ABOUT ME
Michael Gorospe
UX/UI Designer, Multi-Disciplinary Digital Designer, Illustrator, and Storyteller
Email: me@michaelgorospe.art
UX/UI Designer, Multi-Disciplinary Digital Designer, Illustrator, and Storyteller
Email: me@michaelgorospe.art
Design professional with over 18 years of experience, including 11+ years specializing in UI/UX. Devoted 8 years at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to leading initiatives that transformed complex systems into intuitive, user-centered digital products, enhancing accessibility, internal tools, and engagement across mission-critical platforms. Earlier multidisciplinary work since 2007 includes collaborations with major global brands such as YouTube, Google, Yahoo, Mitsubishi, Guess, Mattel, Warner Bros., and Discovery Family.
Most Recent
Served as a lead designer partnering with scientists, engineers, and communications teams to translate complex mission data into intuitive, user-centered digital experiences. Built responsive interfaces and modular components that improved accessibility and navigation across devices.
Design Contributions:
Developed branded graphics, logos, and visual identities for science divisions, software, and orgs across internal and external websites; researched and established 508-compliant institutional color systems and designed launch-campaign collateral that reinforced JPL's institutional identity.
UI/UX Contributions:
Provided design leadership across mission websites, newsletter campaigns, press kits, and internal tools, driving accessibility, brand consistency, and visual storytelling; produced downloadable documents meeting Section 508 and WCAG standards.
Key Initiatives & Impactful Contributions:
• JPL's Main Intranet News:
Led the UX/UI redesign of the internal intranet platform as the sole designer, serving 6,000+ employees and improving navigation, engagement, and discoverability of news, events, and lab resources.
• Explorer-1 Design System:
Contributed as a key designer on a unified design system that consolidated and organized JPL’s internal and external web ecosystem. The initiative spanned multiple years, defining reusable components, typography, and WCAG-compliant color systems for scalable, maintainable design practices.
Design Contributions:
Developed branded graphics, logos, and visual identities for science divisions, software, and orgs across internal and external websites; researched and established 508-compliant institutional color systems and designed launch-campaign collateral that reinforced JPL's institutional identity.
UI/UX Contributions:
Provided design leadership across mission websites, newsletter campaigns, press kits, and internal tools, driving accessibility, brand consistency, and visual storytelling; produced downloadable documents meeting Section 508 and WCAG standards.
Key Initiatives & Impactful Contributions:
• JPL's Main Intranet News:
Led the UX/UI redesign of the internal intranet platform as the sole designer, serving 6,000+ employees and improving navigation, engagement, and discoverability of news, events, and lab resources.
• Explorer-1 Design System:
Contributed as a key designer on a unified design system that consolidated and organized JPL’s internal and external web ecosystem. The initiative spanned multiple years, defining reusable components, typography, and WCAG-compliant color systems for scalable, maintainable design practices.
Internal Websites:
• Implemented a version of Explorer-1 tailored to preserve and reinforce JPL’s institutional identity across internal portals.
Public Websites:
Extended the design system to public-facing platforms:
• jpl.nasa.gov - the primary JPL site, fully adopting Explorer-1 components
• JPL 360 - UI component design for the Lab's Virtual Tour (2022 Webby People's Voice Winner)
• JPL EDU Portal - an education-focused implementation using the same visual language
• Press Kits (2018–2025) - mission launch and landing kits leveraging Explorer-1 for cohesion
• Implemented a version of Explorer-1 tailored to preserve and reinforce JPL’s institutional identity across internal portals.
Public Websites:
Extended the design system to public-facing platforms:
• jpl.nasa.gov - the primary JPL site, fully adopting Explorer-1 components
• JPL 360 - UI component design for the Lab's Virtual Tour (2022 Webby People's Voice Winner)
• JPL EDU Portal - an education-focused implementation using the same visual language
• Press Kits (2018–2025) - mission launch and landing kits leveraging Explorer-1 for cohesion
Freelance Consultant |
Various Agencies & Partners
2015 - 2018
Various Agencies & Partners
2015 - 2018
Collaborated with creative and digital agencies to deliver visual, UI, and UX solutions for global brands. Roles included:
Delivered UI, UX, and brand design across web and advertising projects for consumer and startup clients.
• KeVita: Redesigned the website and brand storytelling experience, improving navigation and visual consistency for the beverage brand.
• Arclight Cinemas: Conceptualized and designed localized ad campaigns tailored to the target demographics of each theater location.
• Spur (formerly RoleCall): Rebranded the staffing platform with a new logo and landing page, and designed the interaction experience connecting job seekers with organizations across desktop and mobile.
• Arclight Cinemas: Conceptualized and designed localized ad campaigns tailored to the target demographics of each theater location.
• Spur (formerly RoleCall): Rebranded the staffing platform with a new logo and landing page, and designed the interaction experience connecting job seekers with organizations across desktop and mobile.
Multi-Disciplinary Designer
Design Consultant | West Hollywood, CA | December 2015 - December 2017
Design Consultant | West Hollywood, CA | December 2015 - December 2017
Provided independent brand, web, and graphic design services for a wide range of small and mid-sized business clients.
• Designed and managed brand development for dozens of small and mid-sized businesses, shaping identities from concept through final delivery.
• Delivered interactive web design and graphic design services tailored to each client's goals and audience.
• Prepared print-production files and attended press checks, liaising with vendors and clients to confirm specifications and ensure quality.
• Designed and managed brand development for dozens of small and mid-sized businesses, shaping identities from concept through final delivery.
• Delivered interactive web design and graphic design services tailored to each client's goals and audience.
• Prepared print-production files and attended press checks, liaising with vendors and clients to confirm specifications and ensure quality.
Designed conceptual UX and brand campaigns for YouTube product initiatives in partnership with agency stakeholders.
• YouTube VR: Developed conceptual narratives for a YouTube VR landing page to attract and engage users in creating VR content, informed by audience profiles and segmentation. Partnered with stakeholders on a full campaign spanning user awareness, product education, and featured VR products. Tools: InVision, Adobe XD, Sketch, Photoshop CC.
• YouTube Monetization Brochure: Designed an awareness campaign that simplified complex policy messaging to educate content creators and multi-channel networks (MCNs) on YouTube monetization changes, delivered as eco-friendly print materials.
• YouTube VR: Developed conceptual narratives for a YouTube VR landing page to attract and engage users in creating VR content, informed by audience profiles and segmentation. Partnered with stakeholders on a full campaign spanning user awareness, product education, and featured VR products. Tools: InVision, Adobe XD, Sketch, Photoshop CC.
• YouTube Monetization Brochure: Designed an awareness campaign that simplified complex policy messaging to educate content creators and multi-channel networks (MCNs) on YouTube monetization changes, delivered as eco-friendly print materials.
Animation & Illustration Consultant
YAHOO | Playa Vista, CA | March 2017 – September 2017
YAHOO | Playa Vista, CA | March 2017 – September 2017
Produced branded motion graphics, illustration, and visual systems for sponsored editorial content across major consumer brands.
• Branded Editorial Hubs (Amica, Pillsbury, AARP, Fidelity): Designed narrative-driven animated thumbnails by identifying each story’s most important content and translating it into branded, expressive visual cues. Tools: After Effects CC, Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC.
• “Things They Don’t Tell You About...” (Yahoo Finance, presented by Amica): Illustrated and animated editorial content for the blog series, delivering optimized animated GIFs across multiple display dimensions for the web.
• “Things They Don’t Tell You About...” (Yahoo Finance, presented by Amica): Illustrated and animated editorial content for the blog series, delivering optimized animated GIFs across multiple display dimensions for the web.
Senior Visual Design Consultant
POSSIBLE | Playa Vista, CA | July 2016 – June 2017
POSSIBLE | Playa Vista, CA | July 2016 – June 2017
Led senior-level UI and visual design across consumer brand and product initiatives for major agency clients.
• Newell Brands (Graco Baby, Sharpie, Baby Jogger, Rubbermaid): Transformed low-fidelity wireframes into scalable, modular UI templates that established a cohesive visual system across all Newell brands. Served as lead senior designer alongside the Art Director and Creative Director, developing icon sets and stylized photo assets and preparing asset handoffs for the overseas development team.
• Sony PlayStation 4: Designed concept logos and icons supporting the visual presentation of PlayStation's new two-step verification (2SV) experience flow.
• Mitsubishi: Designed the Mitsubishi North America Genuine Value Line Parts logo, aligned cohesively with the broader Mitsubishi brand.
• Newell Brands (Graco Baby, Sharpie, Baby Jogger, Rubbermaid): Transformed low-fidelity wireframes into scalable, modular UI templates that established a cohesive visual system across all Newell brands. Served as lead senior designer alongside the Art Director and Creative Director, developing icon sets and stylized photo assets and preparing asset handoffs for the overseas development team.
• Sony PlayStation 4: Designed concept logos and icons supporting the visual presentation of PlayStation's new two-step verification (2SV) experience flow.
• Mitsubishi: Designed the Mitsubishi North America Genuine Value Line Parts logo, aligned cohesively with the broader Mitsubishi brand.
Designed packaging, branding, and digital campaigns to grow product visibility and brand engagement.
• Flan-Tastico: Launched the product's box packaging and bottle-label branding, using humor and parody through illustration to position the brand competitively within the vape community.
• Newsletter Campaign: Built a modular email system for SaveUrVape, structuring information hierarchy and reusable themes to feature new and existing products and integrate social media promotions that drove brand engagement. Tool: Mailchimp.
• Flan-Tastico: Launched the product's box packaging and bottle-label branding, using humor and parody through illustration to position the brand competitively within the vape community.
• Newsletter Campaign: Built a modular email system for SaveUrVape, structuring information hierarchy and reusable themes to feature new and existing products and integrate social media promotions that drove brand engagement. Tool: Mailchimp.
Earlier Experience
Senior Graphic Designer
Clever Creative | Venice, CA | April 2013 - November 2015
Clever Creative | Venice, CA | April 2013 - November 2015
Served as senior designer and creative lead across brand, marketing, and digital projects for major entertainment and consumer clients. Trained and mentored interns, junior designers, and freelancers in design and production best practices.
• HydraFacial: Led UX and UI development of a B2B WordPress website built with highly customizable modules and clean, well-organized CSS and HTML. The project expanded Clever Creative’s service offering and won a W3 Gold Award.
• Discovery Family (formerly The Hub Network): Acted as creative lead developing on-brand concepts for internal and marketing campaigns, including infographic market-research decks, event booth designs, email campaigns, show logo concepts, and corporate identity print materials.
• Warner Bros.: Designed promotional posters, grassroots promo pieces, internal brand presentation decks, and web layouts for online sweepstakes portals.
• Mattel: Delivered ongoing promotional and advertising concepts for Barbie, Polly Pocket, and Ever After High, spanning display structures and graphics, product POP, print activity booklets, packaging, illustrated toy-set renders, and hand-drawn assets for an official brand book.
• FremantleMedia: Redesigned a version of the America's Got Talent logo used across promotional print and social channels, helping distinguish the live tours as a separate property.
• Zwift: Established the artistic vision, logo, and style guide, and created on-brand marketing materials including a landing page, business collateral, and presentation decks.
• HydraFacial: Led UX and UI development of a B2B WordPress website built with highly customizable modules and clean, well-organized CSS and HTML. The project expanded Clever Creative’s service offering and won a W3 Gold Award.
• Discovery Family (formerly The Hub Network): Acted as creative lead developing on-brand concepts for internal and marketing campaigns, including infographic market-research decks, event booth designs, email campaigns, show logo concepts, and corporate identity print materials.
• Warner Bros.: Designed promotional posters, grassroots promo pieces, internal brand presentation decks, and web layouts for online sweepstakes portals.
• Mattel: Delivered ongoing promotional and advertising concepts for Barbie, Polly Pocket, and Ever After High, spanning display structures and graphics, product POP, print activity booklets, packaging, illustrated toy-set renders, and hand-drawn assets for an official brand book.
• FremantleMedia: Redesigned a version of the America's Got Talent logo used across promotional print and social channels, helping distinguish the live tours as a separate property.
• Zwift: Established the artistic vision, logo, and style guide, and created on-brand marketing materials including a landing page, business collateral, and presentation decks.
Designed interactive presentation experiences, partnering with creative and marketing teams to strengthen content flow and client engagement.
• Microsoft: Enhanced a Microsoft marketing deck by proposing and designing an interactive presentation experience for Surface RT tablets, enabling hands-on client engagement.
• Microsoft: Enhanced a Microsoft marketing deck by proposing and designing an interactive presentation experience for Surface RT tablets, enabling hands-on client engagement.
Art Director
Pixel Ground | Hollywood, CA | October 2009 - November 2011
Pixel Ground | Hollywood, CA | October 2009 - November 2011
Directed product design, brand creative, and production across consumer and sporting-goods clients.
• Coleman: Designed original creative for lines of licensed Coleman products, maintaining the brand's vision and standards across photography, catalogs, event booth designs, hangtags, and PDQ trays.
• Left Coast Sports Innovations: Led product development of safety sports and gait belts, including a sophisticated bone-and-rivet construction system, multiple prototype iterations, and sourcing the right manufacturing partner. Directed photographers, videographers, and all production aspects during marketing photo shoots to maintain timelines and artistic vision.
• Coleman: Designed original creative for lines of licensed Coleman products, maintaining the brand's vision and standards across photography, catalogs, event booth designs, hangtags, and PDQ trays.
• Left Coast Sports Innovations: Led product development of safety sports and gait belts, including a sophisticated bone-and-rivet construction system, multiple prototype iterations, and sourcing the right manufacturing partner. Directed photographers, videographers, and all production aspects during marketing photo shoots to maintain timelines and artistic vision.
Freelance Illustrator
GibPub | Hollywood, CA | July 2009 - September 2009
GibPub | Hollywood, CA | July 2009 - September 2009
Illustrated a full-length children's book, designing characters and environments for a target young audience.
• Produced 41 full-page illustrations, combining 3D and 2D applications to accelerate production and meet the project timeline.
• Designed and illustrated characters and environments tailored to the book's audience; the published work was featured on outlets including The Children's Book Review, Goodreads, and Dads of Divas.
• Produced 41 full-page illustrations, combining 3D and 2D applications to accelerate production and meet the project timeline.
• Designed and illustrated characters and environments tailored to the book's audience; the published work was featured on outlets including The Children's Book Review, Goodreads, and Dads of Divas.
3D Generalist
Imajimation Studios | Culver City, CA | March 2007 - June 2009
Imajimation Studios | Culver City, CA | March 2007 - June 2009
Modeled and rendered 3D environments for animation pipelines supporting overseas production teams.
• Devised an efficient workflow for modeling and rendering large-scale scenes used by overseas animators, streamlining the production pipeline.
• Guided junior staff in applying non-destructive modeling techniques, simplifying the team's revision process.
• Devised an efficient workflow for modeling and rendering large-scale scenes used by overseas animators, streamlining the production pipeline.
• Guided junior staff in applying non-destructive modeling techniques, simplifying the team's revision process.
Graphic Intern
FOX 6 NEWS | San Diego, CA | October 2006 - December 2006
FOX 6 NEWS | San Diego, CA | October 2006 - December 2006
Created on-air graphics for local news broadcasts as part of the station's production team.
AWARDS
• Webby Awards | JPL Virtual Tour Virtual & Remote, Science & Education People's Voice Winner, 2022
• Webby Awards | JPL Website Advertising, Media & PR, Best Use of Earned Media Honoree, 2019
• W3 Gold Award | HydraFacial Website Refresh (Clever Creative), 2015
• GDUSA American Web Design Award | Santa Monica YWCA Website Refresh, 2015
• GDUSA American Graphic Design Award | Holiday Mailers, 2015
• Webby Awards | JPL Website Advertising, Media & PR, Best Use of Earned Media Honoree, 2019
• W3 Gold Award | HydraFacial Website Refresh (Clever Creative), 2015
• GDUSA American Web Design Award | Santa Monica YWCA Website Refresh, 2015
• GDUSA American Graphic Design Award | Holiday Mailers, 2015
EDUCATION
The Art Institute of California San Diego 2006 | Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Media Arts and Animation