Jonathan Castro

New York, NY, USA
Advanced knowledge of visual communication and branding concepts

Multi-disciplinary background in fine arts, illustration, graphic design, and motion graphics

Strong analytical skills, team player, hardworking, resourceful, and self-driven

Work Experience

Dale Johnson Creative Group

Art Director/Graphic Designer

Conducts expert industry research and analysis, pledging innovative design; facilitates collaborative focus groups aimed to increase production effectiveness based on marketing research results.
Spearheads artistic translation of brand strategies and marketing plans into impactful and trailblazing campaigns.
Achieves diverse photoshoot direction and food styling; supports design through all phases from concept to client delivery.
Key Success:

30% growth, $5M+ in sales for If You Care, projected to increase by double digits year over year.
Successful advertising management for clients such as Source AtLantique, If You Care, Maile, La Baleine, Darbo, etc.
April 2017 - Present New York, United States

New York Times

Freelance Web Designer for about.com, caloriecount.com, and consumersearch.com

Collaborated with senior designers on layouts, wireframes, site graphics, etc. resulting in fruitful, unified operations.
Produced effective mockups and storyboards, illustrating usability and design concepts.
Conceptualized and managed successful in-house print and web advertisements.
Prepared special reports related to expenses and project status; used and maintained a variety of database tools.
Key Success:

Developed branding for Consumer Search community blog; website has 5.5M+ users logged per month; ranked among TIME.com's 50 Best Web sites of 2009.
Developed User Interface (UI) for Calorie Count App for 1st generation iPad (2010) which registered 5K+ downloads.
NYT Web Properties included About.com, CalorieCount.com, and ConsumerSearch.com.
Successful web banners project for clients including Kellogg’s, Laughing Cow, and Jell-O.
2009 - 2010 New York, United States

Halo Communications

Lead Designer for public relations agency

Redesigned company brand image and website; reviewed final layouts and suggested improvements.
Worked on PR campaigns with track record of boosted awareness and expansion.
Used various marketing and design techniques resulting in adaptable, resourceful project management.
Key Success:

Successfully managed public relation campaigns for La X (100.7FM), Westin Rio Mar Hotel, Tres Rios Inc, Wyndham Hotel & Resorts, AAA, as well as Latin Grammy winners and nominees including Wisin & Yandel, Daddy Yankee, and Tego Calderon.
2006 - 2007 New York, United States

Education

The New School

B.S.

Activities and Societies: Filmmakers United
2010 - Present New York, New York, United States

Escuela De Artes Plásticas

2004 - 2005 San Juan, Puerto Rico

Full Sail University

Associate in Science Degree, Computer Animation

2000 - 2002 Orlando, Florida, United States

The Art Institute Of Fort Lauderdale

1998 - 1999 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

Languages

English (Native),
Spanish (Native),
Portuguese (Beginner),

Skills

3d Animation, Adobe Creative Suite, Animation, Art Direction, Avid, Branding, Character Design, Cinematography, Compositing, Digital Illustration, Feature Films, Graphic Design, Independent Film, Indesign, Logo Design, MAYA, Motion Graphics , Photography, Photoshop, Premiere, Resolve, Rotoscoping, Screenwriting, Short Films, Storyboarding, Typography, WordPress,