Gary Castelli
Senior Art Director · AI-Integrated Creative Direction
New York–based | Available for On-site and Remote Engagements
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, Firefly, Copilot, Blender, and Canva templates to devise tailored solutions addressing client creative challenges and achieving project objectives
Consulting
Art Director | Creative Strategy | Digital Publishing
Remote | 2018-present
Led creative direction, UX, and visual design for Export Magazine, developing the brand identity, logo, website, and digital publishing experience using Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Digital Publishing Suite, After Effects, and custom front-end development
Designed and developed the magazine's website, implementing custom CSS, JavaScript, and dynamic content systems to improve content management, featured artist showcases, and overall user experience
Increased XportMag.com to 145,000 monthly impressions and 1,050 organic clicks through SEO strategy, metadata optimization, technical improvements, and Google Search Console analysis
Improved search visibility and site authority by optimizing information architecture, internal linking, and editorial content strategy in alignment with Google's search quality guidelines
Art directed, curated, and produced editorial content featuring illustrators, photographers, 3D artists, animators, and indie game developers, helping establish Export Magazine as an emerging publication within the digital art community
Built and manage a community of 1,000+ creative professionals on Discord, fostering collaboration and engagement across illustration, photography, animation, 3D art, writing, and independent game development
Omnicom Health Group
Art Supervisor
New York | 2012-2017
Conceived and art directed Genentech's award-winning "LUV Your Skin" campaign, featuring innovative UV-reactive outdoor signage displayed throughout the company's San Francisco campus. The campaign earned a Silver Clio Award and was featured in the July 2014 issue of MM+M Magazine, increasing brand visibility and industry recognition
Led the design and execution of digital and print campaigns for major pharmaceutical brands, translating complex scientific information into engaging, user-centered creative solutions while maintaining strict regulatory and brand standards
Partnered with copywriters, UX designers, account managers, strategists, and external vendors to design wireframes and digital experiences for Celgene's website and tablet applications, contributing to a successful product launch and increased user engagement
Developed integrated marketing materials, interactive presentations, websites, email campaigns, and sales tools using Adobe Creative Cloud, ensuring brand consistency across multiple channels and audiences
Mentored junior designers and collaborated across multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced agency environment, balancing multiple client programs while meeting aggressive timelines
Draft FCB
Digital Art Supervisor — Creative Mentor
New York | 2011-2012
Harrison and Star - 22 Clicks
Sr. Art Director — Research and Development
New York | 2007-2010
Led the creative design and development of Genentech's World of BioOncology experiential exhibit for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, delivering an immersive educational experience showcased at one of the world's largest oncology conferences with more than 30,000 attendees
Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams over a six-month development cycle to transform a 900-square-foot exhibition space into an interactive environment featuring large-scale plasma kiosks, rear-projection installations, and multi-touch digital experiences using 3ds Max, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator
Received Harrison & Star's Best Interactive Design award for excellence in digital art direction and interactive experience design
Managed multiple concurrent initiatives while partnering with Creative Directors, Account Directors, Technology teams, and Brand leadership to align creative strategy, streamline cross-functional communication, and mentor junior designers throughout concept development and production
McCann
Art Director — U.S. Army
New York | 2006-2007
Defined the visual direction for the U.S. Army's "Influencer" digital recruitment campaign, designing rich-media advertising and interactive creative that increased user engagement and strengthened the campaign's online presence
Collaborated with account teams, copywriters, developers, and production partners to ensure all digital assets accurately reflected approved creative concepts, maintained Army brand standards, and were delivered on schedule
Developed digital campaign assets across multiple formats, balancing creative innovation with technical requirements to deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced agency environment
Public Arts and Advisory Role
Arts and cultural commission
Council Member
New York | 2023-present
Advise elected officials, the Office of Corporation Counsel, and community organizations on arts initiatives, cultural programming, and public engagement strategies that support residents throughout the Hudson Valley
Advocate for local artists, exhibitions, and community events by helping identify funding opportunities, increasing public visibility, and strengthening partnerships that expand Newburgh's creative ecosystem
Provide guidance on public art initiatives, placemaking, and cultural development projects that contribute to the city's long-term creative vision and enhance public spaces
past clients also include
Endorsements
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