An experienced designer in both the print and digital realms, Sam has worked in many industries ranging from retail, real estate, health insurance, and e-commerce – among others. He is at home when InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop are fired up and you’ll always find he has a pen and a pad nearby to sketch out ideas before committing them to the computer. He loves the challenge of creating logos and branding for businesses and entrepreneurs along with designing for social media and the web. Having a deep interest in music, he finds his most enjoyment designing eye-catching flyers and album art for musicians and bands. Samuel is seeking any type of work that is fulfilling and challenging, whether that be something full time, part-time, freelance, or contract.
Please share your career story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was the kid who was always in my room coloring and drawing. In middle and high school, I took all the art classes I could get my hands on. When I learned you could create art on the computer and get paid for it, I immediately signed up at the local college in order to become a commercial artist.
I landed my first job in the design industry before I graduated from design school. This allowed me to hone my design skills and learn industry-standard practices on the job. I also took the opportunity to learn all I could from mentors and experienced designers. Going this route allowed me to develop my skills and understanding of the industry long before most people my age had graduated from college.
I feel that I have gotten to where I am today not only by forging relationships with people in the industry but also by forging relationships with people who need design (or may know people who need design) – musicians, entrepreneurs, business owners, etc.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Has the design industry ever gone smoothly? Personally, in all my years of experience as a designer, I have found that it has not gone smoothly – and if it has, it’s only been smooth for a few years at a time. The economy has a way of constantly shaking things up, especially when it comes to creative pursuits. On top of that, the advances in technology and software are always shaking things up. Personally, my struggle has been trying to keep up with ever-changing web technologies, devices and new media.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
To me, success is not monetary. Success is seeing your creative work out in the wild visually helping businesses and people achieve their goals.
