Client: Live Like Sam Foundation | Role: Freelance Graphic Designer | Deliverables: Posters, event program, large form banners, and merchandise
The Live Like Sam Foundation is a youth empowerment and mental wellness organization created in honor of Sam Jackenthal, a 16-year-old professional athlete who lived his short life to its fullest.
The challenge: The foundation was growing fast, and its annual gala, the biggest fundraiser of the year, needed to look the part. The organization wanted designs that were professional and modern, and that matched its success and reputation, while keeping the fun, youthful spirit of the event and honoring Sam’s legacy.
The approach: I created blue and yellow background elements for the posters and program to match the event’s color scheme and lively atmosphere. The design traces the path of a ski jump, a subtle tribute to Sam that carried through every piece and felt especially meaningful at an event held beneath the Park City Olympic ski jumps. In the second year, I expanded the system to include 6-foot banners for the venue, using AI-generated imagery and upscaling to produce print-ready work without a stock photo budget. I also designed hats and stickers.
The result: The refreshed look gave the gala a cohesive, polished identity across print, large-format, and merchandise, and the foundation brought me back to update the program the next year.
