Senior Brand Designer & Illustrator specializing in branding and packaging, with over a decade of experience across agency, in-house, and freelance work. I help brands build identities from scratch or evolve established visual systems for global audiences by combining of strategy and craft. My work spans across print, digital and motion. I can take creative leadership when needed, while staying collaborative and open-minded in team settings, leading brainstorming with questions and concept explorations to reach clear, consistent outcomes.

Gabriel Cristea

Senior Brand Designer & Illustrator specializing in branding and packaging, with over a decade of experience across agency, in-house, and freelance work. I help brands build identities from scratch or evolve established visual systems for global audiences by combining of strategy and craft. My work spans across print, digital and motion. I can take creative leadership when needed, while staying collaborative and open-minded in team settings, leading brainstorming with questions and concept explorations to reach clear, consistent outcomes.

Available to hire

Senior Brand Designer & Illustrator specializing in branding and packaging, with over a decade of experience across agency, in-house, and freelance work. I help brands build identities from scratch or evolve established visual systems for global audiences by combining of strategy and craft.

My work spans across print, digital and motion. I can take creative leadership when needed, while staying collaborative and open-minded in team settings, leading brainstorming with questions and concept explorations to reach clear, consistent outcomes.

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Language

English
Fluent
Japanese
Beginner
German
Beginner

Work Experience

Freelance Brand Designer & Illustrator at Self-Employed
April 1, 2026 - Present
Working independently on branding and illustration projects for diverse client portfolios, delivering cohesive visual identities.
Graphic Designer & Illustrator at Dossier Perfumes
April 1, 2025 - March 1, 2026
Contributed to brand image refinement and global reputation growth within an international design team. Produced illustrations, product renders, and motion graphics using Figma, Procreate, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Blender. Designed email and advertising campaigns for launches, partnerships, and seasonal promotions, while maintaining and improving consistency within the brand design system.
Freelance Designer at Self-Employed
March 1, 2021 - April 1, 2025
Managed stakeholder expectations across international clients and led full project life cycles including strategy, design, feedback rounds, and contracts. Delivered brand and visual communication materials from concept to completion, ensuring deadlines were met.
Graphic Designer at Propaganda Creative Marketing
June 1, 2018 - September 1, 2020
Created brand identities, mock-ups, and 3D packaging renders using Adobe Suite and Blender. Developed unified product ranges aligned with brand strategy and prepared print-ready files to international standards.
Junior Designer at McCann Erickson Romania
January 1, 2016 - June 1, 2018
Produced materials for both print and digital use within a large agency design team, collaborating cross-functionally and supporting production with attention to detail.
Design Intern at McCann Erickson Romania
September 1, 2015 - January 31, 2016
Internship role supporting design work within the agency environment.
Art Director Intern at McCann Erickson Romania
June 1, 2015 - September 30, 2015
Internship role supporting art direction activities within the agency.
Digital Department Intern (Part-Time) at Mercury360
November 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014
Part-time internship within the digital department.
Event Organizer (Part-Time) at PRIME Romania
November 1, 2014 - April 30, 2015
Part-time event organizing, including co-organization of a communication students congress.
Digital Art Executive (Part-Time) at PRIME Romania
November 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015
Part-time digital art execution work for events/communications.

Education

Bachelor's Degree, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Școala Națională de Studii Politice și Administrative din București (SNSPA)
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2017
Bachelor's Degree, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Școala Națională de Studii Politice și Administrative din București (SNSPA)
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2017
Bachelor's Degree, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Școala Națională de Studii Politice și Administrative din București (SNSPA)
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2017

Qualifications

Brand Storytelling: How to Use Narrative to Sell
October 1, 2016 - July 16, 2026
Facebook Blueprint Certified
January 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Learning Digital Painting Course
March 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Wacom Essential Training (2013 edition)
March 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Drawing Vector Graphics Course
March 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Drawing Foundations: Figure Drawing
March 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Drawing Foundations: Fundamentals Course
March 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Learning Character Development & Design Course
April 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Certificate of Achievement: Designing the Future
March 1, 2019 - July 16, 2026
Dynamic Character Illustration Course with Thomas Rohlfs
March 1, 2021 - July 16, 2026
Logo Design: From Concept to Presentation Course with Sagi Haviv
May 1, 2022 - July 16, 2026
Webflow 101 Certification
October 1, 2023 - July 16, 2026
LottieFiles for Webflow Course
October 1, 2024 - July 16, 2026
Figma to Lottie — LottieFiles
October 1, 2024 - July 16, 2026
Learn to Draw: A Comprehensive Introduction to Drawing Foundations & Style
September 1, 2025 - July 16, 2026
Brand Storytelling: How to Use Narrative to Sell — D&AD
October 1, 2016 - July 16, 2026
Facebook Blueprint Certified — Meta
January 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Learning Digital Painting Course — Lynda.com
March 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Wacom Essential Training (2013 edition) — Lynda.com
March 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Drawing Vector Graphics Course — Lynda.com
March 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Drawing Foundations: Figure Drawing — Lynda.com
March 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Drawing Foundations: Fundamentals Course — Lynda.com
March 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Learning Character Development & Design Course — Lynda.com
April 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Certificate of Achievement: Designing the Future — RMIT University
March 1, 2019 - July 16, 2026
Dynamic Character Illustration Course with Thomas Rohlfs — Domestika
March 1, 2021 - July 16, 2026
Logo Design: From Concept to Presentation Course with Sagi Haviv — Domestika
May 1, 2022 - July 16, 2026
Webflow 101 Certification — Webflow
October 1, 2023 - July 16, 2026
LottieFiles for Webflow Course — LottieFiles
October 1, 2024 - July 16, 2026
Figma to Lottie — LottieFiles
October 1, 2024 - July 16, 2026
Learn to Draw: A Comprehensive Introduction to Drawing Foundations & Style — Skillshare
September 1, 2025 - July 16, 2026
Brand Storytelling: How to Use Narrative to Sell — D&AD
October 1, 2016 - July 16, 2026
Facebook Blueprint Certified — Meta
January 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Learning Digital Painting Course — Lynda.com
March 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Wacom Essential Training (2013 edition) — Lynda.com
March 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Drawing Vector Graphics Course — Lynda.com
March 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Drawing Foundations: Figure Drawing — Lynda.com
March 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Drawing Foundations: Fundamentals Course — Lynda.com
March 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Learning Character Development & Design Course — Lynda.com
April 1, 2018 - July 16, 2026
Certificate of Achievement: Designing the Future — RMIT University
March 1, 2019 - July 16, 2026
Dynamic Character Illustration Course with Thomas Rohlfs — Domestika
March 1, 2021 - July 16, 2026
Logo Design: From Concept to Presentation Course with Sagi Haviv — Domestika
May 1, 2022 - July 16, 2026
Webflow 101 Certification — Webflow
October 1, 2023 - July 16, 2026
LottieFiles for Webflow Course — LottieFiles
October 1, 2024 - July 16, 2026
Figma to Lottie — LottieFiles
October 1, 2024 - July 16, 2026
Learn to Draw: A Comprehensive Introduction to Drawing Foundations & Style — Skillshare
September 1, 2025 - July 16, 2026

Industry Experience

Consumer Goods, Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Retail, Education