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My name is Maria Jose, also known as MJ. I’m an Art Director currently based in Richmond, Virginia. I started my journey in Dallas, Texas where in high school I discovered my talents as a newspaper photo essay editor. From there I found out creative advertising was a thing when I went to college. And the rest is history in the making.

In my free time you might find me playing cozy games on my Nintendo Switch, watching RuPaul Drag Race, connecting with my Guatemalan culture through recipes, or going down some YouTube rabbit hole.

And now I leave you with maybe my favorite never-was piece of work where I co-wrote this rap song for one of Nintendo’s best-selling games, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. At one point I was the one doing vocals but thankfully we found someone with actual talent to rap the verses for us. Enjoy and feel free to reach out and chat. ✌🏽

Awards & Accomplishments

Cannes Lions Creative Academy Cohort | 2025

4A’s MAIP Fellow | 2017 & 2018

ANDYs Shortlist | CMAB Dairy Dispensary | 2021

Most Fashionable Senior at Hillcrest Highschool | 2018

Education

The University of Texas at Austin | B.A. Advertising, Creative Sequence
Austin, TX | 2014 - 2018