Ariel Mendoza / Creative Director / Brand, product and packaging design
I build brands from the name to the launch.
For 27+ years I have named product brands, designed their identities and packaging, and taken them through manufacturing and launch. The work runs from a public explainer for the City of Miami Beach to brand communications for an AI healthcare platform.
- Years in practice
- 27+
- Licensed retail revenue
- $120M+
- SKUs delivered
- 1,000+
- Packages designed
- 2,000+
01 / Approach
One director for the whole path.
Most brand work stops at the guidelines. Mine usually continues into the package, the product, the factory floor, and the launch, so the idea survives the trip.
Name
Naming / Positioning / Brand architecture
Identity
Logo / Style guides / Brand guidelines
Package
Structure / Graphics / Print production
Product
Concept / 3D modeling / CAD
Factory
Prototypes / Quality control / Production
Launch
Video / Campaigns / Experiential
02 / Selected work
Six projects, from public policy to pewter.
Two films for Miami Beach: why the city needed the money, and what it pays for
I directed and produced an animated film on the city's 2018 bond program, co-wrote the script, and led a seven-person team. It was shown to residents in the weeks before the vote.
OutcomeVoters approved the $439M bond program with about 70% support. The film was later shown at the US Conference of Mayors, and it led to the Rising Above campaign, which showed residents what the money pays for.
Read the case study →Relaunching an AI healthcare platform for hospitals and insurers
As VP of Marketing Communications I led positioning, identity, and messaging for version 2, working with product, engineering, and the executive team through go-to-market.
ResultAfter the launch, Memorial Healthcare System and Arkos signed on to offer the platform to MHS employees company-wide.
Case study coming
Five product brands, named and designed
AquaBolt, Audeeo, Artisan Games, Li'l Torx, and Box Bots. I wrote each name, drew each identity, and designed the packaging that took it to retail.
Case study coming
Collector's editions for launched games
The Daxtermobile from Jak X, rebuilt from a PlayStation 2 model as a die-cast car in seven editions. Product, variant, and packaging design, through factory QC.
ResultAll seven editions sold out, the six main ones within 48 hours.
Read the case study →Nintendo Switch launch experiences
A traveling booth for The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and the Play! Experience bus for Luigi's Mansion 3, from ideation through 3D and final composites.
Case study comingRxGenesys: designing a skincare brand from a blank page
Logo, bottles, and boxes for a new skincare brand sold direct to consumers on TV and online.
ResultThe line sold through its production, and the brand ran for five to six years.
Read the case study →03 / Brands
Brands and licenses I have designed for.
Entertainment and games
- Disney
- Marvel
- Star Wars
- Nintendo
- Cartoon Network
- Naughty Dog
- Limited Run Games
- Rock It Games
- Dotemu
- Romero Games
Consumer, tech, finance
- Mastercard
- Sony
- Kraft Foods
- Coca-Cola
- Bvlgari
- Merrill Lynch
- McDonald's
- Hallmark
Retail
- Walmart
- Target
- Home Depot
- Kohl's
- Toys "R" Us
- Macy's
- JC Penney
- GameStop
- FAO Schwarz
Spirits, beauty, lifestyle
- Zyr Vodka
- Whitley Neill Gin
- Destination Jewelry Brands
- RxGenesys
- PoolCandy
Some of this work was commissioned directly and some came through licensees, retailers, and agencies.
04 / About
Miami based. Working since 1998.
I spent 14 years at Excalibur Electronics and EB Excalibur, where licensed programs I oversaw generated more than $120M at retail. Since 2012 I have run Pixelwarps Studios, a design studio and consultancy. From 2023 to 2025 I also led marketing communications at MediKarma AI.
I also run Artistic Pixels 305, a custom apparel shop that prints licensed apparel for game releases.
I built this site with Claude.
- CreativeCreative direction, art direction, brand identity and naming, packaging, video direction
- ProductionCAD and 3D modeling, structural packaging, commercial printing, overseas manufacturing and QC, licensing approvals
- ToolsAdobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Figma, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude
05 / Contact
Have a brand or product to launch?
Send a note about a role, a project, or a collaboration.