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Resume

Experience

Graphic Apparel Designer - Aerie (American Eagle Outfitters)
2025 – Present

  • Design graphics across 6+ categories per season for Aerie's global stores and e-commerce, a brand recognized as AEO's fastest-growing segment with double-digit comp sales growth

  • Design for screen printing, embroidery, jacquard knitting; collaborate with design teams to sample new techniques

  • Build and maintain detailed tech packs and production-ready artwork files for each season

  • Create graphics for licensed partnerships and collaborations (e.g., Dr. Seuss, Peanuts), ensuring brand and licensor guidelines are met

  • Review strike-offs, samples, and embroidery sew-outs to ensure design and color accuracy prior to production

  • Collaborate with design, merchandising, and production teams to ensure graphics align with garment construction and vendor requirements

 

Lead Graphic Apparel Designer/Founder - Heck Studios
2022-2025

  • Designed 1,000+ custom print-ready graphics annually across apparel, accessories, and digital goods, tailored to client needs across screen print, embroidery, and digital

  • Advised clients on garment construction, print feasibility, and production techniques, translating creative vision into production-ready output

  • Researched contemporary and vintage trend references to keep client work culturally relevant and on-trend

  • Built and maintained partnerships with production facilities, offering clients seamless end-to-end printing solutions

  • Managed client relationships and cross-functional communication from initial concept through final product hand-off

  • Implemented systems and processes for project management, improving turnaround time and client experience

  • Designed and maintained digital brand assets across website and social channels, ensuring visual consistency

 

Lead Graphic Apparel Designer - University Tees
2019-2021

  • Led the apparel design initiative for the company’s new e-commerce website that launched in 2019 and drove $2M in annual sales by its second year

  • Streamlined design and production workflows to increase speed and reduce error costs for monthly design drops

  • Collaborated with production team to enhance DTG print process and quality, elevating product standards

  • Managed licensing compliance for Collegiate and Greek designs, aligning products with brand standards and legal requirements

  • Managed influencer custom collab collection projects from start to finish

  • Conducted trend research and collaborated with affiliates to identify emerging styles, ensuring product relevance and appeal

  • Led and trained part-time designers

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Fashion Design

   Kent State University

Associate of Business Management

   Lorain County Community College

Skills

Illustrator

Photoshop

Adobe Suite

Procreate

Tech Packs

Google Suite

Figma

GTX Graphic Lab

CLO

Notion/Asana/Trello

Sam Wiggins

Graphic Apparel Designer

Brooklyn, NY

Product photos not taken by me, portfolio is to show graphic apparel design only

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