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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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