Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you want to know about working with Renata
What does Renata do?Renata is a Brazilian-born creative strategist, brand builder, and cultural advisor based in Northern California. She works at the intersection of culture, aesthetics, and strategy — helping small businesses and nonprofits build brands and strategic plans that are original, ethical, and built to last. Her work spans creative direction, brand identity, marketing, cultural advisory, storytelling, photography, illustration, styling, copywriting, product development, and events.
What is a creative strategist? A creative strategist sits at the crossroads of imagination and intention. Aside from generating ideas, they build the frameworks that make those ideas work in the real world. Renata combines her background as a visual storyteller, brand builder, and marketing executive to help organizations develop strategies that are as beautiful as they are effective.
What makes Renata's approach different?
Renata brings a rare combination of creative vision and strategic rigor. Where most consultants choose one lane (big-picture strategy or creative work), Renata holds both. Her guiding principle is that everything must be original, purposeful, ethical, beautiful, and genuinely add value. She doesn't just make things look good; she makes sure they mean something and move people. That's her method for creating desire.
What services does Renata offer?Renata offers a full range of creative and strategic services, including: Creative Direction, Brand Building, Marketing Strategy, Consulting, Storytelling, Photography, Illustration, Logo & Identity Design, Styling, Copywriting, Product Development, Event Planning, Trendsetting & Forecasting, and Cultural Advisory. She works across the full lifecycle — from initial strategy development through execution.
What is a cultural advisor, and why does it matter for my business?A cultural advisor helps you understand the role culture plays in your brand, your team, and your strategy. Culture isn't just what you say, it's what you do, how you show up, and what people feel when they encounter your organization. Renata helps businesses and nonprofits surface their authentic culture and use it as a strategic asset, so your brand isn't just compelling on the outside, but it is coherent all the way through. You can learn more about her culture shifting ideas here.
What is brand strategy, and do I need it? Brand strategy is the foundation of how your organization communicates who it is, what it values, and why people should care. It goes deeper than a logo or color palette. It defines your positioning, your voice, your story, and the experience you create. If you've ever felt like your marketing isn't connecting, your visual identity feels off, or your team can't agree on how to describe what you do, you likely need a brand strategy reset. Renata specializes in making that process feel clear, creative, and purposeful.
Does Renata do both strategy and execution?Yes — and that's one of the things clients value most. Renata can lead the strategic planning process and bring the vision to life creatively. Whether you need a brand identity built from the ground up, a marketing strategy developed and executed, or a creative direction framework your internal team can run with, she can meet you where you are. She’s been called a “one woman creative agency”!
What is the difference between branding and marketing?Branding is who you are. Marketing is how you share it. Branding defines your identity, values, and the emotional experience of your organization. Marketing uses that foundation to reach and engage your audience through campaigns, content, channels, and messaging. Renata works across both, and believes that the most effective marketing comes from brands with a clear, authentic foundation, and an internal culture that is aligned and prepared to carry it forward.
Can Renata help with strategic planning?Yes. Renata helps founders, small businesses and nonprofits build strategic plans that are aligned with their culture, so strategy finally sticks. Many organizations find that strategic plans fail not because the ideas were wrong, but because the culture wasn't ready to carry them. Renata bridges that gap, making sure your plan is both visionary and your team is prepared to execute it. Read more about Renata’s tried and true strategic planning framework here.
Who does Renata work with?Renata works primarily with small and mid-size businesses, founders and nonprofits that are ready to think bigger about their brand, culture, and strategy. Her best clients are purpose and community-driven and they care deeply about what they do, who they serve, and want their brand and operations to reflect that. She's is skilled in food systems, education, human development, health care, and arts, and eager to support organizations working at the intersection of community, culture, and creativity.
How does Renata work with clients?Renata is available for both project-based engagements and ongoing retainer relationships. Project work is ideal for defined deliverables, such as a brand identity, a strategic plan, a campaign. Retainer relationships work well for organizations that want consistent strategic and creative partnership over time. She's happy to talk through which model fits your needs. Email her to request a proposal.
What does it cost to work with Renata?Pricing varies depending on the scope and nature of the engagement. Renata works on both project and retainer models and tailors her proposals to fit the specific needs of each client. Reach out to start a conversation. She’d love to hear about your needs and what you're working on.