MAGDALENA ZAPATA

Art Direction

Creative Operations

Content & Asset Strategy

Global Team Leadership

Hello—I’m an art director, creative leader, and brand steward who believes the best creative work starts with a story people can feel and a purpose teams can rally around.

My perspective has been shaped by what I like to call my cultural trifecta: born in Puerto Rico, creatively influenced by the energy and diversity of New York City during my formative years, and now grounded in Central Florida. Each place added a layer to how I see the world—teaching me that storytelling is universal, connection is intentional, and truly great experiences are built with empathy at their core.

Today, I serve as Design Studio & Content and Asset Senior Manager at Marriott Vacations Worldwide, where I have the privilege of leading a globally distributed team of production designers. Together, we support multiple brands and markets, delivering a high volume of creative work while ensuring every asset feels cohesive, thoughtful, and aligned to a seamless guest experience.

My role lives where creativity meets structure. I work closely with brand, marketing, content, digital, and regional partners to bring clarity to complex workflows—aligning creative output with business goals, timelines, and evolving content strategies. By building smart processes and strong asset management practices, I help teams move efficiently without losing sight of quality or craft.

I’m deeply invested in how creative work gets made. From designing efficient workflows and content pipelines to mentoring designers and aligning resources across time zones, my focus is always on setting teams up for success. I believe strong creative operations should feel supportive, not restrictive—giving creatives the structure they need to do their best work while protecting the integrity of the brand.

I care deeply about how the work gets made. From shaping workflows and content pipelines to mentoring designers and aligning resources across time zones, my focus is always on creating an environment where creatives feel supported, trusted, and empowered to do their best work. The right structure shouldn’t limit creativity—it should protect it.

At the heart of everything I do is storytelling with intention. Whether I’m managing a global content ecosystem or guiding production across teams, I pay close attention to the details that elevate an experience—how assets connect, how stories unfold, and how every touchpoint feels considered and cohesive.

Influenced by culture, collaboration, and a lifelong love of creativity, I bring a people-first approach to creative leadership. Because when teams are aligned and supported, the work doesn’t just deliver—it creates moments that stay with people long after the first impression.

“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to it’s old dimensions”

– Oliver Wendel Holmes Jr.