About – Mike Ruiz

Hi there

I live and work in the Bay Area and have a knack for turning relatively complicated concepts and topics into thoughtfully simple, human, and engaging ideas.

Creative Direction // Film Direction // Motion Direction // Campaign Development // Branding // Strategy // Production // Copywriting // Team Management // and other stuff you're into

Across the Pond // Freelance Creative Director
03/2024 - 02/2025

Creative director and lead for Across the Pond's Google client business, overseeing brand strategy, storytelling, and creative video production for Google Research and YouTube Marketing.

Meta // Creative Director, Film and Video
09/2019 - 06/2023

Oversaw concept development, strategy, and all levels of creative and production for brand storytelling, product releases, and tentpole events across Meta Brand, Innovations, Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. In addition to leading teams of designers, writers, motion artists, and editors internally, I also partnered with and managed work from external studios and agency partners.

Freelance Creative Director
05/2015 - Current

Freelance Creative Director for Various Advertising and In-House Agencies: Eko Health, Brand Strategist | Facebook, Messenger | Doremus, Capital One, Intel | Google, Cloud and Chrome OS Marketing | Cutwater, Financial Engines, New Business, Sparkle Paper Towels | Grey, Fitbit, UCHealth | Intrepid SF, Topology Eyewear

Firewood // Group Creative Director
04/2017 - 06/2017

Managed creative teams and campaign work for agency clients: AirBnB | LinkedIn.

Google // Creative Strategist, Contract
10/2016 - 03/2017

As part of the Google Brand Studio, developed creative strategy and concept work for company brand initiatives, New Google Earth launch, Annual Year in Review, April Fools (Google Gnome), and revisions to the Google Brand Guidelines.

MRY // Creative Director
05/2015 - 05/2016

Led creative teams and client management for the San Francisco and Seattle MRY offices. Oversaw creative work for agency clients: Charles Schwab | Credit Karma | Del Monte | Google | T-Mobile

Swirl // Associate Creative Director
01/2012 - 05/2015

Download Resume

Extras

Shorty Impact Awards Finalist 2022
Meta - Be You

American Advertising Federation, Seattle
Silver Addy 2016
T-Mobile - Binge On

Academy of Art University
Advertising Dept. 2007-2009
Masters/Undergraduate Instructor

Out in the world

I dad, cook, hike, garden, game, gym, read, lego, and sometimes wine. All in no particular order, except for dadding. That always comes first.

Let's get in touch.