# carlos esparza

> 🛠️ Design Operations Leader | Systems-Driven Creative | Ex-Studio Founder

Location: Alameda, California, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/carlosesparza

I build design infrastructure that scales. 
When design teams grow faster than their systems, I make sure that the work, and the people, don't get lost along the way.

I’ve led design ops and UX systems across hybrid orgs, scaling from chaos to clarity without adding unnecessary process. At Callisto, I stood up infrastructure for a 50+ person team: shared UX standards, async delivery systems, and rituals that actually improved morale. At 1517 media, I cut collaboration/planning time by 70% with living docs that synced editorial, design, and marketing.

I'm comfortable working in Figma, ClickUp, Confluence, and whatever the org’s real source of truth is. I can be the bridge between teams, coach ICs into systems thinkers, or bring visibility to design team's work so their it is discoverable, measurable, and strategic.

Design ops isn’t about adding structure. It’s about designing the right one.

design operations
team workflows
process mapping
documentation
stakeholder alignment

## Work Experience
### Art Director @ 1517 Media
Jan 2022 – Present
Program and documentation systems across 70+ annual creative launches

• Built a living documentation system that cut editorial planning time by 70%
• Standardized briefs, timelines, and review loops across editorial, marketing, and design
• Balanced hands-on creative direction with ops strategy and process visibility
• Bridged brand, editorial, and product teams for more cohesive GTM execution

### Fractional Design Operations Manager @ Unknown
Jan 2024 – Present
Consulting with growing design teams to stabilize operations and implement scalable systems.

• Verified Athletics (B2B SaaS): Unified recruiter dashboards into one systemized product, built the company’s first design system in Figma, and led a brand refresh ahead of a major trade show.
• Built async intake and triage systems to reduce decision bottlenecks.
• Audited rituals, documentation, and delivery pipelines to increase team efficiency.
• Advised founders and creative leads on embedding ops vs. hiring full-time managers.

### Lead UX Designer @ Callisto Media
Jan 2019 – Jan 2022 | Oakland, California, United States
Scaled systems and strategy across a 50+ person hybrid design team in a high-growth publishing tech org

• Built component libraries, async collaboration SOPs, and standardized templates—reducing repetitive production by 80%
• Developed role-specific onboarding, mentorship structures, and UX fluency paths for junior designers
• Repositioned in-production products for stronger product/market fit, partnering with content and data teams to apply user research insights
• Created intake flows and cross-functional rituals that improved delivery speed, visibility, and team morale
• Presented regularly to C-suite, aligning design strategy to business goals and production capacity

### Co-Founder & Creative Director @ Field Studios
Jan 2015 – Jan 2020 | New York City
Ran a remote creative studio producing branded content, web tools, and original films

• Built City Ciné MVP (web app for outdoor film discovery in NYC)
• Led content creation and visual systems for TED and internal productions
• Managed cross-disciplinary teams across design, editorial, and post-production

### Marketing Director @ Pilchuck Glass School
Jan 2014 – Jan 2015
Rebuilt web presence and structured content strategy across audiences

• Redesigned and rewrote public website, rearchitecting IA around student/donor needs
• Increased applications and engagement through user-centered content flows
• Managed digital campaigns and owned all comms across print, email, and web
• Integrated brand systems into onboarding and content operations

### Product Designer/Developer @ Random House
Jan 2011 – Jan 2013 | NYC
Digital product design and development for flagship publishing titles

• Designed interactive eBooks and digital experiences for flagship titles
• Led UI/UX for titles like American Grown and Star Wars Encyclopedias
• Built React-based features in agile teams, shipping via Git-based workflows

### Studio Lead @ Independent Practice
Jan 2004 – Jan 2013
Ran a solo creative studio serving high-profile clients in the arts, publishing, and nonprofit sectors

• Built custom WordPress websites and brand systems for world-renowned artists, including James Turrell and Gary Hill
• Transitioned from a self-built PHP CMS to scalable WordPress solutions, enabling long-term maintainability for clients
• Delivered full-stack creative work: IA, UX design, frontend development, and content strategy
• Created reusable client onboarding docs, review workflows, and design systems to support long-term retainers

### Adjunct Faculty @ Cornish College of the Arts
Jan 2010 – Jan 2010 | Seattle, Washington, United States
Taught and structured high-retention foundations courses focused on digital media tools and art theory.

• Designed and taught digital art and Portfolio Development courses for BFA students
• Achieved one of the highest retention rates in the department through mentorship-focused, real-world curricula
• Integrated UX principles, and storytelling into critique theory and workshares
• Supported student progression into professional roles through career-focused advising and structured feedback systems

### Faculty + Creative Lead @ 911 Media Arts Center
Jan 2007 – Jan 2010 | Seattle
Built and taught digital design systems—while redesigning the org’s entire web presence

• Developed and led dozens of workshops in design, web, and video for both youth and professional audiences
• Rebuilt and maintained the org’s website—including IA, content strategy, visual design, and technical implementation
• Designed repeatable class structures and learning systems to scale instruction across faculty
• Hired and mentored interns and advised on portfolio development

### Co-Founder / Creative Director @ Spiral Galaxy Records
Jan 2000 – Jan 2005 | Denver, Colorado, United States
Founded and ran an independent record label focused on physical media and artist development

• Released 20+ albums on CD, overseeing production, packaging, and distribution
• Built and maintained the label’s website, including artist profiles, and release pages with ActionScript streaming system.
• Implemented a direct-to-fan eCommerce system using PayPal buttons—enabling online sales before mainstream storefront platforms
• Designed all album art, liner notes, and promotional materials for label releases
• Managed manufacturing timelines, artist coordination, and marketing
• Built brand identity and audience from the ground up, combining creative and logistical systems


## Education
### BFA in Digital / Graphic Design
The Art Institutes


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/cesparza
- Portfolio: http://carlosesparza.com/
- Behance: https://behance.net/cesparza

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Source: https://flows.cv/carlosesparza
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/carlosesparza/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-04-13