About
Creative Leadership & Background
I’m José Silva, a creative leader with over a decade of experience directing brand, marketing, and digital design across agency, in-house, and public-sector environments. My work spans brand systems, editorial, packaging, retail, and web—focused on clarity, consistency, and execution at scale.
I approach design as both a strategic and practical discipline, guiding creative work from concept through real-world delivery. With a strong foundation in production and hands-on knowledge of modern digital platforms, I ensure creative ideas translate effectively across teams, formats, and technologies.
Selected Experience
elected roles highlighting leadership positions and long-term creative responsibility across brand, retail, editorial, and digital environments.
Art Director
A1 Cash & Carry
Sep 2020 - Now
Art Director
Gray Matters
Sep 2018 - Nov 2020
Freelance Creative / Art Direction
My CMYK
Jan 2004 - Now
Senior Graphic Designer
Sandbox Brand Marketing
July 2022 - Mar 2023
Life Beyond Design
Outside of creative work, I spend much of my time training and working with my dogs. The discipline, patience, and consistency required in training mirror how I approach creative leadership—focused, structured, and built on trust over time. It’s a grounding counterbalance to creative work and an important part of how I stay focused and present.
Design as Strategy
I approach design as a strategic discipline—one that balances clarity, intent, and execution. Effective design is not defined solely by aesthetics, but by how well it communicates, supports decision-making, and functions in real-world conditions.
My work is grounded in understanding brand goals, audiences, and constraints, then translating those insights into clear visual systems across print, digital, and web platforms. I prioritize simplicity, structure, and consistency, ensuring creative ideas are not only compelling but also practical, scalable, and ready to perform. Collaboration and clear communication are essential throughout the process, enabling alignment between creative vision and business outcomes.
Purpose-Driven Design Systems
Audience & Context Awareness
Adaptable, Platform-Aware Solutions
Clear Collaboration & Alignment
Experience
20+ Years in Creative Practice. Experience leading and contributing to creative work across agency, in-house, retail, and public-sector environments.
Versatility
Cross-Disciplinary Perspective. Comfortable working across brand, editorial, packaging, retail, and digital platforms while maintaining consistency and focus.
Creative Thinking
Conceptual & System-Oriented. Focused on solving problems through structure, hierarchy, and clear visual thinking—not novelty for its own sake.
Judgment
Experience-Informed Decision Making. The ability to make confident creative decisions efficiently, informed by experience, constraints, and real-world impact.
Let’s Start a Conversation
Open to creative leadership, art direction, and collaborative opportunities across brand, marketing, and digital platforms.