Arturo Martinez

DISTRICT DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE SERVICES TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE
FORT WORTH TX

Arturo Martinez is a culturally connected strategist who brings a rich and diverse experience to conceptualize creative ideas through a passion for design thinking, visual design, and an understanding of emerging social, cultural, and industry trends. Since 1998, he has been responsible for creative ideation and execution of marketing collateral for a diverse range of organizations, including small business startups, large corporations, and non-profits. Arturo had an immediate impact when he joined Tarrant County College’s Communications, Public Relations & Marketing Department. TCC is a two-year public institution in Texas with six campuses. The institution provides an affordable education and open access to over 98,000+ students annually. For the past decade, as District Director of Creative Services, Arturo has introduced a customercentric design approach and a willingness to embrace a culture of collaboration across the District. Tactfully bold, Arturo heads a team of 20+ multidisciplinary designers, guiding and nurturing artistic work that delivers on business value. He champions brand strategy, graphic identity, and design standards across multiple touchpoints, helps support the college’s strategic communication goals through design-driven solutions, enhances the college experience and academic environment, and promotes access to support student success and lifelong learning. Accountable for the department’s work, growth, and deliverables, Arturo shows up every day with a drive to exceed expectations. In 2017, the Fort Worth Business Press honored him as a top minority leader in business and the community, based on professional achievements, civic contributions, and philanthropy.

HOW AND WHY DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN DESIGNING FOR GOOD AND WHY DO YOU BELIEVE DESIGN IS AN ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR THIS GOAL?

Arturo always wanted to make a difference in the world. He has used his infectious passion for creativity to become involved in community endeavors that create positive social impact and address disparities. A lifelong resident of Fort Worth, Arturo has served on the City’s Human Relations Commission, where, among other things, he was lead designer for the “Mujeres Poderosas” Legacy of Strong Latinas in Fort Worth interactive exhibit; on Fort Worth’s Race and Cultural Task Force, where he recommended a strategy that addresses high school dropout rates through civic engagement to improve college, career, and civic readiness; and as an active founding member of the Historians of Latino Americans (HOLA), Tarrant County, which researches, documents, archives and raises awareness of Latina and Latino contributions to the civil, educational, and cultural history of the county.

GIVEN THE CONFLUENCE OF EVENTS AND CHALLENGES WE FACE THIS FALL, DOES 2020 PRESENT ANY SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES, URGENCIES, OBSTACLES TO DESIGNING FOR GOOD?

The pandemic changed the working landscape overnight, and we all had to adjust to a new way of life. The opportunity to design for good lies in maintaining a growth mindset, tapping into our skillset and craft, leveraging creativity to problem solve and challenge boundaries. Creatives have the ability to navigate ambiguity — this, combined with curiosity and bold action, can build a culture of belonging not only in our work but the spaces we occupy. Today, customers choose brands that share and reflect their values, and the need to design at the speed of culture will require accelerated digital transformation as well as leadership that reflects the diversity of the industry’s workforce.