• ABOUT
  • ALL Work
  • BRAND EXPERIENCE
  • RECOS
  • RÉSUMÉ
  • Personal Projects

Samantha Jiménez

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

  • ABOUT
  • ALL Work
  • BRAND EXPERIENCE
  • RECOS
  • RÉSUMÉ
  • Personal Projects

RÉsumé

EXPERIENCE SUMMARY

Creative Director with 15+ years of experience leading brand, retail, and integrated marketing across in-house studios and top global ad agencies. Expert in translating strategy into high-impact, omnichannel experiences spanning in-store environments, campaigns, content, and storytelling at scale.

Known for strong creative taste, decisive leadership, and persuasive communication, with the ability to align cross-functional teams around bold ideas that connect brand, culture, and business outcomes. Brings a modern approach to creative leadership by combining elevated craft, disciplined strategy, and AI-enabled workflows to increase speed, clarity, and quality—without compromising creative standards.


CORE SKILLS & CAPABILITIES

Leadership & Strategy
Creative Direction | Strategic Thinking | Team Management & Development | Persuasive Presentation & Storytelling | Winning New Business | Strong Client & Stakeholder Relationship Building

Creative Craft
Art Direction | Copywriting | Branding & Brand Systems | Content Creation & Editing | Photography & Content Direction

Channels & Experience
Integrated Marketing | Retail & Store Experience Design | Omnichannel Campaign Development | Social Media & Digital Strategy

Expertise
Multicultural Marketing (General Market & Latino) | Artificial Intelligence–Enabled Creative Workflows

Languages
Fully Bilingual (Spanish & English)


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Creative Director, Store Experience Marketing

Target Nov 2020 – Present

Categories: Beauty, Essentials, Pets, Baby, Personal Care, Household, OTC, Optical, Sporting Goods, Tech & Gadgets, Books & Entertainment, Video Games, Toys, Collectibles, Seasonal

  • Lead creative direction for large-scale retail brand experiences, shaping how millions of guests experience Target across stores and omnichannel touchpoints.

  • Own creative vision across a broad portfolio of everyday and lifestyle categories, balancing commercial clarity with elevated, emotionally resonant storytelling.

  • Serve as a final creative authority, setting taste, direction, and standards while making decisive calls that elevate both the work and the teams producing it.

  • Partner with KNOCK on Beauty and Essentials, collaborating to elevate strategy, concept development, craft, and execution across high-visibility initiatives.

  • Serve as Baby category creative lead, developing a dedicated strategy centered on inclusivity, empowerment, and modern parenthood—while maintaining strong commercial performance.

  • Led a Baby floorpad reinvention, redefining navigation, storytelling, and visual hierarchy to create a more intuitive, welcoming, and inspiring shopping experience.

  • Drove regional Baby initiatives designed to connect more intentionally with diverse communities through culturally relevant creative and messaging.

  • Previously led Beauty creative strategy, defining micro-destinations and shop-like moments that elevated discovery, engagement, and brand credibility.

  • Defined and directed Beauty micro-destinations, activating curated assortments with premium storytelling and elevated design.

  • Partner with Colle McVoy to lead creative across Fun101 (Hardlines), evolving the platform toward lifestyle-, culture-, and fun-led storytelling.

  • Set creative direction for photography and slice-of-life narratives, positioning product as the catalyst for joy, play, and connection.

  • Led Pets floorpad reinvention, introducing mannequins, larger-scale imagery, and pet-first storytelling to enhance emotional connection and navigation.

  • Leverage Artificial Intelligence to structure creative workflows, dissect strategy, assist early-stage concepting, and accelerate production—increasing speed while maintaining elevated quality and craft.

  • Apply AI to ideation, iteration, and execution to help teams move faster, sharpen thinking, and raise the creative bar.

  • Direct and align multi-agency teams, partnering cross-functionally with marketing, merchandising, design, production, and strategy.

  • Mentor and develop senior creatives, fostering strong creative judgment, clarity of vision, and trust-based leadership.

Associate Director, Creative

Target Nov 2018 – Nov 2020

Categories: Apparel & Accessories, Baby, Home, Stationery, Sporting Goods, Books & Entertainment, Video Games, Tech, Toys, Seasonal

  • Oversaw creative development across multiple categories, acting as brand steward and senior creative leader within Target’s in-house studio.

  • Led teams of senior and junior creatives, contractors, and agency partners to concept, design, and deliver integrated marketing and retail experiences.

  • Partnered closely with Marketing, Merchandising, and Price & Promo COE leaders to deliver work that balanced brand storytelling with business objectives.

  • Integrated multicultural insights and Hispanic nuance into category storytelling to ensure relevance across diverse audiences.

  • Led categories including Home, Accessories & Apparel, Baby, and Hardlines, guiding teams through trend-driven, culturally informed creative development.

  • Championed trend awareness across fashion, home, beauty, and culture to keep work contemporary, joyful, and effective.

Freelance Creative Director / Art Director / Copywriter

Clients: Conill, Alma DDB, LatinWorks Oct 2015 – Oct 2018

  • Operated as an ambidextrous Creative Director, leading both art direction and copywriting across integrated campaigns.

  • Partnered with agencies and brands to strategize, concept, execute, and produce advertising and brand experiences.

  • Supported national and international clients across general and multicultural markets, bringing senior-level thinking, flexibility, and speed.

  • Led and contributed hands-on across concept development, design, and execution.

Senior Creative / Associate Creative Director (Art Director & Copywriter)

LatinWorks Mar 2013 – Sept 2015
Brands: Snickers, M&M’s, Marriott, Bud Light, Domino’s, Target, Lowe’s, Capital One, Stripes

  • Led teams of 6–12 junior and senior creatives, overseeing both large-scale campaigns and always-on brand work.

  • Built strong client relationships through direct communication, strategic problem-solving, and persuasive presentations.

  • Led Total Market accounts, developing original creative for General Market, Hispanic, and African-American audiences.

  • Delivered fully integrated campaigns spanning traditional, digital, and experiential, transforming brand messaging into cohesive brand experiences.

Senior Brand Creative

The Richards Group / Lerma Jan 2010 – Mar 2013
Brands: RAM Trucks, Honeywell (FRAM, Prestone), Advance Auto Parts, Fruit of the Loom, The Home Depot, Bridgestone

  • Created emotionally driven creative for RAM Trucks, resulting in a 41% sales increase and a 3.5-point market share gain.

  • Supported expansion into RAM Trucks LATAM following U.S. success.

  • Co-led the team that won the Bridgestone LATAM pitch, expanding the agency’s international footprint.

  • Developed a campaign for Advance Auto Parts that originated in Hispanic marketing and successfully scaled to all markets.

Associate Creative Director

JWT Apr 2008 – Mar 2009
Brands: Nestlé, Ford Motor Company, Lubriderm, Halls, Trident

  • Created a packaging and branding promotion supporting Mexican art, driving sales and earning a shortlist at the London International Awards.

  • Partnered with strategic planners to shape brand positioning and creative direction.

  • Led full campaign development—from concept through production—across traditional and digital channels.

Associate Creative Director

Saatchi & Saatchi Mar 2007 – Mar 2008
Brands: GE, Starbucks, Procter & Gamble (Crest, Olay, Scope), Mead Johnson (Enfamil)

  • Developed award-winning creative for GE Appliances.

  • Led creative development for Starbucks’ first advertising efforts in LATAM.

  • Directed teams of art directors and copywriters, overseeing end-to-end campaign execution.

Senior Art Director

DDB Jan 2005 – Feb 2007
Brands: Volkswagen, Henkel, McDonald’s, Liverpool, Dormimundo, Dos Equis, Herdez, Lipton, Gatorade, Armor All, Clean & Clear, RoC, Neutrogena, Philips, Uniroyal

  • Trained in DDB’s Co-Creation strategic process, integrating planning and creative from the outset.

  • Led international and regional creative across LATAM, presenting work directly to global brand leadership.

  • Delivered award-winning campaigns for Dormimundo and Henkel.

  • Managed and mentored teams of up to 8 creatives, overseeing concept through production.

Art Director

Young & Rubicam Jan 2003 – Jan 2005
Brands: Dannon (Activia, Light & Fit, DanUP), Philip Morris, Colgate-Palmolive, Ford (Lincoln, Mercury), AVON

  • Developed award-winning creative for Philip Morris.

  • Led art direction across traditional and digital media, supervising illustrators, typographers, and designers.

  • Contributed to AVON breast cancer awareness initiatives through guerrilla and cause-driven creative.


EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Cornell University
Certificate in Persuasive Communication
Focused on strategic influence, executive presence, storytelling, and persuasion in leadership and high-stakes decision-making.

Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana
B.A. in Graphic Design — Summa Cum Laude


VOLUNTEERING

Creative Coach

Women Who Create
Jun 2021 – May 2025

  • Serve as a creative coach and mentor supporting women of color working in advertising and marketing.

  • Provide guidance on creative growth, career development, leadership confidence, and navigating agency and brand-side environments.

  • Help mentees build tools, frameworks, and practical skills needed to advance their careers—from portfolio development to strategic thinking and executive presence.

  • Foster a safe, supportive space for honest conversations, skill-building, and celebrating wins.

  • Bring real-world senior creative leadership perspective to help mentees move forward with clarity, confidence, and momentum.

 

Download Resume (PDF)