Aerial view of Austin, Texas skyline with high-rise buildings, a bridge over the river, and greenery.

Creative Director,
Brand Strategist

With over 15 years of creative leadership experience, I specialize in building scalable design systems, leading cross-functional teams, and translating complex corporate narratives into visual authority. From scaling small organizations to steering national brands, I approach every project with a strategic, systems level mindset that connects deeply with audiences and drives measurable business impact.

Currently, I serve as Creative Director at the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), where I lead end-to-end design campaigns, direct brand identity across digital and physical touchpoints, and present creative strategies to executive stakeholders. As a player-coach who knows how the work is built, I balance high-level strategic vision with hands-on craft to mentor multidisciplinary design talent and maintain operational momentum across remote teams.

Throughout my career, I have spanned the full ecosystem of modern brand building; directing 360-degree marketing campaigns, developing advanced UX/UI frameworks, and executing motion design for national platforms. My approach relies on breaking down complex messaging into clear visual narratives, establishing deep institutional trust, and cultivating high-performing team cultures built on authentic collaboration.

When I’m not building brand systems or mentoring creative teams, you can usually find me exploring the Austin food and music scene, brewing a fresh cup of coffee, or teaching my kids to appreciate good music and big ideas.

Let’s Get Creative.

  • hello@miguelvelarde.com

  • (503) 989-6927