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About
El Creative

El Creative entered the ring circa 2005 with the simple desire to create visually impactful work based on strategy, with intent, and which leverages design philosophies that help our clients accomplish their goals.

All without the ego, politics, and unnecessary layers that sometimes come along when working with an agency. That was the dream. To this day El Creative has remained a multi-disciplinary, independently owned design studio that offers a plethora of services to deliver creative solutions for all of our clients.

20 years later we’ve honed those skills and continue working with both small local businesses and large global corporations alike, for the benefit of our clients. When you need creative solutions and quality work, you need El Creative.

Michael Gonzalez

El Jefe

Michael Gonzalez has always been identified as “Creative”. He has always been a creator and a problem solver with an entrepreneurial spirit. Whether it was disassembling G.I. Joe’s and reassembling them to create re-imagined characters or taking apart his electronics, using the parts to build new devices, creativity was always at his core. Early on, it took the form of more left brain creative activities as he pursued engineering and later that creative spirit morphed into more right brain activities as he shifted directions to pursue graphic/communication design.

Robert Zepeda, Jr.

Associate Creative Director & Sr. Designer

Robert is a graphic designer who blends the philosophies of graphic arts and architecture with a touch of music and humor into his design work and concepts. Robert graduated in December of 1998 from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Environmental Design. After a few years in the Architecture field, Robert’s passion turned to the field of Graphic Arts and Design. He returned to school at Southwest Texas State University in 2001 to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design in 2003. After graduating from Southwest, Robert returned back home to work at the design firm, Giles Design, Inc. It was here that he learned the business and art of design, working with clients like Frost Bank, Esconidido and the San Antonio Library Association. From here, Robert moved on to a freelancing career. Then in fall of 2005, Robert moved to Dallas to help start up El Creative with his friend Michael Gonzalez, whom he met and befriended during his time at Southwest State University. Robert inspiration in design comes from his love of Rock Music Album Cover Designs and Architecture. Designers and Architects, such as Storm Thorgerson, Aubrey Powell, Peter Blake, Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies Van Der Rohe & Antoni Gaudi, have been major inspirations in Robert’s design philosophy and style.

Brian Keith

Associate Creative Director & Sr. Designer

Brian is a true graphic designer whose philosophy is rooted in the rich history of his field. His designs are based on ideas and concepts, and he has an ongoing quest for knowledge, especially when it comes to design and art. Brian graduated in May of 2000 from the University of North Texas with a degree in graphic design and a minor in advertising. His first job was with Square One, where he had the chance to learn some great illustration techniques, plus get all the free beer and foosball he could handle. After two years, Brian moved on and freelanced at several agencies in the Dallas area while looking for a full time position. He decided that a small design firm was the way to go so he hired on with Zahra Design Group, where for three years he learned how to get things done on time and with some serious finesse. This is also when Brian joined the board of the Dallas Society of Visual Communications, and started hanging with some of the most talented graphic designers in Dallas. In March of 2006, he partnered up with a few of those talented people and helped open El Creative.

Daniel Trejo

Account Executive & Project Manager

Hey there! I'm Daniel, and I’d love to share a bit about my journey with you. It hasn’t been a straight line—it has been more like a fun ride with lots of twists and turns and lessons along the way that have shaped who I am today. I enjoy creating harmony and guiding others toward a common goal. When I began my professional journey, I was eager to explore, learn, and find my place in the world. Working for El Creative was an eye-opener—it taught me the value of teamwork, communication, and resilience.

Client Experience

El Creative works with local, national, and international clients. Our experience is diverse, and our service is second to none.

FAQ

What’s up with the “Mexican wrestler” logo and identity?

The “luchador” identity grew out of the desire to do great work. Not for recognition or the vanity of it but just to do great work that helps our clients accomplish there goals. 20 years later we’ve accomplished just that. You may not know who we are, but chances are you’ve seen our work. You seen it in English, you’ve seen it in Spanish, you’ve seen it on TV, you’ve heard it on the radio, you’ve seen it in airports, you’ve seen it in print, you’ve seen it in digital formats you’ve seen it on the sides of skyscrapers, and one thing is for certain. It’s never been about us… it’s always been about our clients. Maybe that’s why the majority of clients we take on stick with us for the long haul. A large majority of our clients have 15+ year relationships with us. We think that speaks volumes. Not only were we integral in their success, but we built relationships that stand the test of time. Unheard of really for agencies like ours.

Are you a bilingual agency?

Yes, we are! We have decades of experience providing Spanish-language creative services. Michael and El Creative have created successful Spanish-language campaigns for companies like Bimbo Bakeries, Toyota, Qwest Communications, El Rio Grande Latin Market, City of Dallas, Maytronics, and Wingstop, to name a few.

What are your fees?

Every project is unique, and before we can provide a cost, we need to fully understand and scope out the project accordingly. One thing is for certain… we are efficient and fair. One of the reasons we believe we have kept our relationships with clients for decades is that we always keep our client’s interests, budgets, and timelines in mind. We simply work to conduct business the way we would want business to be conducted with us.

What are the benefits of using a creative agency versus a freelance designer?

When you partner with El Creative, you gain access to a full team of designers, developers, copywriters, and project managers—all working together to make your project a success. In contrast, when hiring freelancers, you’re responsible for finding each specialist individually or hoping to find someone who can do it all, which is like finding a unicorn (we happen to have a few unicorns). Working with El Creative offers increased accountability and professionalism.

What kind of companies do you work with?

We work with all types of companies. Big or small, whether you are a startup or a Fortune 500 company with a global presence, we are here to help. We have experience in a variety of industries like: restaurants, retail, healthcare, financial, e-commerce, non-profits, government, and automotive, to name a few.

What services do you offer?

We have experience in graphic design, video production, website design and development, advertising campaign development, digital content creation, print management, consulting, copywriting, and a plethora of other services. We believe that if you are able to be creative in one area, you can apply that creativity in all areas. Creativity is about problem-solving and good ideas can come from anyone, anywhere, at any time.