Marissa Garcia
 

Marissa Garcia

Who is she?

I’m a photographer, graphic designer, videographer and all around creative. I’ve worked in the aviation, non-profit and retail sectors, perfecting my design skills and social media prowess. I love traveling, reading, dancing and taking on new challenges. When I’m not working, you can find me near my laptop, as I’m always immersed in the digital world.

If you’re someone who is looking to freshen up a brand or bring a new perspective to a project, I’m your girl. ✌🏼

 
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When life gives you lemons, make orange juice and leave the world wondering how you did it.

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What has she done?

Brand Recognition: Increased ONT’s social media following from 76K to 94.3K and boosted engagement by 20% through audience-focused content, trend analysis, and a refined branding strategy.

Consumer Engagement: Elevated DFW’s national engagement ranking from #8 to #2 among mega-hub airports by revamping campaign strategies, tailoring digital content for niche audiences, and optimizing multi-channel outreach.

Strategic Development: Grew Casita Copán’s financial support by 10% and secured its first international sponsorships through a revitalized social media presence and brand identity overhaul, including a targeted Instagram strategy.

Education

master of Arts (m.A.) in graphic design, cambridge school of visual & performing arts, 2021

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Public Relations, Advertising & Applied Communication, University of Houston, 2008

Experience

creative director, pixel paz
2020 – current

Launched creative design agency targeting start-ups, non-profit organizations and small businesses. Designed to assist in branding, marketing and social media efforts, capitalizing on photography and videography skills within content creation. 

• Produced highest-engagement social post in company history (350K+ IG, 62K+ FB, 50K+ TikTok reach), driving 15% follower growth, while designing monthly magazine layouts, fundraising collateral, and multimedia marketing assets across print and digital channels.

• Directed comprehensive rebrand for small non-profit launching new visual identity and branded templates that increased newsletter and social engagement by 35% and strengthened communication across a 1000 community member reach.

• Led art direction and layout for a 310-page wildflower field guide featuring 260+ species, coordinating custom illustrations, photography, and editorial content into a cohesive, publication-ready design.

Clients include: High Country News, The Colorado Sun, MT2030, World Pulse, Colorado News Collaborative, Absoulutely, Generation Heritage, Heart of Texas Peace Corps Association, Parhelion, Enterprise Community Partners, Spence Advisory Group, Naturally Fit Agency, QuizTheVote

Digital creative specialist, Ontario Intl’ airport (ONT)
2018 – 2020

Executed integrated marketing, branding, and design strategy for an international airport serving millions of passengers annually, leading cross-functional creative initiatives to enhance traveler experience, strengthen brand visibility, and unify comms across digital, print, and environmental channels.

• Led website redesign, developing UX mock ups and content strategy to modernize online presence and improve passenger information accessibility.

• Designed and launched experiential marketing installations, including 15 hydration stations across two terminals and interactive selfie walls, increasing passenger engagement and social sharing.

• Headed influencer marketing campaign and video art direction to promote airport mobile app adoption.

communications & marketing content specialist, dallas Fort Worth intl’ airport (dfw)
2017 – 2018

Developed and executed a comprehensive social media and content marketing strategy for one of the nation’s busiest airports, producing daily content for newsletters, website, and social channels, which increased audience engagement by 25% and extended reach to over 50,000 passengers per month.

• Produced compelling presentations and content campaigns for internal and external stakeholders, improving communication of airport initiatives and events.

• Strengthened community engagement by collaborating with AvGeek groups, showcasing their content on official channels, and building a loyal social media community.

director of communications, casita copan
2016 – 2017

Elevated organizational visibility and community impact by rebranding the mission and marketing materials to highlight progressive community reform, resulting in a 30–40% increase in sponsorships and donor engagement.

• Revamped web presence and digital content, producing pictorial and video campaigns and directing photo shoots to create a cohesive brand identity, reaching 5,000+ regional supporters annually.

• Planned and executed up to seven online and offline fundraisers annually, leveraging unique event themes and targeted marketing strategies to maximize participation and contributions.

• Designed sponsorship outreach materials, bi-monthly newsletters, and annual reports, improving stakeholder engagement and communication efficiency, with newsletter open rates increasing ~15%.

senior graphic designer, melrose family fashions
2014 – 2016

Enhanced brand visibility and customer engagement by modernizing direct advertising materials and guiding the visual direction of campaigns. Oversaw all aspects of fashion show production, including model coordination, venue selection, and timeline management, ensuring events remained on schedule and within budget. 

• Streamlined vendor collaboration with printing companies and a contracted photographer, producing high-quality imagery for in-store signage that increased promotional efficiency by 25%.

• Refocused promo efforts to highlight retail offerings, attracting a broader audience and driving measurable increases in foot traffic and sales.