Hi, I’m Sydney! I found my passion for art and design early, launching a plush toy company on Kickstarter at age 14. Over the past 8+ years, I’ve built a portfolio full of graphic design, product development, content creation, illustration, video production, public speaking, marketing campaigns, and even stand-up comedy. My project experience spans across technology, computer hardware, fashion, toy, music, home appliance, public health, and education industries. 

My graphic design work has sparked compliments from a Global Creative Director at Vans, a partner at Pokimane’s RTS agency, a design strategist in the Innovation Department at Mattel’s Hot Wheels division, and individuals at Google Creative Lab. My work balances professionalism, eye-catching visuals, and unique storytelling (and maybe a laugh or two). 

As a May 2022 graduate from the USC Iovine and Young Academy, I’m currently seeking a full-time position as a designer.

 

Education

 

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Class of 2022 | Trustee Scholar (full tuition) | Summa Cum Laude

+ Iovine and Young Academy Arts, Technology, and the Business of Innovation B.S.

The Academy is a collaborative, cohort-based interdisciplinary major combining graphic and product design, venture management, engineering, computer science, and communication, with a focus on design thinking and entrepreneurship.

+ Comedy Performance Minor

Experience

 
  • JUNE 2022 - PRESENT

    Freelance Graphic Designer

    loewgo.com

    + Working with clients across a variety of industries including education, real estate, non-profit, web products, and entertainment

    + Practicing communication, task management, and client relations skills, while making websites, brochures, videos, logos, reports, etc.

  • JANUARY 2020 - MAY 2022

    Selected by the Iovine and Young Academy to work in teams of 4 or 5 for 8-12 week design sprints. Conducted user research, brainstormed ideas, sketched initial concepts, designed high fidelity mock-ups, captured the process and final products in slide decks, and pitched to senior executives at each company below:

    + Google Creative Lab imagined the future of the internet

    + Samsung designed new lifestyle products for millennials + Vans developed a social media marketing campaign

    + Mattel designed a Hot Wheels toy for the future of play

    + USC envisioned and implemented a Covid-19 safety campaign

    + Dell sketched product concepts for the future of work

  • FEBRUARY 2020 - JUNE 2022

    VP of Brand

    + Manage marketing, branding, social media, and events for a music technology start-up launched with USC classmates.

    + Developed advertising and community outreach plan to gather over 10k musicians to attend our first Summit event.

  • OCTOBER 2018 - MAY 2022

    Student Ambassador, Tour Guide, and Graphic Designer

    + Hired as a freshman with a 14% acceptance rate, and completed an intensive 15-week training program.

    + Led group (up to 50 people) and VIP tours. Gave admissions presentations to 100+ people. Provided front-line, customer service to USC applicants and greater LA community.

    + Create graphic design branding materials for the Office of Admissions.

  • JULY 2013 - JANUARY 2020

    CEO and Co-Founder of Poketti Plushies with a Pocket

    + Launched plush toy company on Kickstarter after 7th grade entrepreneurial class.

    + Pitched to the Walmart toy department, produced and aired TV commercial, published an entrepreneurship handbook for kids, and won entrepreneurial awards.

    + Sold over $130k product in retail stores, Amazon, and online.

  • OCTOBER 2018 - DECEMBER 2021

    Creative Director and Visual Design Director. hauteusc.com

    + Pioneered Haute’s visual style: designed over 2.5k+ spreads spanning the first five issues, accumulating a readership of 450k+ people.

    + Directed editorial strategy and photoshoots. Won the national Vans “Spirit of DIY” and ran a sponsored photoshoot. Captured the attention of LA Fashion Week, Tumblr, Tastemade, Coty Beauty, and more.

    + Ran a concert, fashion show, and oversaw the activities of a team of 60 magazine staff members.

  • JUNE 2021 - AUGUST 2021

    Summer Full-time Advertising Intern

    + Designed magazines, event posters, invites, print ads, and catalog graphics for GUESS? Inc. internal and external brand activations. Learned professional print production, the inner-workings of the fashion world, and global brand development.

  • FEBRUARY 2021 - JUNE 2021

    Social Media Marketing Intern

    + Developed cross-platform social media graphics for the 6-time Emmy Award-winning virtual reality animation studio.

    + Designed graphics for the Animation Industry Club on Clubhouse, increased its audience by 900%, and created posts for Pixar, Disney Animation, and Skydance.

 

Awards + Honors

 

Skills

 

GRAPHIC DESIGN

print layouts + UI + marketing assets

tools: figma + adobe creative suite

ILLUSTRATION

storyboarding + product mock-ups + cartooning

tools: hand-drawing + illustrator + procreate

MEDIA + EVENTS

social media strategy + website design + video editing + event planning and execution

tools: adobe premiere + after effects

 
 

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

brand identity and pitch development + product launch strategy + organizational leadership

PUBLIC SPEAKING

tour guide + large and small group presentations + improv and stand-up comedy