I'm a Creative Director and multidisciplinary graphic designer based in Sacramento, with 15+ years of experience building brands that are as strategic as they are beautiful. I’ve worked with major brands like Budweiser, NASCAR, and Disney early in my career at large ad agencies, and later shifted to serve small businesses, nonprofits, and clients in the public and private sectors, including government agencies. This range has given me a unique ability to scale design thinking for both big-picture brand strategy and down-to-earth, everyday impact. I’m the Founder of Unmuted Creative, a small-but-mighty studio specializing in bold, accessible, and human-centered design. I lead every project from concept to completion—handling strategy, design, and creative direction—while scaling up as needed by bringing on trusted collaborators like copywriters, illustrators, developers, and project managers. I also manage print vendors directly to ensure quality and consistency from screen to final product. What sets me apart is my ability to merge agency leadership with hands-on design expertise—I've led full-scale rebrands, built campaigns from the ground up, and shaped communication strategies for clients across advocacy, health, government, food, beverage, and sustainability sectors. My background in human-centered design, accessibility, ADA compliance, and inclusive design helps ensure that every project is created with intention and reach. For a full list of my services, visit my agency website: Unmutedcreative.com For my personal portfolio site: noelnorah.com…

Noël Michienzi

I'm a Creative Director and multidisciplinary graphic designer based in Sacramento, with 15+ years of experience building brands that are as strategic as they are beautiful. I’ve worked with major brands like Budweiser, NASCAR, and Disney early in my career at large ad agencies, and later shifted to serve small businesses, nonprofits, and clients in the public and private sectors, including government agencies. This range has given me a unique ability to scale design thinking for both big-picture brand strategy and down-to-earth, everyday impact. I’m the Founder of Unmuted Creative, a small-but-mighty studio specializing in bold, accessible, and human-centered design. I lead every project from concept to completion—handling strategy, design, and creative direction—while scaling up as needed by bringing on trusted collaborators like copywriters, illustrators, developers, and project managers. I also manage print vendors directly to ensure quality and consistency from screen to final product. What sets me apart is my ability to merge agency leadership with hands-on design expertise—I've led full-scale rebrands, built campaigns from the ground up, and shaped communication strategies for clients across advocacy, health, government, food, beverage, and sustainability sectors. My background in human-centered design, accessibility, ADA compliance, and inclusive design helps ensure that every project is created with intention and reach. For a full list of my services, visit my agency website: Unmutedcreative.com For my personal portfolio site: noelnorah.com…

Available to hire

I’m a Creative Director and multidisciplinary graphic designer based in Sacramento, with 15+ years of experience building brands that are as strategic as they are beautiful.

I’ve worked with major brands like Budweiser, NASCAR, and Disney early in my career at large ad agencies, and later shifted to serve small businesses, nonprofits, and clients in the public and private sectors, including government agencies. This range has given me a unique ability to scale design thinking for both big-picture brand strategy and down-to-earth, everyday impact.

I’m the Founder of Unmuted Creative, a small-but-mighty studio specializing in bold, accessible, and human-centered design. I lead every project from concept to completion—handling strategy, design, and creative direction—while scaling up as needed by bringing on trusted collaborators like copywriters, illustrators, developers, and project managers. I also manage print vendors directly to ensure quality and consistency from screen to final product.

What sets me apart is my ability to merge agency leadership with hands-on design expertise—I’ve led full-scale rebrands, built campaigns from the ground up, and shaped communication strategies for clients across advocacy, health, government, food, beverage, and sustainability sectors. My background in human-centered design, accessibility, ADA compliance, and inclusive design helps ensure that every project is created with intention and reach.

For a full list of my services, visit my agency website: Unmutedcreative.com
For my personal portfolio site: noelnorah.com

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Language

Work Experience

Creative Director at Uptown Studios
October 1, 2017 - May 23, 2025
Led the design, marketing, web, and video departments at a purpose-driven agency, overseeing brand systems, campaigns, and digital experiences for clients including statewide initiatives and grassroots nonprofits. Created custom workflows for complex organizations, collaborated with boards and executive teams, and guided a cross-functional team through hundreds of branding and communications projects.
Graphic Designer at 3Fold Communications
January 30, 2016 - December 30, 2016
Led design strategy and execution for integrated campaigns across education, public health, and transportation sectors. Collaborated closely with writers, strategists, and project managers to deliver thoughtful, community-centered creative. Developed brand identities, social and digital campaigns, print collateral, and out-of-home materials with an emphasis on clarity, accessibility, and cultural relevance. Helped elevate the studio’s creative standards while managing multiple projects in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
Graphic Designer at Sacramento Rivercats
June 30, 2015 - December 30, 2015
Graphic Designer at Mering Carson Advertising
December 31, 2014 - July 30, 2025
Graphic Design Intern at Joint Medias
January 30, 2013 - December 30, 2013
Created digital and print assets across a range of client industries, with a focus on cannabis, food, and beverage. Designed packaging, social media content, and branding materials that balanced compliance with strong visual identity. Collaborated closely with marketing teams and printers to ensure high-quality production and on-time delivery. Gained hands-on experience working in a fast-paced, startup-style environment with evolving brand needs.
Graphic Design Freelance at Unmuted Creative (formerly Noel Norah Designs)
January 24, 2010 - July 24, 2015
Founded and led a creative studio specializing in bold, human-centered design across branding, digital, and print. Delivered strategic, impact-driven creative solutions for clients ranging from small businesses to nonprofits and national brands. Managed all aspects of the creative process, from concept to execution, while overseeing vendor coordination, hiring freelance talent as needed, and ensuring accessible, purpose-led design across every touchpoint.

Education

Bachelors of Science (BS) at Art Institutes of California, Sacramento
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2014

Qualifications

Human-Centered Design
July 31, 2023 - July 31, 2026
Human-Centered Design Certified

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services, Software & Internet
    uniE621 Berkeley Wellness for All: A behavior-change mental health campaign adopted across California cities
    The City of Berkeley launched a mental health campaign to provide free digital wellness tools in response to COVID-19’s ongoing emotional toll on the community. This campaign delivered a strong, human-centered brand across digital and print platforms, expanding beyond Berkeley to inspire cities across the state. In partnership with Uptown Studios marketing team, a 6-month marketing plan was developed alongside multiple human-centered design focus groups to help define and implement a community and partner toolkit, outdoor advertising, social media posts and advertisements, e-blasts, and print graphic design work. Outcome & Scaling The Campaign Berkeley Wellness for All successfully created meaningful access to mental health resources, proving that thoughtful branding paired with clarity, flexibility, and human-centered design can have measurable impact. The campaign aimed to connect Berkeley residents, workers, and students with free mental health resources, making self-care feel approachable, stigma-free, and inclusive. The campaign’s success quickly inspired replication in other communities. Santa Barbara Wellness for All, Tri-Cities Wellness for All, and San Mateo Wellness for All all adopted the branding approach, extending the reach and impact of the initiative while maintaining consistent, human-centered messaging across regions.…