Michael Cruz-Garcia is a seasoned designer with over a decade of experience creating impactful, visually engaging designs across print, digital, web, video, and photography. His career began in an agency setting, where he worked on diverse campaigns that honed his ability to adapt to various mediums and brand voices. This foundation allowed him to develop a versatile skill set and an innate understanding of storytelling through design.
He then transitioned to MotorTrend, a leading national automotive lifestyle brand, where he expanded his expertise as an art director. At MotorTrend, he played a key role in producing a monthly magazine filled with editorial content and collaborated closely with photographers on location to bring stories to life. One of his standout achievements was the full-scale redesign of the Automobile brand, reimagining its identity across the magazine, website, social media platforms, and video content.
Shifting into the tech industry, Michael joined ROW8, a movie streaming startup, where he served as the sole designer. There, he combined his creative and technical skills to enhance branded content and improve the user experience of the streaming app. His ability to work across multiple platforms and maintain a consistent design vision made a significant impact on the platform’s growth and usability.
His experience also includes working with Makita, a globally recognized power tool brand, where he revitalized their digital presence. By applying user experience principles, he led the redesign and relaunch of their homepage and established a cohesive design language for the brand’s website, creating a modern and approachable online presence. Most recently, he has been instrumental in driving digital growth at Bradshaw Home, a home goods company. As the sole digital designer, he has focused on optimizing digital content, including infographics, video, and marketing materials, all with the goal of increasing sales and positioning the company to achieve its $600 million revenue target by 2028.
Outside of his professional work, Michael is deeply inspired by art, photography, architecture, and pop culture, constantly seeking new perspectives and creative trends to inform his designs. He is passionate about staying ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence, exploring how these emerging tools can drive innovation in design and beyond. With a dedication to growth, creativity, and pushing boundaries, Michael brings vision, versatility, and strategy to every project he undertakes.
