I’m a design interpreter, a handy woman for art, a problem solving design connoisseur, a creator of cool. If you’ve got an idea, an image, a “vibe” in your brain but can’t parse it out, I got you. 
I was on the road to be a therapist until I realized you could help people discover themselves through artistic means and ventures. I create cool, captivating, fun, beautiful works, whether that’s with paint or on a computer or with wood. I first opened up Photoshop 13 years ago and have never looked back. 
I know my way around Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, Sketchup, Maya, Blender, Procreate and more! I’m constantly looking to improve and grow as a designer and artist. 

With a foundation in graphic design, 3D modeling and a B.A. in Psychology, I bring a unique blend of skills to every role! 

Let's connect: mvaleriegonzalez@gmail.com

RESUME

Valerie Gonzalez

WORK EXPERIENCE 

Freelance Designer & Artist

(June 2019 – Present)

Self-Employed, Los Angeles, CA

  • Large-Scale 3D Modeling & Experiential Exhibits: Developed 3D models for large-scale experiential displays, collaborating with fabrication studios. 

  • Corporate & Startup  Branding:  Created brand identities, logos, packaging, custom icons, presentation templates, and mockups for diverse clients such as a dough delivery startup, a medical device company, and apparel brands.

  • Retail Design Support: Assisted a retail space designer in developing SketchUp models and renders for brands like Fabletics and Savage X Fenty, while sourcing textiles and color samples for interior design projects.

  • Event Support & Vendor Relations: Assisted with LATINAFest by managing vendor relations and assembling VIP bags. At Lightning in a Bottle Festival, created event signage using power tools, paint, and woodworking.

  • Dia de los Muertos West Adams Block Party Festival, Art Committee: Designed 3D layouts and renders for the art gallery and community altar. Created a detailed layout map for a 2,000 ft street, including parking, two music stages, a workshop area, 200 vendors, food trucks, and carnival rides. 

  • Lotería Pop-Up Art Illustrations: Illustrated five intricate designs featuring Lotería card characters and symbols for a production company’s pitch for a pop-up art exhibition.

Financial Analyst

(Mar 2022– Apr 2024)

UC Santa Barbara, Office of Teaching & Learning

  • General Duties: Provided financial management, vendor relations, and payroll coordination for five Program Managers and their teams, including onboarding new hires and processing reports for purchasing, travel, and reimbursements.

  • New Department Establishment and Integration: Developed unified financial systems for seven satellite departments, creating new processes and training staff through tutorial videos to ensure a smooth transition.

  • Website Development for New Department: Designed and launched the Office of Teaching & Learning (OTL) website, merging content from satellite sites and enhancing user experience with a clear organizational structure.

  • Large-Scale Student Onboarding for OTL Grant: Managed the onboarding process for 40 student academic employees, ensuring compliance with UCPath guidelines, coordinating timecard training, and addressing special hiring cases like F1 visas.

Marketing & Outreach Assistant

Sep 2022– Sep 2023

AnimSchool

  • Managed TikTok and Social Media Growth: Oversaw the creation and management of TikTok content, leading to a significant increase in followers from 30k to 140k and views from 2 million to 25 million. 

    • Expanded short-form video content to other platforms (IG, YouTube, LinkedIn), resulting in a YouTube subscriber increase from 100k to 300k and views from 20 million to 80 million. 

    • Secured ad revenue ranging from $1000 to $3000 per week.

  • Coordinated Online Events: Planned and executed various online events to foster student engagement and networking. Facilitated interactions between students and industry professionals from DreamWorks and Framestore, enhancing networking opportunities and industry connections.

  • Boosted Enrollment and Applications: Leveraged increased social media presence to attract the highest number of applications and largest student enrollment in the school's 14-year history.

3D Texture Artist

Mar 2023 – Oct 2023

AnimSchool

  • Character Rigging for Game Animation in Unreal Engine 5: Developed a character rig specifically for game animation students, optimized for use in Unreal Engine 5.

  • Texture Optimization and UV Unwrapping for Substance Painter: UV unwrapped characters, ensuring texture optimization and appropriate textile density for seamless integration into Substance Painter.

  • Reference Material Research for Texture Creation: Conducted thorough research of reference materials to create a diverse range of textures, aligning with concept art and art direction.

Financial Administrator

Sep 2018– Jan 2021

UC Santa Barbara, Environmental Studies Program

  • General Duties: Handled payroll, benefits, hiring, and onboarding for 10 staff, 20 faculty, and 20+ student employees, while overseeing timecards for biweekly workers. Managed the office budget for operations, supplies, and vendors to keep things running smoothly. Worked with vendors to get bids, quotes, process payments, and guide them through the university approval process.

  • Environmental Studies 50th Anniversary Celebration: Managed the event budget, vendor payments, VIP travel, and logistics for a year-long celebration, while designing and producing a custom logo, merchandise, and printed materials.

  • Website Overhaul and Migration Project: Led the migration from an outdated website to a new Drupal version, improving UI, coordinating with developers, and ensuring accurate content transfer while adhering to university branding.

  • Faculty Recruitment and Start-Up Fund Management: Coordinated candidate travel and promotional materials for faculty recruitment, while managing and tracking $500,000–$700,000 in start-up funds for two new professors and five existing budgets.

Assistant to the Dean of Undergraduate Education

Feb 2017– Sep 2018

UC Santa Barbara, College of Letters & Science

  • Marketing Materials and Website Management: Designed marketing materials such as pamphlets, brochures, and leaflets, and assisted with website management and reorganization using Drupal to enhance content accessibility.

  • Financial Management and Administrative Support: Managed budgets and financial records, prepared and processed travel reimbursements and other financial documents, and ensured accuracy and efficiency in financial operations.

  • Scheduling, Communication, and Event Coordination: Scheduled and managed meetings, organized the dean’s calendar and travel arrangements, drafted and edited official correspondence, and assisted with planning and coordinating special events, workshops, and academic programs.

EDUCATION 

AnimSchool

Dec. 2022 

Certificate, 3D Modeling

UC Santa Barbara

June 2017 

B.A., Psychology 

SOFTWARE & SKILLS

Software: Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, InDesign, Sketchup, Enscape, Maya, Zbrush, Unreal Engine,  Substance Painter, Blender, Procreate, Capcut  

Skills: 3D Modeling, 3D Sculpting, Basic Rigging, Basic Animation, Illustration, Brand and Logo Design, Digital Painting, Project Management, Event Planning, Content Creation, Print Production, Photography, File Management, Light Retouching, Color Correction