Robles
Denny
THE SHORT VERSIONDenny Robles is a design director with 19 years of experience translating brand strategy into visual systems that resonate and endure. He builds cultures where people thrive, and his track record of retaining senior creative talent speaks for itself.
ROSTERBrands Denny has worked with.
WORK
Upwork Updates
Upwork Updates was a twice-yearly showcase of the platform's latest product features, and one of the most complex cross-functional efforts on the creative team's plate. When the project was first introduced, there was no clear process, no established workflow, and no defined ownership. That changed.
Over three seasons spanning Spring 2024, Fall 2024, and Summer 2025, the initiative was built from the ground up into a streamlined, repeatable production.
Leading the team responsible for all campaign assets, site iterations, and module design, the work touched every layer of the project, from creating and updating the site itself to producing static assets and overseeing a hero video. C-suite approvals were managed throughout, requiring a high bar of craft and clear, confident communication at every stage.
One of the most meaningful contributions was introducing Figma as a cross-departmental review tool, bringing other teams into the process in a way that reduced friction and improved feedback loops. By the final season, what once took an undefined and chaotic timeline had been refined into a production cycle achievable in three months.
Upwork Business Plus Campaign
Small business owners wear every hat, take on every task, and work every late night. The Upwork Business Plus campaign was built around a single, bold message: Stop Doing Everything.
Led the creative/design team in bringing this SMB campaign to life, delivering work that felt fresh, polished, and true to the Upwork brand.
The campaign told a story that resonated with its audience while positioning the company at its creative best.
RXBAR OOH
Production on 100+ mechanicals for RXBAR’s “No B.S.” campaign.
Nike Australia: Yes
Collaborated on Nike's Yes campaign, a landmark piece of brand work championing marriage equality in Australia.
#CreatePride Block Party
Produced and Creative Directed the #CreatePride Block Party to benefit New Avenues for Youth. CreatePridePDX.com
adidas Running: Climacool
Collaborated on concept, directed retouching, wrote copy, and produced key visuals.
Logged-Out Component (LOC) Library for Upwork Visitor Sites
Designed and built a LOC library for Upwork's visitor-facing sites. The library launched with 30+ pages updated in the first phase and was built to continue powering the experience well beyond the initial rollout.
PHILOSOPHYDenny believes good design comes from teams that trust each other, diverse voices that make the work better, and systems that give creativity room to breathe. His approach is rooted in empathy, intention, and the belief that the best design directors are makers who never lose touch with the craft.
“Shoutout to Denny Robles and team for bringing the new Upwork brand portal to life! This work establishes greater consistency, simplicity, and a strong foundation for our brand. By moving it into Figma and Webflow, you've made it more accessible while also saving the company $20k in hosting fees. The new LOC library that Denny built was critical in helping us move quickly and get this launched.”
— VP of Design