Brand, Product and Experience Design.

Since 2008

Hello, I’m Chris Mena, designer, creative director and studio (Tetra) co-founder from California. I help people create fresh experiences. Thanks for visiting—here's a look at some of my work:

Partner at

Remote Roles

(Senior designer, 2008-2014, 2020)

Agency-subcontracted Jobs

(Freelance Jr. designer, 2010-2014)

Product/s placed in

Partner

Remote Roles

(Lead designer, 2008-2014, 2020)

Agency-subcontracted Jobs

(Freelance Jr. designer, 2010-2014)

Product/s placed in

Learn more about my offering

Design Leadership Across Digital, Print and Experiential Platforms.

Christopher Mena,
35

CREATIVE DIRECTOR / BRAND DESIGNER

15+ years of design, advertising & marketing experience. I specialize in branding, creative direction, app and web design.

I seek to push boundaries and be a part of next-generation work, creating meaningful design that inspires.

"Great design is simple yet profound."

US West Coast

Born in San Diego, CA

Bay Area Raised

Based in Reno, NV

+ Mérida, Yucatán

Semi-nomadic

Traveler

Here to support amazing people.

Experience

Competencies:‍

Brand Strategy & Identity

Creative Direction
‍
UI/UX & Product Design

Web Design

Experiential Design
‍
Content Creation

Print & Product Packaging

Advertising & Marketing

Tools & Proficiencies:

Adobe Creative Cloud

Figma / Webflow
‍
AI Tools & Automations

Project Management

Industries Served:

Corporate / Financial / Media

Consumer Retail & Wholesale

E-Commerce & Fashion

Gaming & Entertainment

Health, Beauty & Cosmetics

Studios & Agencies

Tech Companies & Startups

Case Studies Available Upon Request

My Skillset

Ad Campaign Development

AI Integration in Design

Art Direction

Brand Development

Brand Guidelines

Brand Identity

Brand Messaging & Storytelling

Campaign Development

Client Consultation

Collaborative Team Leadership

Competitor Analysis

Content Creation (Visual and Written)

Copywriting and Branding

Creative Concept Development

Creative Direction

Cross-Functional Team Collaboration

Customer Persona Development

Data-Driven Design Strategy

Design Systems

Digital Marketing Strategy

Event Branding & Marketing

Experiential Design

Figma Prototyping

Graphic Design

Illustration and Iconography

Image Generation

Interactive Design

Large-Format Print

Logo Design

Marketing

Market Research

Naming and Brand Messaging

Presentation Design

Product Packaging Design

Product Design

Product Photography

Product Launch Strategy

Production Oversight

Project Management

Prompting & Automation

Prototyping and Wireframing

Research & Reports

Social Media Content Strategy

Typography

UI/UX Design

User Journey Mapping

Vendor Management

Visual Identity Systems

Web Design

Webflow Development

Core Capabilities

Brands, digital products, strategy, campaign and art direction.

1. Creative Leadership & Strategic Vision

Creative Leadership & Strategic Vision:

Brand design, marketing, communication, and ad campaigns experience. Crafting winning strategies in competitive markets. Fostering creative, resourceful collaboration and design-thinking.

2. Brand Identity & Stewardship

Creative Leadership & Strategic Vision:

Designing and overseeing brand identity across digital, print, and experiential platforms. Establishing, ensuring and advancing brand standards through high-fidelity style guides that unify and elevate brand experience.

3. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Team Leadership

Creative Leadership & Strategic Vision:

People-first, skilled in presenting concepts, enthusiastic in service, quick to integrate feedback, experienced in working with leadership, product managers, developers, marketers, and external partners—spanning experience with franchises, resorts, consumer retail products, SaaS, DeFi and AI-driven brands.

4. Expertise in Visual Design, Systems Thinking, & Technical Proficiency

Creative Leadership & Strategic Vision:

Skilled in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Webflow, AI-image generation and other tools. Expertise in creating high-quality graphics, interfaces, SVG animations, and interactive prototypes. Proficient in defining standards and providing assets within design systems that are clean and adaptable.

5. Data-Driven Creative Strategy

Creative Leadership & Strategic Vision:

Merging creative thinking with analytics. Including research, conceptualization, development, A/B testing, analysis and iterative design "on rails", to enhance outcomes, drive engagement and meet objectives.

7. Production Oversight, Contractor & Vendor Management

Creative Leadership & Strategic Vision:

I can manage or assist other designers, creating production workflows, working with vendors, ensuring deliverables, specs and timelines are met. I can work with or guide individual team members as well as navigate production challenges and coordinate resources to deliver projects on time and within scope.

8. Independent, Adaptive Work Style & Problem-Solving

Creative Leadership & Strategic Vision:

I am familiar with fast-paced environments and managing multiple projects as well as singular, long-term, focused initiatives. I problem-solve in simple terms and feel confident in my ability to take shape to the needs of my work, with gratitude and joy in what I do. I am capable in day-to-day builds, mission-critical sprints and "labs" special projects.

Notable Achievements

Head of Design for TruNeura Cognitive Health (2024):

Challenge

Design, develop and launch the first AI-powered, medically-backed SaaS and Program for reversing cognitive decline and preventing Alzheimer’s

Solution

Directed creative strategy, UX/UI design, and brand identity for TruNeura, a pioneering digital platform built in collaboration with Dr. Kristine Burke, a renowned neurologist at one of the top 7 centers worldwide for dementia prevention and treatment. Present an integral, professional and attractive offering in a highly competitive digital health market.

Result

Successfully launched on Apple and Google app stores, recognized for its innovative approach to cognitive health, rapidly gaining traction in the health-tech space as a leader in preventative brain health solutions.

Co-Founded Tetra Studio (2021):

Challenge

Establish a new creative studio focused on branding and design for cutting-edge technologies in a competitive market.

Solution

Led creative, product, and brand design for various clients, including Handshake (dWeb Foundation), NFT branding (Kenetic Capital), blockchain and DeFi projects like Cardano (Disco Solaris), Base (Mirage Protocol), and the VPN service Indigitus. Developed comprehensive creative strategies and branding for DeFi ventures, including Fidira and Valeo.

Result

Positioned Tetra Studio as an exciting creative partner for crypto startups, successfully delivering high-impact branding and design solutions in the Web3, DeFi, and AI spaces.

Concept-to-Shelf Launch for eOn Mist (2020):

Challenge

Introduce eOn, the first personal-sized continuous mist disinfectant, during the global pandemic in a crowded market dominated by established brands like Lysol and Clorox.

Solution

Named, branded, and designed eOn mist, creating a distinctive identity, packaging, in-store displays, and executing a multi-channel marketing strategy across digital and traditional platforms.

Result

Sold over 16 million units across 15 national retailers, including CVS, Target, Walmart, Sam's Club, Kroger, Walgreens, Rite-Aid, and Safeway, and was featured in all major US airports, making it the fastest-growing concept-to-shelf brand in US retail history.

Creative Direction for Emerging Product Brands (2016–2020):

Challenge

Launch new consumer-facing products and revitalize legacy brands in competitive national retail markets, working as remote contract brand designer and creative director.

Solution

Provided remote creative direction, branding, packaging, and marketing strategy for new products like Vitalign (Circle K), Raw-Power (Whole Foods), Honey 2.0 (Costco), and Performance Research (Amazon). Led rebranding efforts for established brands such as Tamba (Hawaiian Surf Brand) and Cascade Yarns, and directed campaign design for Cahuilla Casino Hotel’s $50 million expansion in Southern California.

Result

Secured national placements in key retailers, revitalized brand presence, and expanded market growth for multiple product lines.

Supported companies in launch, and growth phases. For example,, Cahuilla Casino Hotel's rebrand succeeded in attracting regional attention and a more favorable view with a wider demographic of customers, helping position it among a stronger list of market competitors.

Creative Director for Aubío Life Sciences (2014):

Challenge

Launch Aubío, a scientifically-proven botanical cold sore treatment, in a competitive national skincare market.

Solution

Led naming, branding, packaging, and marketing strategies, establishing Aubío's presence in top retail chains. Collaborated with John Paul DeJoria (Patron Tequila, Paul Mitchell) to develop a brand that emphasized efficacy and consumer trust.

Result

Successfully launched in Target, Walgreens, and Rite-Aid, achieving a strong market foothold and rapid customer adoption.

Lead Brand Refresh and Campaign for Pechanga Resort & Casino (2012–2014):

Challenge

Introduce eOn, the first personal-sized continuous mist disinfectant, during the global pandemic in a crowded market dominated by established brands like Lysol and Clorox.

Solution

Directed a comprehensive brand refresh and ad campaign strategy, worked with in house team producing materials featured in magazines, airport advertising, billboards across California, and beyond. Developed key creative content for venue promotions, events, and property branding.

Result

Maintained and increased No 1. Casino Resort status in all of California (top resorts in nation, outside of Las Vegas), increased brand awareness and customer engagement, with campaigns featured prominently in high-traffic areas and recognized for their iconic look and feel.

Cross-Platform Branding for Harrah’s Resort SoCal (2008–2016):

Challenge

Progress from Junior Designer (2008) to Senior Designer (2010) to Creative Lead (2012–2016). Enhance brand recognition and customer experience through cohesive cross-platform branding and creative strategies.

Solution

Led development of branding and marketing assets for events, property promotion, and in-house experiences. Created award-winning campaigns recognized for excellence in design and strategic impact.

Result

Solidified the resort's Top 3 market position in So. Cal. Handful of my designs won “Best-in-Class” awards for our ad agencies campaigns; many logos and brands created remain in use today.

Agency Design Work for Major Brands (2008–2012):

Challenge

Junior Designer, remotely sub-contracted by agencies like Firstborn® and Magnetic Creative.

Solution

Developed creative assets, including banner ads and digital content for Warner Brothers, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Procter & Gamble, Marvel, Vizio, and Starburst.

Result

Enhanced brand visibility and campaign success for top-tier entertainment and consumer brands, contributing to broader market reach and engagement.

Brand Refresh for Powerhouse Gyms International (2008):

Challenge

Refresh and unify the global brand identity to drive increased franchise sales and customer engagement.

Solution

At age 18, led the brand redesign and global marketing campaign, including the creation of a new visual identity and advertising strategy.

Result

Drove significant growth in franchise sales and customer engagement, with the refreshed brand identity principles still actively in use by Powerhouse Gyms International and their 300+ franchise gyms around the world today.

Launched Simple Media Agency in Northern Nevada (2006)

Challenge

Launch design career and begin providing creative services in print, digital and web design for local business leaders.

Solution

Age 16-20, still in high school, with the help of my father who had come from an entrepreneurial, media and print background, I launched my first agency with an office in midtown Reno, NV which I would attend during office hours in the summer and finally, after school during my senior year. After graduation, my agency was my first job, leading me to work with figures across the US.

Result

Created and ran a successful local agency offering branding, advertising and web design, serving local chamber of commerce, local leaders in media, technology, medical, construction, homes-builders, real estate, law, service-industry and more. Many designs still in use today.

Team Dynamic

Open & driven to excellence. I embrace challenges and design-first thinking: focusing on solutions, research, ideation and iteration.

Continuously elevating my process and practices to meet the quality and accuracy of the highest design standards is front and center.

Leading with empathy and accountability, balancing creative potential with strategic discipline to birth ideas, create dialogue, spur collaboration and execute projects.

Initiative, process, experience and artistic entrepreneurship enable me to move with demand to meet priorities with reliable, high-fidelity creative output.

Status

🟢 I’m currently seeking a creative direction or design leadership role in tech. Please feel free to reach out to c@cmenadesigns.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.

Commitment

Design

To stay engaged in design and conference news, communicating with designer, developer and business relations across the map, continuously exploring, collecting and sharing resources.

Learning

Continuous learning, collaborating with other professionals, staying ahead of trends and technologies. Committed to further education and to being an active participant in industry events.

Creed

The best things in life are free.

Our time is our greatest asset.

Joy at the heart of it all.

Send me an Email Book a Call on Calendly

Inspiration meets technology and methodology to push the boundaries of .

Thank you and have a great day!

Best regards,

Email: c@cmenadesigns.com

© 2024 Christopher Mena

Terms & Conditions