# Leonel Cruz Martinez

> UI/UX Designer, Educator and 3D Artist

Location: San Leandro, California, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/leonel

Demo Reel, Portfolio and Resume: http://leonelcruz.wixsite.com/martinez

Hi, I'm Leo! I am a UI/UX Designer who also practices 3D Modeling, Animation and Graphic Design. I am currently employed as a User Experience Designer to help develop mobile applications and websites at a start-up company in the San Francisco Bay Area. When I design, I aim to create user-friendly digital products to help bridge technology and human interaction. 

Additionally, I also teach 3D Modeling and Animation to kids and teens. My academic background and my years of freelancing allow me to instruct the whole 3D Animation pipeline to both newcomer and experienced students. 

My competencies are: UI/UX design, 3D Animation, 3D Modeling, 3D Printing, Graphic Design, Video Editing, Photography, Figma, Cura, Maya, Blender, Zbrush, Photoshop, Illustrator and the Adobe Creative Cloud.

I'm excited to meet new professional opportunities. If you have a project I can help with, please get in touch.

## Work Experience
### Founding UI/UX Designer @ RaiseHand
Jan 2023 – Present | Pleasanton, California, United States
Collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to design RaiseHand, an innovative telehealth platform & mobile app improving communication between providers & patients.

### In-house Designer and 3D Animation Instructor @ YoungWonks
Jan 2017 – Present | Pleasanton, California, United States
• Designed print and digital marketing materials (business cards, flyers, brochures) and 
produced promotional and educational videos for the company’s Computer Science 
curriculum. 
• Contributed to the UI/UX design of several web and mobile platforms, including 
Vinterview (video interviewing), EdOptim (learning management system), and 
College.dev (career platform for graduates and recruiters in India). 
• Supported brand outreach through design and on-site promotional initiatives across the 
San Francisco Bay Area. 
• Instructed students in 3D Modeling & Animation workflows with Blender and TinkerCad, 
fostering creative and technical skills in STEM education programs.

### Guest Lecturer for Intro to Art/Animation @ Gameheads
Jan 2025 – Jan 2025 | Oakland, California, United States
Designed and taught a short-term but impactful 3D animation course for teens and young adults using Blender, guiding them through the full production pipeline and game asset optimization.

### 3D Modeler @ Far Fetched Creations (now Embla)
Jan 2016 – Jan 2017 | San Francisco Bay Area
• Created high-resolution 3D product prototypes for 3D printing using ZBrush and Maya. 
• Supported the full manufacturing pipeline, including mold casting, finishing, and 
packaging of physical products. 

Website: https://emblasf.com/candles/

### 3D Modeler @ Present Creative LLC
Jan 2017 – Jan 2017 | (Freelance)
•Handled the optimization of assets and cleaning up their topology
•Created PBR materials and shaders

### 3D Modeler for AR Project @ SEDC
Jan 2016 – Jan 2016 | (Freelance)
Sketched, designed, modeled and textured a 3D environment for an Augmented Reality project based on Microsoft Hololens for SEDC Atlanta.

### 3D Modeler for VR Project @ GitHub
Jan 2016 – Jan 2016 | (Freelance)
3D Modeled an interior environment for a VR exhibition (QCON San Francisco)

### Lead 3D Modeler @ StudioX
Jan 2014 – Jan 2016 | San Francisco Bay Area
•Collaborated at StudioX in the Academy of Art University to create several animated shorts, one of them being for the San Francisco Giants. 
•Responsible for modeling props and characters as well as supervising various models.

### 3D Layout Animator @ Muscle Beach
Jan 2013 – Jan 2013
•Collaborated along Cory Rosen to create a short film as a 3D Layout Animator.			         	
•Set up the cameras and previs for the film’s first sequence.

### TV Spot Assistant @ Canal Mexico
Jan 2012 – Jan 2012
•Worked alongside developers to improve the look of the website.
•Designed logos and TV Spots for Canal Mexico's programming.


## Education
### Certificate in UX/UI Design
Springboard
Jan 2022 – Jan 2023

### Bachelor’s Degree in 3D Animation and Modeling
Academy of Art University
Jan 2011 – Jan 2016

### High School in International Baccalaureate (IB)
Prepa Tec Santa Catarina
Jan 2008 – Jan 2011


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/leonel-cruz-martinez-57966858
- Portfolio: https://leonelcruz.wixsite.com/martinez

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Source: https://flows.cv/leonel
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/leonel/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-03-25