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I am a seasoned and highly creative graphic designer.  I have worked as a high-level and hands on Art Director and Creative Director for packaging at Mattel, Spin Master, Funko, and Brightz. Prior to my tenure in CPG (Consumer Product Goods), I have had many years in the entertainment industry working for companies like Warner Bros, Fox, and Disney.  My package designs have won awards, and my logos have been published and featured in numerous books and magazines.

On a personal note, I am a passionate, driven, easy-going, collaborative, and very entrepreneurial.  Professionally, I am an adaptable designer, strategic, can think outside the box, capable of successfully leading a department, and always delivers on outstanding plus thought provoking design.

The most important skill I offer is an innate and deep understanding on how to build and strategically maintain successful brands.  Here's a partial list of properties I have worked on that you might have heard of:

DC UNIVERSE, KUNG-FU PANDA, Masters of the Universe (MOTU), BATMAN BEGINS, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, GHOSTBUSTERS, The WATCHMEN, STAR WARS: The Force Awakens, The X-Files, PAW Patrol, Rusty Rivets, AEROBIE, Swimways, COOP Hydro, Funko, and Brightz.

Manage the creative process from concept to completion, work in partnership with Brightz staff on retail package designs, supervise plus mentor a young creative staff, collaborate with management to create strategic marketing plans, interface with freelancers/outside vendors, manage the Brightz brand campaigns across all channels both in print and all digital media platforms.

Creative Director

Creation and design of specialty and intellectual property packaging. Position was cut short due to company's issues during the financial crisis brought on by Covid 19.

Senior Packaging Designer

Overseeing the design of packaging and internal/external marcom projects, art directing photo shoots as well as sales/promotional videos, directing the design of rebrands as well as gate-keeping the execution of existing brands, managing the creative services staff workload, mentoring members of my team, negotiating with as well as maintaining a stable of reliable freelancers/outside vendors, and staying within budget for the year.

Director of Creative Services

Designing as well as the creation of toy packaging for preschool toy brands (PAW Patrol, Rusty Rivets).

Design and art direction of toy packaging for both mass distribution and collector markets, manage and coordinate
projects with vendors and counterparts of the Mattel Hong Kong office, organize and lead brainstorms for best strategic positioning of product with marketing and product design departments.

Project Designer (Art Director) of  Boys Packaging

Design and art direction of trade show graphics, premiums, and satisfying company wide design needs.

Senior Manager of Design & Brand Services

Design and art direction of one sheets, trade show graphics, sales collateral for MIPCOM (an international trade show), and oversaw freelancers as well as other creative staff.

Senior Design Manager of Creative Resources International

Find out detailed information about Frank Varela,  in Arlington, VA

Frank Varela: in Arlington, VA

Frank Varela

BRIGHTZ LTD

FUNKO

SWIMWAYS (Outdoor GBU for SPIN MASTER)

SPIN MASTER

MATTEL

ABC CABLE NETWORKS GROUP (DISNEY)

FOX FAMILY/SABAN

University of California, Irvine

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)