Hi, I’m Sam!
I’m a human-centered designer! I fuse aesthetics with design thinking to engineer experiences that get users excited to be part of your brand's story. Whatever you need for that—branding, advertisement, art direction, video, social media, UX/UI, you name it—I’m here to make it happen! If you want a bit more context, my problem solving manifesto is below.
Let me tell you a story.
As far as we can tell, we’ve been storytellers since the evolutionary software patch of language, and it’s a technique that ain’t broke. Storytelling is a powerful, compelling way to invite an audience into a world – to be something, not just to see something. The best brands, campaigns, superbowl ads, you name it, all take you somewhere. So, let’s go.
Human-centered design all the way.
Say there’s an astronaut flying in orbit. Warning lights start flashing, and in the chaos, they reach for the switch to adjust – and hit the wrong one. The engines cut out and the mission is aborted. An engineer might say, “clearly, our astronaut needs more training.” But a designer would say, “okay, but why was it that easy to hit the wrong switch?”
Design should just work, not make you work for it. What do I want the user to do, and how can I use their existing expectations about how things work to get them to do it? Beyond what I want, what do they actually need? Test, iterate, test again. See how people break it. Make it intuitive to hit the right switch.
Curiosity is life.
I’m a glassblower, a skier, an avid traveler. I sleep on trains and other peoples’ couches. Get lost in a new city, maybe you’ll find the best lobster roll you’ve ever had. Play hard. The outdoors are magic. Pick up bugs and learn what they are. I go crazy for a cocktail party. People are my favorite thing in the world. And I bring that energy to everything I do. Wouldn’t you know it, if stay curious, you get pretty good at finding creative solutions in unexpected places.
Resume
©Sam Rauch 2024