Happer

Founder & Creative Director · Jan 2013 – July 2018

Founded and directed Happer for 5 years, delivering market research, branding, packaging, advertising, campaigns and digital projects for 40+ clients across food, retail, fashion, sustainability, and finance.

• Developed and implemented SOPs for branding processes, improving efficiency and reducing typical brand identity development timelines from 5 weeks to 2–3 weeks while maintaining strategic depth, design quality, and attention to detail.

• Directed creative work mentoring a team of 6+ graphic designers.

• For Villarreal División Equipos (VDE), one of Mexico's leading companies in water optimization and renewable energy solutions, developed 10+ new brands from naming to visual identity, including Enerwell and Alzac. Drove cross-functional collaboration and brand stewardship across VDE's brand portfolio, maintaining consistency across existing brands while creating new systems designed for market fit.

• Created brand and packaging work for CPG and retail clients, including Tim Hortons Mexico and M de Maní. Developed custom iconography for Tim Hortons' Mexico launch to communicate the fusion of Mexican and Canadian cultures, and redesigned M de Maní's peanut butter packaging across brand standards, print production requirements, and Mexico's NOM-051 front-of-pack labeling requirements.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Teaching Assistant · Sep 2019 – May 2020

• Conducted two undergraduate classes in graphic design, guiding students through portfolio development, typography, visual systems, and design critique.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Research Assistant (Brand Strategy & Web Design) · Sep 2018 – May 2019

• Led brand redesign and website redesign for Ninth Letter literary magazine. Developed visual identity system, improved UX/UI, and executed an effective brand strategy.

Pentagram Austin

Design Intern · Jun 2015 – Aug 2016

• Contributed to identity, editorial, and digital projects for clients including Texas Monthly magazine and The Contemporary Austin.

Firmalt

Junior Graphic Designer · 2014–2015

Contributed to branding and packaging projects for a packaging production company with in-house printing capabilities, supporting concept development, visual identity, and packaging design from initial ideas to production-ready materials.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Master of Fine Arts · Aug 2018 – May 2020

• Completed the 3-year MFA program in 2 years with a 3.94 GPA. Developed an MFA thesis on how startup brands can effectively engage with their audiences through storytelling on Instagram, focusing on visual content, narrative consistency, and audience engagement.

Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM)

Bachelor of Graphic Design · Aug 2010 – May 2015

• Concentration in Packaging. Received the Best Thesis Project Award.

Camino a la Cima

Values Education Teacher · 2009–Present

Teaches values-based education to children from marginalized communities in Monterrey, supporting their personal growth through creative activities, reflection, and community-centered learning.

Petullo Fellowship

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · May 2018

• Awarded to outstanding graduate students in Art + Design (MFA).

A! Design Awards 1st Place

Packaging · Nov 2015

UDEM Distinguished Student Award & Scholarship

Universidad de Monterrey · May 2012

• Awarded for the best academic average in the class, distinguished leadership, and strong academic performance.