Rachael Zak
Creative Director + Art Director
About
Hi! Thanks for stopping by. I'm Rachael, a CD + AD based in SF.
My passion for creative direction photo art direction, and design has resulted in 15+ years of experience in traditional and boutique agencies. Detail-oriented, conceptual and strategic, I'm a confident contributor who is equally effective as a manager and as a hands-on team member. I love complex creative challenges and creating engaging visual stories for both new and existing brands.
Specialties: Integrated Campaigns, Digital, Social, Brand Identity, Print, Photography Direction and Shoot Production.
Brands I've Worked With
People I've Worked With
I've had the great fortune of working with Rachael on a number of long term projects for Snapfish including an extensive rebrand. As a Creative Director, she possesses the most important attributes: she a talented, creative problem solver with a cost-saving approach, and she is extremely detailed-oriented particularly with managing a great deal of complexity. Her catalog direction skills are unparalleled and each year we have full confidence in her ability to handle and deliver excellence in all aspects from design to photo shoot management and print. Added to these indispensable skills is the essential component of character; what makes Rachael exceptional is that she's a wonderful team player with a heart of gold. She's a true gem who's admired by all lucky enough to work with her!
- Lisa Caplan, Director of Creative Solutions at Snapfish
I enjoyed my time working with Rachael. She is incredibly talented and brings a fresh perspective to every project. I was impressed with her ability to understand our company's needs and create solutions that were practical, creative and on target. She pushed to explore visual options yet was decisive and organized amongst tight deadlines and project requirements. I would highly recommend Rachael and would love to work with her again!
- Elaina Garvin Briant, Design Manager at Snapfish
I've had the pleasure of working with Rachael for over five years on hundreds of projects for dozens of clients. She is a keen problem solver, a creative ninja and an inspirational leader that the entire team looks up to. No project is too big or too small, and clients value her work, expertise, opinions and insights. I hope I get to work with her again!
- Ian Young, Creative Director at Esurance
It is a joy to work with Rachael as an creative director / art director. Before every shoot she communicates clearly with the client and my team, and the shot lists are extraordinarily organized. I agree with the creative decisions she makes on set. The client is always thrilled with the results. My team and I looked forward to every shoot with her for these reasons - also she is fun and friendly!
- Sherry Heck, Photographer
Rachael is incredibly thorough in her process of thinking through all creative challenges that affect a photoshoot and the subsequent images that come out of that shoot. Beyond that, I believe her greatest skill is her ability to disseminate her thought process to the crew that is helping to create her vision. Her ability to "translate" her creative direction to all parties - production, stylists, photographer, client - helps create a smooth work process and the exact results she wants. She is a true pleasure to work with.
- Jeanne Fleming, Producer - Still + Motion Photography Shoots
I have known and worked with Rachael Zak several times in my career. She came to work on my creative staff at Peck Sims Mueller in Honolulu, Hawaii, right out of school in Detroit. Her portfolio at that time was very promising, she was very positive and seemed like she would make a good partner for the copywriters on staff . Rachael did not disappoint. Her design and concepts were strong, creating work that surpassed my expectations. And she was a great partner for the writers. After producing some excellent work, Rachael left the agency and went to work in interactive at a competing agency in town. Several years passed. I was now a creative director at another agency, Laird Christianson. My task was to build their creative teams and raise their creative profile. Without hesitation, one of the first people I called was Rachael. Luckily, she accepted. She got to work on all aspects of advertising and rounded out her client category experience. After a few years, Rachael felt that it was time to work in a larger market. She headed to San Francisco. In the years that have passed, we have kept in touch, remaining friends. She continues to have my respect as a creative person. Rachael is one of a handful of people that I have no hesitation working with. In fact, when the right projects roll along, she receives a phone call from me. I hope you have the opportunity to work with Rachael.
- Stan Moy, Creative Director & Managing Partner at 4Front Branding
Rachel is an asset to any agency- she's got a ton of experience, works well with others and has a solid sense of design. I have had the pleasure of working with her at a few different agencies, and she has always been a pleasure to work with. She's a true leader and more importantly, doesn't mind getting in the trenches and being hands on if necessary.
- Allan V. Aguas, Associate Creative Director at LIFT Agency
Do yourself a favor.. If you have an opportunity to work with Rachael I highly recommend you don't pass it up! She's incredibly smart, hardworking, big picture focused, and fun to work with! Highest level creative team leader with vision and talent for balancing beautiful creative and the challenges associated with multimedia demands. I hope to see her soon!
- Rob DeSino, Account Director at DMAX Imaging
I’m privileged to write the following comments about Rachael Zak who is a longtime friend and colleague. I first met Rachael in the mid-90s at Milici Valenti Ng Pack Advertising in Honolulu (a DDB Associate Agency). I was Creative Director and Rachael was a superb Art Director who divided her time between the traditional agency and Firefly, our newly-formed digital shop. Rachael was (and still is), ahead-of-the-technological curve and she helped lead MVNP into the 21st Century. Beyond her extraordinary art direction and design skills, Rachael is a joy to work with. She is a strategic thinker and an enthusiastic collaborator. She’s wise in both a street and an intellectual sense, has a wonderful sense of humor and a refreshing absence of ego. If she has any weaknesses, they are (a) her sensitivity to overactive air conditioners and (b) her fear of small birds. Hiring Rachael will make your day (I promise) and probably your whole year. If you’re looking for world class talent, openness creativity, integrity, and (as they used to say in advertising) much, much more, contact Rachael immediately.
Walter Wanger, Instructor at the Academy of Art + freelance writer
Fun Stuff
Things that make me smile:
My dogs Rue and Beans, succulents, the gym, Hawaii, surfing, running, tacos, Pinterest (Some say I am slightly obsessed with pinning. I like to think of it as collecting.), photo shoots, bad sci-fi movies, Instagram, playlists on Soundcloud, did I mention tacos? Yes, tacos always more tacos.