# Joelle C. > I build brands, and I’m an expert in relationship marketing because AI can’t replace the power of real connections. → How can I help you? Location: Palo Alto, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/joellec Work for Wow 😮 I love what I do, and my enthusiasm for creating and delivering exceptional work reflects this. As a designer by trade and storyteller by design, I am passionate about finding magic in the method. I’m a disciplined digital & creative design professional with twenty-five years of experience building brands & communities. I possess a wide range of abilities that combine innovative marketing, branding, and design principles, offering extensive experience working in all media forms, offline to online videos. I have award-winning agency experience from digital campaigns, lead nurturing, meeting incentives, traditional and luxury marketing, advertising programs, brand creation, and promotional events materials. I enjoy the fast-paced, ever-changing atmosphere, and my energetic personality and critical thinking skills lend themselves well to work. Above all, my creative vision and passion is my greatest asset. Clients have praised me for my ability to bring campaigns to fruition that stand out above the rest. The opportunity to lead your client’s team of professionals in developing creative strategies and creating lasting client relationships would be a pleasure. Create Human Connection 😍 Put people first. It sounds simple, but it’s the cornerstone of why I work. My belief in human kindness is a common thread that runs throughout the campaigns that I develop. I believe in the importance of building lasting connections, one client at a time. I enjoy the fast-paced, ever-changing atmosphere, and my energetic personality and critical thinking skills lend themselves well to work. Above all, my creative vision and passion is my greatest asset. Clients have praised me for my ability to bring campaigns to fruition that stand out above the rest. The opportunity to lead your client’s team of professionals in developing creative strategies and creating lasting client relationships would be a pleasure. Give Positivity a Place 🥳 Cultivate gratitude in everything by taking time to teach, participate, inspire, and listen. I’m not afraid to color outside the lines because I know how to find courage in creativity through uncertainty and change. Specialties 🤓 Creative Designer, Brand Builder & Marketing, Motion Designer, Typography, Iconography, Strategic Leadership, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Content Marketing, Email Marketing, B2B & B2C Marketing, Demand Generation, PR, Communications, Project Management, Promotional Marketing, Print-Based Designer, expert in pre-press production. ## Work Experience ### Brand Builder | Designer | Branding | Strategist | Digital Marketing | Content creator | AI Tools @ REINVENT Jan 2016 – Present | San Jose California Brand Campaign Designer. Hands-on background in the designs of integrated marketing campaigns, Logos and identity, social media/digital marketing, OOH, digital banner creation, emails, nurture + landing pages, print expertise, video and slide decks, PowerPoint execution, pre-press production, and a real passion for all aspects of design. • Conceptualized and executed creative campaigns across all mediums, including digital, experiential, and print. • Managed a team of designers to run various projects from start to completion. • Building interactive prototypes and user workflows in Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch • Creating intuitive user experiences based on stakeholder feedback, UX research, and user testing sessions • Creating Storybook mockups for mobile and desktop-friendly experiences Luxury Real Estate Branding: Company: INTERO, A Berkshire Hathaway Affiliate Founder: Warren Buffett - https://www.forbes.com/profile/warren-buffett/ One notable project I have developed and spearheaded the brand’s conceptualization was for Warren Buffet - https://reinvent.pixieset.com/joellecruzbranding/ and produced their luxury publication https://reinvent.pixieset.com/welcomehome/. I have provided expert direction and comprehensive brand strategy for one of the world’s largest companies. I spearheaded the updated brand’s conceptualization and developed promotional campaign concepts, including identity designs, signage, digital campaigns, marketing collateral, and promotional gifts. ### Senior Designer @ Apple Jan 2021 – Jan 2022 | Sunnyvale, California, United States My duties are a critical link between the creative and the mechanical phases across all spheres of the projects (Retail, Channel, Packaging, Corporate ID, Events, etc.) A liaison between the Creative Design teams and the Production Studio teams, ensuring the original design intent, established by approved creative, is maintained thoughtfully and consistently throughout the implementation and mechanical production processes. One of the most notable projects I have produced was developing the 3D packaging assets for Apple's Ultra Watch using IC3D and Adobe Premiere Pro. ### Senior Designer @ 3marketeers Advertising Jan 2019 – Jan 2021 | San Jose, California, United States In my last role with 3Marketeers, I provided direction that stirred emotions and created a 1:1 relationship with prospects, customers, and sales teams. Developing client demand generation/advertising/branding materials from concept through finished pieces and including design/production for online demand generation (emails/microsites), marketing automation lead nurturing programs, building interactive prototypes and user workflows in Adobe Photoshop, animated banners using Bannersnack, unconventional guerilla marketing, ad campaigns, multimedia, web, packaging, and direct response. ### Brand Designer | Founding Creative Director @ FiveStars Jan 2011 – Jan 2015 “Turning every transaction into a relationship.” My roles and responsibilities at FiveStars were critical in developing high-level concepts and design projects. I have worked with external and internal stakeholders and recognize the requirements to accomplish successful projects. I was hired to manage all the brand transformations. I was also responsible for all the visual designs for print, trade-show and events, and mobile and website designs. Collaborate throughout the UX and UI design process to create new features and improve existing flows in our products. Additionally, I was responsible for all branding and marketing communications materials and managing fulfillment vendors and other design resources. Sales+Marketing: I led the first city-wide campaign for FiveStars and closed nearly 50% of the retailers in downtown University utilizing my magazine. - - https://news.yahoo.com/news/fivestars-partners-city-palo-alto-172959445.html (Sep 24, 2012) - The "Made In Palo Alto" loyalty card powered by FiveStars and MiPA magazine was the official VIP loyalty card accepted at businesses in Palo Alto. From two guys in a garage to serving thousands of businesses across the country. FiveStars is the fastest-growing company in customer loyalty and marketing automation for local businesses. The vision: to make the power of a Fortune 500 customer loyalty program accessible to local businesses. Launched out of Y-Combinator, driving millions of customer visits per month across their network of over fourteen thousand (14k+) businesses, and have raised a total of $115 million in funding from top-tier investors like Menlo Ventures, Lightspeed, and DCM. Visit www.fivestars.com - In October 2021, Fivestars was acquired by global payments leader, SumUp. Global payments leader, SumUp, acquires U.S. payments and marketing platform, Fivestars, for $317 Million: https://www.sumup.com/en-gb/press/sumup-acquires-us-payments-and-marketing-platform-fivestars-for-317-million/ ### Creative Director @ Made in Palo Alto Jan 2010 – Jan 2013 | Palo Alto, California, United States Advertising | Print+AR ### Publisher @ MADE LOCAL Jan 2009 – Jan 2012 Mission: We have created Made Local publications to connect our community to the important things in life. So why paper, and not just another app? We believe in the power of the tangible, of leafing through, of the feel of paper in one’s hand. By linking “Made Local” codes, your real world becomes virtual and your virtual world real. We’re not another random Facebook or Twitter feed. We’re something to take back home with you. GIVING BACK… At Made in Palo Alto – as with the entire Made Local line of publications – we are committed to the communities we serve. We’re proud to let our business partners know that we donate a percentage of our magazine pages to local, non-profit organizations to help raise awareness for their important, local issues. ABOUT US Made Local is the premiere publisher of location-based, pocket-sized lifestyle magazines. Made Local has featured and exhibited the best and most dynamic businesses in the Bay Area. Our mission is to reinvent paper and the publication world, integrating traditional print, mobile and burgeoning social media platforms. With this new, more comprehensive virtual experience, individuals will learn about and access your business on a more experiential and emotional level. Made Local’s vision is to feature and promote our thriving local communities and businesses through our new take on the traditional magazine. With clean and attractive layouts, photography, cinematography and writing, we present local business interactively via both cutting-edge and time-tested channels. ### Creative Director I Publisher @ Relax Homes & Lifestyles Magazine Jan 2006 – Jan 2008 | San Francisco Bay Area ### Creative Marketing Director @ Barry Swenson Builder Jan 2006 – Jan 2007 ### Creative Director | Publisher @ Santana Row Jan 2002 – Jan 2004 Published AM+PM Magazine and The Row Catalog ### Creative Art Director @ Brainworks Agency | New York Jan 1998 – Jan 2002 | Manhattan, New York, United States Brainworks pioneered E.R.C., an “Emotional Response” marketing communications group specializing in innovative and visually powerful communications for Higher Education, Medical/Health Care, and Branding. The art and science of Brainworks are to put the soul of your institution or company directly into the heads and hearts of your target audience. The result... coordinated communication campaigns, identity programs, marketing research and analysis, advertising, direct mail program, multimedia, and website design that inspire connection and provoke response. ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/joellecruz --- Source: https://flows.cv/joellec JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/joellec/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-05