Professional experience

Illinois REALTORS® Graphic Design Specialist

November 2021 – September 2025

At Illinois REALTORS®, I specialized in event design, taking the lead on the majority of creative deliverables for the organization’s five major annual events (often hosting 500+ attendees). In addition, I contributed to ongoing marketing, brand identity, and digital content initiatives that engaged members statewide.

Key Contributions:

  • Event Design Leadership: Designed the majority of event deliverables including promotional campaigns, web and email graphics, stage and presentation visuals, video assets, and a wide range of print collateral (badges, programs, tickets, menus, banners, directional signage, maps, packaging, archways, etc.).

  • Event Support & Production: Assisted with on-site setup, including installation of banners and signage; also served as event photographer and B-roll videographer.

  • Print & Digital Marketing: Produced weekly member email designs and statewide layouts; redesigned the New Member Mailing Campaign sent to thousands of newly licensed REALTORS® across Illinois.

  • Brand & Visual Identity: Designed sub-brand logos and graphics to support organizational initiatives while maintaining brand standards.

  • Social Media & Campaign Design: Collaborated with the social media manager to produce roughly half of the organization’s social graphics; created holiday, heritage month, and office closure designs.

  • Illustration & Specialty Projects: Illustrated annual portraits of past presidents; designed advertising assets highlighting continuing education course promotions.

  • Multimedia Production: Assisted with podcast recording and editing for the weekly Member Connection email.

CIULLA ASSOC Packaging Designer

Internship  |  Aug 2018 – Jan 2019
Designer  |  January 2019 – June 2019

Contributed to brand strategy and creative execution for national consumer brands across food, personal care, and household product categories. Responsibilities included attending client meetings, auditing brand identities, and developing packaging concepts aligned with brand positioning.

Key Contributions:

  • Brand Development: Assisted in creating brand manifestos and repositioning strategies for major clients including Colgate, Persil, DUDE Products, Nonni’s, and PetAg.

  • Packaging Design: Designed packaging concepts for soaps, shampoos, deodorants, and laundry detergents (Colgate, Persil, DUDE Products).

  • Food Packaging & Photography: Led the packaging design of Nonni’s La Dolce Vita biscotti line from concept through production, including product photography and photo retouching.

  • Product Line Extensions: Developed full-panel layouts for Nonni’s ThinAddictives line and contributed to packaging updates that repositioned La Dolce Vita products for natural food channels.

Northern Illinois University Games Camp Counselor & Graphic Designer

Summers of 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2021

Taught and mentored students in grades 5–12 on the fundamentals of video game coding, design, and 3D modeling. Collaborated with fellow instructors to develop structured curricula, engaging lesson plans, and hands-on projects tailored to varying skill levels.

Key Contributions:

  • Instruction & Mentorship: Guided students in learning GameMaker, Python, and 3D design software, fostering creativity and technical confidence.

  • Curriculum Development: Helped design course objectives, schedules, and interactive workshops that balanced technical instruction with game design theory.

  • Team Collaboration: Worked closely with a team of instructors to deliver a cohesive, supportive camp experience for diverse groups of learners.

  • Student Engagement: Encouraged teamwork and problem-solving by overseeing group projects and game prototypes.

Contact

Check out my contact form

Contact me →

Or you can email me at
samimclick@gmail.com

Education

Northern Illinois University
Bachelor in Fine Arts in Visual
Communication

Graduated 2018

Skills

  • Experience Level ●●●●●

    InDesign is the program I have the most experience with. It was the primary application used throughout my studies and during my four years at Illinois REALTORS.

  • Experience Level ●●●●○

    I have extensive experience using Adobe Illustrator from my time at a packaging design company in Chicago. I created roughs and applied them to dielines for print. My work supported the print-ready designs. Since then, my Illustrator experience has focused on logo and icon design and editing more complex illustrations like vector landscapes.

  • Experience Level ●●●○○

    I have experience in photo restoration, editing, manipulation, and retouching, with Photoshop being an essential tool in my design work. While I typically handle typography and layout work in InDesign, Photoshop remains a core part of my workflow.

  • Experience Level ●●○○○

    I have experience in Adobe Premiere Pro through professional video editing and personal projects. I’ve created compilation videos, art process and promotional content, and instructional videos for design camps, with experience syncing edits to music and working with voiceovers. I’ve also streamed on Twitch and have experience editing VODs into content formatted for YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

  • Experience Level ●●○○○

    I have photography experience from both studio and event settings. At a packaging design job, I photographed products using controlled lighting and clean backdrops, and handled basic retouching. While working at Illinois REALTORS®, I was one of two primary photographers for five major annual events, capturing speakers, crowd moments, and photo opportunities used across promotional materials, blogs, and social media. I also set up and managed photo-op stations, offering attendees both professional, well-lit photos and quick shots on their own devices.

  • Experience Level ●●○○○

    I have some experience with After Effects and a strong passion for combining visual art with motion. Most of my work has been through personal and school projects.

  • Experience Level ●●○○○

    I have experience designing websites on Squarespace, including two personal portfolios and a site for my brother-in-law’s AV company.

  • Experience Level ●●○○○

    While Canva isn’t my preferred design tool, I have experience translating files between Canva and Adobe apps. I recognize its convenience and enjoy staying up to date with the latest design tools.

  • I enjoy creating realistic portraits and exploring detail and expression in my work.

    Mediums I work with most:

    • Charcoal drawings

    • Colored pencil drawings

    • Oil paintings