Shaping creative that resonates
contactEmail
LinkedIn
Instagram
About
Hi, I’m Rachel Sparks. I’m a creative leader (gardener, cat mom, yogi, and friend) based in Santa Cruz, CA.
Over the past 10+ years, I’ve built a reputation for elevating strategy, nurturing talented teams, and crafting human-first ideas—all with an eye for detail. I’m happiest leading work that resonates with real people, whether it’s emotional brand stories or insight-driven 360° campaigns.
Feel free to reach out if you’d like to connect, collaborate, or just say hello!
BackgroundFrom an early age, I fell in love with the creative potential of the digital landscape. Studying across creative mediums, from oil paint to film, I dove into design where my passion and leadership allowed me to excel quickly.
While my career started in biotech, my true dive into tech began when I joined Facebook as a designer on a team of five leading creative across their brands. During my 5 years I launched numerous products, directed authentic campaigns, refined Facebook's brand, established their social channels, and supported the team's growth to over 120 creatives.
Collaborating with various agencies at Facebook sparked my curiosity and led me agency-side to 3Q Digital, now Dept. Where I directed campaigns, led compelling pitches, drove record-breaking new business, and crafted the highest-performing creative to date.
Most recently, as an Associate Creative Director at Instacart, I led creative for Growth Marketing across social, digital, and print channels, for both consumer and shopper audiences. In addition, I managed a team of senior creatives, directed integrated brand campaigns, spearheaded efficiencies across the marketing org, and organized fun initiatives to build connections within our remote team.
Over the years, I’ve enjoyed freelancing on the side, directing creative for both big and small brands. Now freelancing full-time, I lead creative campaigns from concept to execution, develop insight-driven strategies, and foster collaborative, supportive work environments.
Mostly, I’ve built relationships and lifelong friends.
ServicesEnvisionTogether, we’ll shape a creative strategy that connects with your audience, driven by empathy, insights, and a clear understanding of your customer journey.
Direct I’ll lead the vision by partnering with you to develop a comprehensive strategy and project plan, while also assembling the best creative team, as needed.
CreateI’ll oversee the entire creative production process for all assets, ensuring that the content is conceptually and visually cohesive across all platforms.
Contact for pricing
Recommendations“Rachel is a natural leader that never loses sight of the most critical details, while helping break down the seemingly complex into something that's simple, effective, scalable, and adaptable.”
“Rachel is a creative powerhouse. She has boundless energy and never-ending enthusiasm for the work, from creative vision to the smallest detail. Her ideas are innovative and prolific, her collaborative spirit uplifting and inspiring others.”
“As a project manager, I've never had to really manage Rachel or her projects. She is truly a self-starter and keeps herself organized and on track no matter how wild things get. She is constantly thinking outside of the box of how the team can function better and how the entire creative studio can collaborate better.”
See more references