative Monograms with Hope Meng
Cursive Lettering for Logos by Martina Flor
Design Monograms with Style by GM Meave
Digital Lettering with Illustrator and Photoshop by Daniel Hosoya
Diseño de Letra con Jonathan Cuervo
Express Introduction to 3D: From Zero to Render with Cinema 4D by Zigor Samaniego
Fileteado Porteño: Illustration and Ornamentation of Posters by Alfredo Genovese
How to Choose Fonts by Enric Jardí
Interactive Prototyping with Adobe XD by Ethan Parry
Introduction to Adobe XD by Ethan Parry
Introduction to After Effects with Carlos "Zenzuke" Albarrán
Letras & Likes by JansArts
Lettering con Amor by Chisko Romo
Lettering for Perfectionists by Martina Flor
Ornamental Lettering by Havi Cruz
Secrets of Naming: Methodology and Creativity with Carlos Cornejo
The ABC's of Custom Lettering by Ivan Castro
The Golden Secrets of Lettering by Martina Flor
Typography and Branding: Design an Iconic Logo by Quique Ollervides
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2024 Bronze Winner | Annual Report
Issued by International Economic Development Council · Jul 20242024 GDUSA American Digital Design Awards Winner
Issued by Graphic Design USA · Jun 2024Most Customer-Centric Approach
Issued by Adobe & The Academy of Art University · Dec 20232023 Gold Winner | Navii Micromobility Branding
2023 Gold Winner | Navii Micromobility Branding
Issued by Hermes Creative Awards · May 2023MarCom Gold Award 2022 for Brewed Awakening Branding
MarCom Gold Award 2022 for Brewed Awakening Branding
Issued by MarCom Awards 2022 · Feb 2023Communicators of the Year Award
Issued by Ragan & PR Daily's · May 2021Gold Hermes Award 2021 BTX Strong | State of the City 2021
Issued by Hermes Creative Awards · Apr 2021Gold Hermes Award 2021 Brownsville Golf Center Branding
Issued by Hermes Creative Awards · Apr 2021Honorable Mention 2021: Year in Review 2020
Issued by Hermes Creative Awards · Apr 2021Silver Hermes Award 2021 for BTV Branding
Issued by Hermes Creative Awards · Apr 2021Arcturus Winner — Digital Marketing - Branding / CI — Brownsville Cares
Issued by Vega Awards · Nov 2020Gold Winner 2020: Identity Suite | BTX CARES
Issued by MarCom Awards · Oct 2020Honorable Mention 2020: Print Media Poster | Give Me Some Space
Issued by MarCom Awards · Oct 2020Silver Addy: Cross Platform/Online/Interactive - Rotology Branding
Issued by American Advertising Federation (AAF) - ADDY Awards · Feb 2020Gold Addy: Cross Platform - Red Charter Buses Branding
Issued by American Advertising Federation (AAF) - ADDY Awards · Feb 2019Special Judges Award: Best Branding - Red Charter Buses
Issued by American Advertising Federation (AAF) - ADDY Awards · Feb 2019Student Silver Addy Award AIGA Mailer
Issued by American Advertising Federation (AAF) - ADDY Awards · Feb 2018
Student Silver Addy Award AIGA Poster
Issued by American Advertising Federation (AAF) - ADDY Awards · Feb 2018Student Silver Addy Award Phubbing Campaign
Issued by American Advertising Federation (AAF) - ADDY Awards · Feb 2017 -
English & Spanish