About.
Sam is an Australian contemporary Artist and Art Director living in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
From a working property outside a tiny town called Mandurama, Sam has worked as a fashion designer, UX/UI, print and branding designer before finding her career as an Art Director.
Awarded 1st class honours at UTS University for fashion and textile design, GQ titled Sam one of 'The Menswear Designers to Watch'.
Sam was offered a full scholarship for a PhD in philosophy at Oxford University UK for her thesis on societal gender and conformity.
Watching the world turn digital, she completed a Postgraduate degree in UX/UI Web and App design in half the time while working full time at the Grumpy Sailor Agency. She soon after acquired a role at The Works Agency as a UX/UI & Print Designer before becoming an Art Director.
While constructing multiple light sculptures for Vivid, Sydney fringe festival and Tortuga night studios and working full time, Sam placed in the top three in the Award School competition
Sam has recently been awarded creative finalist for the B&T 30 under 30 awards and has also placed 2nd internationally for the Young Glory competition (2021).
Awards
The One Show || Bronze || Big W's The Big-headed Bilby || 2022
Creative Pool Finalist for Innovation || Big W's The Big-headed Bilby || 2021
The Creative Shop Lighthouse Award APAC || Big Headed Bilby || 2021
2nd Place Globally || Young Glory || 2021
Pitch for business || Won TikTok for M&C Saatchi || 2021
30 Under 30 award || Creative Shortlisted and finalist || 2021
Effie Finalist || Smith Family Christmas Campaign || 2021
Top 3 || AwardSchool || 2020
Press
Making art to stay fresh - B&T article
Work
The Works - Sydney
M&C Saatchi - Sydney
AKQA - Amsterdam
Clients
(Current and previous)
TikTok
AIME
BWS
Big W
Optus
Tourism Australia
Commonwealth Bank
The Smith Family
o8t (omniscient neurotechnology)
Black Hawk
Art Exhibitions
KVNRM || 2020
Vandal gallery || 2021
Sculpture Events
Sydney Fringe Festival || 2019
Sydney Commune || 2019
Vivid || 2019
Tortuga Fire Garden || 2019
Tortuga Night Garden || 2018
Testimonials
I met Sam while I was running an Award School application workshop. The moment she started talking, I just knew there was something special about her. She’s articulate and smart. I realised since then, that she’s lived many creative lives - fashion, design, UX and now as an art director at M&C Saatchi. This wealth of diverse experiences shines through in the maturity, clarity and downright ‘cool’ Sam brings to every project she touches. Sam is deserving of all the recognition that is sure to come her way.
Mandie van der Merwe
ECD M&C Saatchi
Sam has been crucial in bringing to life our new uniform designs for BWS. Her creative flair and motivating attitude has really brought an extra element to our work. She has taken so much initiative and is an exceptionally talented artist. We love working with her!
Ken Russell
Head of Marketing, BWS