Gary Castelli
Senior Art Director · AI-Integrated Creative Direction
New York–based | Available for On-site and Remote Engagements
Programs
- Photoshop
- Squarespace
- Claude Design
- Chat GPT
- Illustrator
- Lightroom
- InDesign
- Animate
- After Effects
- Blender
- Canva
- Adobe Express
Core Competencies
- Experiential and Environmental Design
- Interactive Design
- Visual Storytelling
- Concept Development
- Client-Facing Strategy
- Cross-Platform Design
- Pharmaceutical and Regulated Advertising
- SEO
- Vendor Coordination
- Photography and Retouching
- Digital Publishing
Experience
Cella - Chevron
Senior Designer — Creative Mentor
Remote | 2023–2025
Consulted and designed for a wide range of internal and external campaigns. Among these were:
Photo Retouching: I was tasked with photo retouching a large number of photos from Chevron photoshoots. These retouched images were used in company presentations, signage, and conventions
PRIDE: Brainstormed, presented and implemented visually engaging tactics for both digital and print for Chevron's corporate campus and events during PRIDE month
Leaderpalooza: Designed digital assets for "Leaderpalooza", a key platform for sharing leadership experiences and learning, resulting in strengthened relationships, improved teamwork, and enhanced collaboration within Chevron's corporate affairs community
ENABLED (Enhancing Abilities and Leveraging Disabilities) Summit: The ENABLED campaign promotes employees for their accomplishments and not their disabilities. I designed emails, intranet posts, banners, and signage that focused on support, expansion, and accessibility across internal and external digital communications.
Leveraged InDesign, Photoshop, PowerPoint, Generative AI, Copilot, Blender, and Canva templates to devise tailored solutions addressing client creative challenges and achieving project objectives
Consulting
Art Director, Curator
Remote | 2018-present
Led UX and art direction for Export Magazine, a digital publishing platform, designing the brand identity, logo, and website while integrating video into interactive layouts using Adobe InDesign, Adobe Digital Publishing tools, and After Effects
Grew XportMag.com to 145K monthly impressions and 1,050 organic clicks through SEO strategy, metadata optimization, and Search Console analysis
Strengthened site authority by improving internal link architecture and aligning editorial output with Google's content quality signals
Art directed and produced editorial content establishing Export Magazine as a growing authority in the digital art and indie game development space
Built and manage a Discord community of 1,000+ active creative professionals across illustration, photography, 3D art, animation, and indie game development
Omnicom Health Group
Art Supervisor
New York | 2012-2017
Developed an original concept for Genentech's "LUV Your Skin" San Francisco campaign, integrating light-reactive ink on outdoor signage. This innovation earned a Silver Clio and was featured in the July 2014 issue of "Top 100 Ad Agencies" by MM&M Magazine, strengthening brand recognition and industry credibility.
Implemented Adobe Creative Cloud to develop innovative design solutions that addressed new business challenges while ensuring 100% brand consistency across all materials, elevating brand integrity
Led a cross-functional collaboration with third-party vendors, copywriters, account managers, and UX teams to develop wireframes for Celgene’s website and tablet experiences. The successful launch resulted in increased digital engagement and positively impacted sales.
Draft FCB
Digital Art Supervisor — Creative Mentor
New York | 2011-2012
Developed and launched a website and interactive digital activities for Amyvid, resulting in a 20% increase in website traffic and a 15% boost in engagement. This enhanced Amyvid's visibility and credibility among healthcare professionals, strengthening its brand reputation and market position.
Mentored and motivated junior designers, focusing not just on technical execution but on helping each designer develop their own creative voice and visual instincts — resulting in stronger individual contributors and more cohesive team output
Harrison and Star - 22 Clicks
Sr. Art Director — Research and Development
New York | 2007-2010
Led design and development of Genentech’s “World of BioOncology” experiential convention booth for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting—one of the largest oncology conferences in the world with over 30,000 attendees
Over a six-month development period, collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to transform a 900 sq. ft. exhibition space into an immersive educational environment using 3DS Max, Photoshop, and Illustrator. The installation integrated large-scale plasma kiosks, dimensional rear projections, and multi-touch interactive displays.
Received Harrison & Star’s “Best Interactive Design” award for innovative digital art direction and interactive experience design
Managed multiple concurrent projects while collaborating closely with Account Directors, Creative Directors, Technology teams, and Brand leadership — actively bridging communication gaps between disciplines, aligning creative vision across stakeholders, and ensuring junior team members had the context and guidance they needed to contribute meaningfully at every stage of production
McCann
Art Director — U.S. Army
New York | 2006-2007
Defined and established the visual style for the U.S. Army’s "Influencer" digital campaign, leading to higher conversion rates on rich-media banners and increased time spent on the Army’s website, ultimately enhancing digital campaign performance and user engagement
Collaborated with account teams, copywriters, and third-party developers to ensure 100% alignment of all live assets with approved storyboards and Army brand guidelines, delivering a seamless and detail-oriented brand experience for the target audience
Public Arts and Advisory Role
Arts and cultural commission
Council Member
New York | 2023-present
Advise the offices of elected officials, the Corporation Counsel, and community organizations on arts-related projects and cultural programming initiatives serving residents across the Hudson Valley.
Support local artists, exhibitions, and community events by advocating for funding, visibility, and resources that strengthen Newburgh's arts ecosystem
Advise on public art initiatives and cultural programming for the City of Newburgh, contributing to decisions that shape the community's creative landscape and public spaces
past clients also include
Recommendations
Havas Health & You
Gary is the unsung hero of any team. I've worked with Gary on several digital projects, and he always impressed me with his extensive digital knowledge and experience gained over years of developing digital programs and campaigns.
He is someone you can rely on in a jam, no matter what time, and he never complains or loses his positive attitude.
Nick Anthony-SVP, Operations
FCB Global
Gary is one of the most thoughtful and creative ADs that I have worked with in years. His attention to detail and understanding of the projects we worked on together produced great results.
I could always count on Gary to deliver exactly what was needed on time and with meticulous attention to detail. I strongly recommend Gary to any advertising agency that wants a great team player with strong creative insight.
I look forward to being able to work with him again.
Alan Lobel-Senior Interactive Producer
Cella
I am thrilled to recommend Gary, an exceptionally talented designer whose expertise has immensely benefited both individuals and large brands. Gary's approach to design is both intuitive and innovative. He continuously embraces the challenge of learning new tools and technologies, which enables him to blend time-tested design principles with cutting-edge aesthetics. This approach not only solves complex design problems but also pushes the boundaries of what is possible in creating engaging digital experiences.
Beyond his professional capabilities, Gary is always eager to share his knowledge and is equally as enthusiastic about learning from his peers, which fosters an inspiring and collaborative environment for everyone involved. Gary is exceptionally dedicated to his team, always willing to lend a hand regardless of the hour, never losing his positive attitude. This relentless commitment and cheerfulness make working with him a genuine pleasure.
Hana Putman-Creative Director
Cella
I had the pleasure of working with Gary during his time as Senior Designer at Cella, and I can confidently say he’s one of the most dependable and production-savvy professionals I’ve worked with.
Gary has a natural talent for bringing order to complex projects, no matter how tight the deadline.
He’s proactive, detail-oriented, and consistently delivers excellence with integrity and professionalism.
Any team would be lucky to have him.
Julia Austin Church-Production Lead
Cella
I want to start by saying - Gary is the big-picture guy everyone needs on their team.
Within the first week of joining Chevron, he had a simple yet big idea for a campaign that went on to create popular, shareable moments. Continually exploring newer ways to do things and looking beyond the obvious for creative solutions comes easy to him. I'd highly recommend this outstanding designer to anyone looking to elevate their brand's work and give it a New York touch!
P.S. His mad photography skills are yet another example of his passion for finding beauty in the everyday.
Tanvi Mahadkar-Lead Copywriter
Euro RSCG 4D
I had the pleasure of collaborating with Gary on several assignments at 4D. Simply put, he understands 'designing for digital' better than most ADs I've worked with. He was practicing 'Responsive Design' before it became a catchword. He was the go-to guy for mobile and tablet design while I was at 4D.
Additionally, he's a great guy to work with. Easy-going. Personable, and FAST! I have no hesitation in recommending him as a digital AD.
Michael Calligeros-ACD