Karla Valdes

As an Associate Art Director at Hourglass Cosmetics, I bring a passion for design and a commitment to creative innovation. With a background shaped by bi-cultural and bi-coastal influences, my work blends global sophistication with a refined, modern sensibility. A fast learner with excellent time management skills, I thrive in fast-paced environments, always adapting quickly while maintaining a high standard of excellence. Deeply curious and eager to explore new ideas, I approach each project with a balance of professionalism, creativity, and a touch of humor, delivering designs that are both thoughtful and impactful.

 Experience

  • Los Angeles, CA
    August 2023 – Present

    Visual Merchandising & OOH Campaigns: Led the design and execution of visual merchandising displays and Out-of-Home (OOH) campaigns, enhancing brand visibility and consumer engagement.

    Packaging Design: Oversaw packaging design projects, ensuring alignment with brand aesthetics and market trends.

    Team Leadership: Supervised and mentored junior designers, providing constructive feedback and fostering professional growth.

    Photo Shoot Direction: Directed and managed photo shoots, ensuring creative vision and brand standards are met.

    Retouching Oversight: Reviewed and provided retouching notes, collaborating with cross-functional teams to achieve desired visual outcomes.

  • Los Angeles, CA
    August 2022 – August 2023

    Digital Asset Creation: Designed digital assets across multiple platforms, including web, email, social media, and in-store displays, maintaining a cohesive brand identity.

    Campaign Collaboration: Worked closely with the marketing team to execute seasonal campaigns, driving customer engagement.

    Amazon A+ Content: Led the design and production of Amazon A+ product pages, elevating product presentation and maximizing visibility.

    Creative Approvals: Contributed to creative approvals, ensuring designs met brand standards and marketing objectives.

    Concept Refinement: Collaborated with senior creative leadership to refine concepts across photo and video direction.

  • Los Angeles, CA
    February 2022 – August 2022

    Global Campaigns: Conceptualized and executed seasonal global campaigns in collaboration with marketing and product teams.

    Mentorship: Trained and oversaw junior designers, facilitating their integration into team workflows and promoting skill development.

    Amazon A+ Content: Spearheaded the creation of Amazon A+ product pages, enhancing product visibility and customer engagement.

    Process Improvement: Developed templates and wireframes to streamline project workflows, increasing team efficiency.

  • Los Angeles, CA
    December 2017 – January 2022

    Digital Content Creation: Designed digital assets for web, app, email, and social platforms, enhancing user engagement and brand consistency.

    Animation & Retouching: Produced animations and managed photography retouching and compositing for campaign assets.

    Campaign Coordination: Coordinated photo and video shoots for major seasonal campaigns, including summer and holiday promotions.

  • February 2016 – Present

    Multimedia Design: Designed assets for digital, social media, video, print, and packaging projects for a diverse range of clients.

    Print Production: Prepared production-ready files for print, ensuring high-quality output with precise specifications.

    Video Editing: Edited video content for digital and social campaigns to elevate storytelling and branding efforts.

ABOUT ME

As a seasoned Associate Art Director with a proven track record in visual merchandising, packaging design, and campaign execution, I bring a blend of creative expertise and strategic thinking to every project. My experience leading cross-functional teams, mentoring designers, and managing high-profile campaigns has honed my ability to deliver innovative solutions that resonate with diverse audiences. With a passion for visual storytelling and a meticulous eye for detail, I thrive on crafting designs that not only meet brand objectives but exceed expectations.

Whether directing photo shoots, refining packaging concepts, or spearheading large-scale campaigns, I am committed to driving results, fostering collaboration, and delivering creative excellence.

InDesign

Illustrator

Photoshop

AfterEffects

AdobeXD

HTML/CSS

Word

Power Point

Excel

Wordpress

Shopify

Squarespace

Skills