I’m Raul Villalobos, an Art Director and Design Manager with extensive experience leading creative teams and delivering innovative design solutions. I’ve had the privilege of supporting Recharge Payments’ growth from a mid-size startup to a major player valued at over 2 billion dollars, where I spearheaded rebranding projects, annual reports, and conferences. Collaborating closely with marketing, sales, and content teams, I enjoy turning ideas into compelling digital and print assets using tools like Figma. Over the years, I’ve also flourished as a freelance art director and designer, managing projects across branding, motion graphics, and video production. Mentoring and growing creative talent is one of the greatest joys of my career, and I’m always excited to take on new challenges that push the creative bar higher.…

Raul Villalobos

PRO

I’m Raul Villalobos, an Art Director and Design Manager with extensive experience leading creative teams and delivering innovative design solutions. I’ve had the privilege of supporting Recharge Payments’ growth from a mid-size startup to a major player valued at over 2 billion dollars, where I spearheaded rebranding projects, annual reports, and conferences. Collaborating closely with marketing, sales, and content teams, I enjoy turning ideas into compelling digital and print assets using tools like Figma. Over the years, I’ve also flourished as a freelance art director and designer, managing projects across branding, motion graphics, and video production. Mentoring and growing creative talent is one of the greatest joys of my career, and I’m always excited to take on new challenges that push the creative bar higher.…

Available to hire

I’m Raul Villalobos, an Art Director and Design Manager with extensive experience leading creative teams and delivering innovative design solutions. I’ve had the privilege of supporting Recharge Payments’ growth from a mid-size startup to a major player valued at over 2 billion dollars, where I spearheaded rebranding projects, annual reports, and conferences. Collaborating closely with marketing, sales, and content teams, I enjoy turning ideas into compelling digital and print assets using tools like Figma.

Over the years, I’ve also flourished as a freelance art director and designer, managing projects across branding, motion graphics, and video production. Mentoring and growing creative talent is one of the greatest joys of my career, and I’m always excited to take on new challenges that push the creative bar higher.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Art Director & Design Manager at Recharge Payments
August 1, 2021 - June 30, 2024
As a creative leader on the marketing team, supported Recharge’s growth from a mid-size SaaS startup to a company with over 500 employees and a $2.1 billion valuation. Art directed the company’s complete rebrand, annual subscription commerce reports, and ChargeX conferences. Collaborated across marketing, sales, and content teams to conceptualize, design, and maintain digital assets, print materials, and motion graphics. Maintained the design system primarily in Figma and managed, mentored, and developed the creative team from entry and junior designers to senior creatives.
Art Director at Recharge Payments
December 1, 2020 - August 1, 2021
Collaborated with internal teams and external agencies on marketing collateral, branding, and digital assets. Supported growth phases and branding initiatives prior to management role.
Freelance Art Director & Designer at Self-Employed
June 30, 2024 - June 24, 2025
Collaborated with a talented network of agencies and individuals on projects including video content, motion graphics, advertising and marketing campaigns, design experiences, and branding packages. Owned parts or entire creative processes from ideation through final delivery.
Art Director at Soup Standard
September 1, 2015 - May 1, 2016
Worked alongside the founder and creative director on a variety of projects including campaign development, branding, packaging design, and animation. Led the refinement of the design process and mentored two designers.
VX Designer at Amazon.com
September 1, 2014 - September 1, 2015
Conceptualized and designed website content, storefront assets, UI elements, and seasonal campaigns. Coded pages in CSS and HTML5. Produced print materials including packaging and vehicle wraps. Initiated projects to raise creative standards.
Creative at Digital Kitchen
August 29, 2010 - August 29, 2014
Collaborated with designers, animators, and creative leaders to create cutting-edge design work for clients including Microsoft, HBO, Paramount, and Sierra Nevada Brewing. Gained skills in illustration, animation, crafting, photography, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, C4D, and voice acting.
Freelance Art Director & Designer at Freelance
June 30, 2024 - June 15, 2025
Collaborated with various agencies and individuals on projects including video content, motion graphics, advertising campaigns, design experiences, and branding packages. Owned multiple parts of the creative process from ideation through final delivery.
Art Director at Soup Standard
August 30, 2015 - May 29, 2016
Led campaign development, branding, packaging design, and animation projects. Helped refine design processes and mentored two designers.

Education

Bachelor's of English Literature at University of Oregon
September 1, 2004 - June 1, 2007
BA at University of Oregon
January 1, 2006 - December 31, 2010
Motion Design Program at Cornish College of the Arts
January 1, 2009 - June 30, 2009
BA at University of Oregon
January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Computers & Electronics, Healthcare, Travel & Hospitality, Media & Entertainment, Financial Services, Gaming, Professional Services, Software & Internet, Consumer Goods, Retail
    paper Recharge Payments

    Overview

    As Art Director & Design Manager at Recharge, I supported their growth from a mid-size SaaS startup in need of a rebrand, to a company with over 500 employees and a 2.1 billion dollar valuation. Working on the brand and marketing team, I art directed Recharge’s 2021 rebrand, their annual subscription commerce reports (including 2023 and 2024), and their annual ChargeX conferences. As a collaborative partner, I worked alongside our marketing, sales and content specialists, conceptualizing, iterating, and designing digital assets, print materials, and motion graphics for a variety of projects, all while maintaining a design system for use across departments. In addition, I managed, mentored and learned from our creative team, helping them grow from entry level and junior designers to senior level creatives—one of the biggest joys and highlights of my design career so far.

    Work Samples

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    Motion Design Samples



    paper Branding: StraightEight Films

    ![Recharge Logo](https://www.twine.net/signin

    Overview

    In developing the StraightEight branding package, I took a cue from their approach to filmmaking: a desire for emotional storytelling, human connection, and endeavor—an ever evolving, collaborative desire for communal stories. I extended this interplay between story and humanity into a visual package that not only illustrates their personal and company values, but also their aesthetic loves and interests. Taking a cue from their creative influences, including mid-century and Bauhaus design, as well as their commitment to athleticism and cycling culture, I aimed to synthesize a brand system that feels in step with beauty of their films.

    Work Samples

    ![Recharge Logo](https://www.twine.net/signin

    ![Recharge Logo](https://www.twine.net/signin

    ![Recharge Logo](https://www.twine.net/signin

    Process

    I always spend time familiarizing myself with a brand, the brand owner and stakeholders, and make it a point to focus on and fully understand their values. It starts with inquiry, an open ear and mind, and some thoughtful writing. I then cast a wide net for inspiration, and hone in on a north star aesthetic, or visual feeling.

    ![Recharge Logo](https://www.twine.net/signin

    ![Recharge Logo](https://www.twine.net/signin

    I then spend time ideating, sketching, refining, presenting and revising. You’ll see the finalized design selections, along with some process frames below.

    ![Recharge Logo](https://www.twine.net/signin

    paper Branding: No Harm

    ![Recharge Logo](https://www.twine.net/signin

    Overview

    For me, the process of branding feels like nurturing a friendship. It starts with conversation. You connect on values, wants and desires, and you honor those values with work that reflects them. When asked to help brand No Harm, a newly launched vegan-founded barber and salon, this approach informed every step of the process. From the initial exploratory phase, to design and collaboration (special thanks to the amazing Koji Minami for his hand-lettered contributions), I tried to treat them with the care and creative spirit they infuse into every cut, shave and color, as well as the fun and love that they share with each other.

    Work Samples

    ![Recharge Logo](https://www.twine.net/signin

    ![Recharge Logo](https://www.twine.net/signin

    Process

    I always spend time familiarizing myself with the brand owner and stakeholders, and make it a point to focus on and fully understand their values. I began with an open ear and mind, asking Andy and Anita to describe their company, themselves and their aspirations, distilled those down to a set of brand values and began my search for visual inspiration. I then cast a wide net, and hone in on a north star aesthetic, or visual feeling.

    ![Recharge Logo](https://www.twine.net/signin

    ![Recharge Logo](https://www.twine.net/signin

    I then spend time ideating, sketching, refining, presenting and revising. You’ll see the finalized design selections, along with some process frames below.

    ![Recharge Logo](https://www.twine.net/signin

    paper Motion Graphics

    Motion Graphics gif

    Overview

    Below you will find a few animation selections I have done over the years, both in my current role at Recharge, as a freelance art director and animator, as well as a few from my time as a creative at Digital Kitchen. My approach to motion design is often holistic, generally working from concept & art direction, storyboard, animatic and final production, with Procreate, Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects and Cinema 4D as my primary toolset.

    Motion Reel