Branding
Brand Designer focused on collaborative and community-focused identities
Graphic Design
Graphic Designer focused on community-centered branding
Community Engagement Designer
Building visuals through collaboration
Key Strengths
Creative Production
& Multi‑Media Design
I translate bold ideas into eye‑catching visuals across print, web, and physical media whether it’s a poster for a community mural, a sleek website landing page, or a limited‑edition merch drop.
Brand Development &
Community‑Centric Storytelling
I find joy in building brand identities that feel lived-in and relatable & rooted in their neighborhoods and shaped by thoughtful visuals, cultural nuance, and purpose-driven messaging.
Collaborative Support
& Project Coordination
I thrive on backing creative teams—keeping projects tight, details on lock, and the whole flow running smooth so the crew can stay locked in on making great work.
Experiences
Sr. Graphic Designer & Lead Production
- Managed end-to-end design and production
for high-profile community partners, including We Are Blood and UT Austin (MSF), serving as the primary account lead for project scoping and delivery. - Operated industrial laser and embroidery equipment
to produce custom awards, promotional gear, and signage for local non-profits and civic events, ensuring 100% quality control. - Translated client concepts into production-ready assets
adapting Canva designs and hand-drawn sketches into vector artwork for large-scale printing and manufacturing. - Optimized production workflows
to reduce turnaround times by 20%, enabling faster delivery for time-sensitive community fundraising campaigns. - Collaborated cross-functionally
with sales and logistics teams to prioritize urgent orders for community events, balancing efficiency with creative precision.
Brand Designer & Community Engagement Lead
- Co-developed a neighborhood café into a vibrant cultural hub through community-centered branding and design.
- Built a bilingual (English/Japanese) identity system expressing values of mindful eating and cultural exchange.
- Designed end-to-end visual assetsincluding menus, hand-painted murals, merchandise, and packaging—to create a cohesive, immersive brand experience.
- Curated monthly exhibitions for 22 local artists and co-hosted community events (vegan pop-ups, art nights), directly supporting the local creative economy.
- Led a diverse team of 10–18 stafffostering an inclusive workplace culture that delivered welcoming, multicultural guest experiences.
- Bridged local and global audiences through thoughtful, accessible visual storytelling that increased foot traffic and community engagement.
- Inside Esparza’s: Branding a Cultural Hub (View)
- The Making of Esparza’s (in progress)
- Co-Creating with Community (in progress)
Portfolio
Freelance
Okinawa Vegan Association
- Designed cohesive brand identities for the Okinawa Vegan Community, including logos, festival posters, flyers, over a 5-year period
- Collaborated directly with clients to translate concepts into visually compelling designs, ensuring high satisfaction and timely delivery
- Contributed to event promotion for vegan festivals, increasing community engagement through consistent and recognizable visual branding
- Assisted with creative support and event setup for vegan caravan initiatives at Esparza’s cultural hub
Crystal N.
- Designed invitation and visual assets for “Mid Summer Harvest,” a seasonal, plant-forward dining event
- Supported rebrand of Esparza’s Tacos and Coffee through cohesive event-driven brand experience
- Helped position the brand as a community-focused space centered on conscious eating and shared experiences
Okinawa Babyloss
- Actively volunteered as an artist, creating live paintings for memorial event.
- Devised an illustrative design flier to raise awareness about pregnancy loss.
Champuri Cookies
- Designed and developed packaging for a vegan cookie brand, ensuring strong visual appeal and brand alignment
- Collaborated directly with vendors to review proofs and guarantee print quality prior to mass production
- Created comprehensive packaging style guides to maintain consistency across multiple flavor variations
Over The Top Pierogi
- Designed a character mascot logo to meet client's expectations for a new food truck business, while customizing logo for T-shirts, prints, and social ads.
Agena Managment
- Speaker & Town‑Hall Programming
Identified, recruited, and hosted inspirational speakers, artists, and thought‑leaders for quarterly town‑hall events - Reporting & Impact Measurement
Produced quarterly impact reports for senior officials, highlighting attendance metrics, economic benefits of the pop‑up shop, and qualitative feedback from residents, informing future community‑development strategies.
Portfolio
I’m Maria Esparza, a graphic designer and brand strategist fluent in both English and Japanese. My career has been defined by bridging gaps—between local artists and global audiences, between traditional values and modern aesthetics, and between businesses and their communities. Whether through hand-painted murals, curated exhibitions, or strategic branding, I create visual experiences that honor legacy while fostering inclusivity.
My Information
| Residence | United States |
|---|---|
| Address | Austin, Texas |
| esparza.y.maria@gmail.com | |
| Resume | .DOCX | PDF |
| --- | --- |