What's up
My name is Sam, I’m a creative lead, graphic designer, and problem solver at heart — currently creating full-time for Alpha Epsilon Pi’s National Headquarters. I specialize in brand identity, web design, and digital content that doesn't just look good, but actually works. Whether I’m building out an AI-powered email system or designing a full visual identity from scratch, I bring bold ideas and a relentless drive to get things right.
My work is guided by one core mindset: be the best at what I do. That means sweating the details, pushing for premium quality, and never settling for “good enough.” I’m naturally competitive — in a good way — and I thrive in creative environments where I’m surrounded by other people raising the bar. Design is how I solve problems, tell stories, and give ideas a visual voice that sticks. I’m always looking for ways to push the work further and elevate whatever I touch.
Outside of work, I live at the beach, lift at the gym, and make a mean pepperoni pizza (from scratch). I’ve got two cats who are constantly walking across my keyboard, and a deep love for live music. I bring that same energy into my design — thoughtful, creative, a little unexpected, and built to last.
EDUCATION
University of South Carolina
BA Visual Communications
CERTIFICATIONS
Fundamentals of Digital Marketing
Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity | Mar 2025 - Present
EXPERIENCE
Inbound Marketing Certified
HubSpot
Creative Marketing Lead
Communications Associate
Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity | Mar 2024 - Mar 2025
Social Media Content Intern
Olami | Aug 2023 - Dec 2023
Production & Creative Operations Coordinator
Made you Look Marketing | May 2022 - May 2023
Graphic Design Intern
SAPE Office at USC | Jan 2022 - May 2022
SHORTCUTS
Professional Stuff
College Stuff
AEPi International Convention 2024
For AEPi’s 111th International Convention in Miami, I created a full brand identity inspired by the bold, neon-soaked energy of Miami Vice. From signage and slide decks to social media assets, name tags, and a custom-branded website, every touchpoint was designed to feel unified, high-energy, and unmistakably “Miami.” I built the entire visual system from the ground up using Adobe Creative Suite, and adapted it across dozens of last-minute requests and tight deadlines. Seeing the brand come to life throughout the event — and knowing it held up across every format — was one of the most rewarding moments of my career so far.
AEPi Votes Campaign
The AEPi Votes campaign was a national push to get college students registered to vote through AEPi’s custom voter portal — and I built the visual identity that brought it to life. I designed a full suite of social media graphics for our national channels, along with customizable assets for individual chapters to share on their own accounts. I also created and wrote a flyer that was printed and distributed to undergrads to hand out on campus. The goal was clear: get students engaged and registered. The look was bold, modern, and purpose-driven — and I’m proud of how clean and cool the final campaign turned out.
THE LION
After a five-year hiatus, AEPi revived its official publication, The Lion, and I was tasked with designing the entire Spring 2025 edition — all 74 pages, front to back — in just two weeks. With a brutal turnaround and no recent issues to pull from, I built the layout from scratch, bringing a clean, modern magazine feel to the legacy format. From the cover design to every article layout, photo treatment, and graphic element, the final product felt cohesive and elevated. It was a massive solo lift on a tight deadline, and I’m proud to have brought The Lion back to life.
MENSCH
MADNESS
Mensch Madness is AEPi’s annual bracket challenge, where participants compete for a cash prize while raising money for a featured charity — and in 2025, I gave the campaign a full visual overhaul. I created a clean, sporty, and modern brand identity unique to Mensch Madness, complete with chapter-ready social graphics, national promotional content, and a comprehensive campaign guide. The guide, which explained the event and outlined how chapters could get involved, was designed start to finish in just one week — during a week I was scheduled to move across states and had requested PTO months earlier (I was told it was fine, and then had to work anyway). Despite the chaos, I delivered a high-impact, cohesive campaign that raised the visual standard for years to come.
SOLE SOCIETY
Sole Society is a concept magazine I created for a college assignment, built around sneaker culture and streetwear. I handled everything from product photography to layout design, centering the issue around the Jordan XXXIV ‘Coloring Book’ — a vibrant, playful shoe that inspired the entire visual theme. The result was a colorful, doodle-style aesthetic that gave the magazine a creative, childlike energy while still feeling polished and editorial. I shot the shoes in the campus studio, edited the images, designed the logo, and built the full cover and article layout using Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. What makes this project even more meaningful to me is that I completed it with a freshly broken arm — my dominant hand — just days before the deadline. I was determined to finish my portfolio and graduate on time, and this piece became the proof that I could push through anything to get the job done.
KAPPA
KAISEKI
Kappa Kaiseki is a high-end Japanese restaurant concept I created for a college branding assignment, blending traditional culture with modern elegance. The name combines Kappa, a nod to Japanese folklore, with Kaiseki, a refined multi-course dining experience known for its seasonal precision and presentation. I developed the full identity system from scratch — including logos, typography, color palette, and real-world applications like sleek, minimal food and drink menus. The visual direction leans dark, bold, and luxurious, using black and red to emphasize sophistication. Designed entirely in Adobe Creative Suite, this project is one of my favorite executions — conceptually strong, visually tight, and exactly the vibe I was aiming for.
BUBBIES BAGELS
Bubbie’s Bagels is a concept app I created for a college assignment focused on map-based UX. Designed entirely from scratch in Adobe XD, the app helps users find the best bagels in NYC — kind of like Yelp, but if it only cared about bagels (and had a Jewish grandma running the place). I designed the full brand identity, including the hand-drawn logo, playful color palette, and an original illustration of “Bubbie” herself. The vibe is light, fun, and hyper-niche — built around a love of bagels, a sweet grandma, and clean UI. This one was just plain fun to make, and I love how distinct and scroll-stopping it turned out.
GRATEFUL TO BE HERE
Grateful to Be Here is a 7-minute mini documentary I created solo for a college project, centered on Loose Lucy’s — a Grateful Dead-themed mom-and-pop shop in downtown Columbia, SC. I handled everything from filming and interviewing to editing and sound, using an EOS R camera and Premiere Pro. The film focuses on the couple who owns the shop and the sense of community and nostalgia the store has cultivated since opening in the 1990s. For fans of the Grateful Dead — or anyone who grew up in that part of town — it’s more than a store. It’s a vibe, a memory, a home base. This was one of the most fulfilling projects I’ve ever worked on, and it reflects both my creative range and my love for storytelling with soul.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Since stepping into my role at AEPi, I’ve taken the lead on designing and producing all social media content — with a focus on creating clean, consistent visuals that reflect the brand’s identity across every platform. I introduced a cohesive visual system that had previously been missing, and leaned heavily into video content, especially Instagram Reels. A major highlight of this work was covering AEPi’s 112th International Convention in Houston, where I shot, edited, and produced a full slate of event highlights designed specifically for social engagement.
The results speak for themselves. During Convention Week alone, our content generated over 150,000 views on Instagram — 15x our follower count — and reached 15,000+ new accounts, a 350% jump from our usual weekly average. Overall, since I took over the social channels, AEPi’s social media reach is up 387% and engagement is up 105%. Beyond the numbers, I’m proud of how far we’ve pushed the brand visually — turning social media into a space that actually reflects the energy and identity of the organization.