Samuel Austin, Designer in London, United Kingdom
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Samuel Austin

Verified Expert  in Design

Designer

Location
London, United Kingdom
Toptal Member Since
November 8, 2018

Samuel is a senior product designer specializing in fintech and Web3-based projects. Having worked with global advertising agencies for over a decade with clients like Adidas, O2, and Universal, Samuel has traversed roles such as art director, filmmaker, and senior creative lead before shifting into fintech. Recently, he's worked with blockchain startups to rapidly build and prototype applications that have raised several million dollars in funding.

Visual DesignVideo EditingWeb DesignUI DesignDigital StrategySocial Media Marketing (SMM)User Interface (UI)Presentation DesignUX DesignCreative DirectionWeb App DesignAdobe PhotoshopAdobe IllustratorAdobe Creative SuiteSketchVisual Communication

Portfolio

Work Experience

Freelancer

2015 - PRESENT
Sam Austin Design
  • Served as lead designer for a blockchain-based social media app that is about to launch onto the iOS marketplace.
  • Created the artwork for Mumford & Sons' album that topped #1 on iTunes for several weeks globally. My work was on thousands of billboards and TV screens across the planet for months.
  • Worked freelance for clients such as Adidas, Jack Daniels, Universal and O2 mobile.
  • Collaborated with clients remotely to build and grow their digital presence in the form of brand and experience strategy, website, app, and graphic/digital design.
  • Worked with a Melbourne-based yoga studio on their UI, branding, and marketing strategy to triple their income and yoga studio members in six months.
  • Freelanced for some of the world's top advertising agencies; primarily working on international ad campaigns, pitch decks, rapid MVP builds, and website builds.
Technologies: Adobe After Effects, Figma, Marvel, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Webflow, InVision, Sketch

Senior Product Designer

2021 - 2023
Laguna
  • Built a stablecoin protocol with the capacity to mint, redeem, and borrow in correlation to the collateral offered. The protocol was built for a Web3 blockchain user with decentralization and financial liberty as a core focus.
  • Developed an open-source multichain cryptocurrency wallet for iOS/Android and browser extensions. Launching first on Polkadot and then Ethereum, the wallet was one of the first wallets to aggregate balances across multiple chains.
  • Built, prototyped, and iterated upon multiple cryptocurrency projects in a very fast-paced startup environment. This included the entire flow from concept to user flows, branding, and even video production.
Technologies: Figma

Founder — Lead Designer

2014 - 2020
Live Learn Evolve
  • Organically grew the social media channels to over 300,000 followers through strategic content creation and social growth hacking.
  • Handled the entire build of the website, branding, identity design, content, and art direction.
  • Attracted over 10,000,000 views across 140+ countries with ongoing social and viewership growth.
  • Produced short, engaging philosophical videos for YouTube and social channels.
Technologies: Figma, Adobe Photoshop, WordPress

Senior Designer

2018 - 2019
Haven (via Toptal)
  • Led the branding and art direction (from the website, landing pages, teaser videos, social media, marketing rollout).
  • Set the branding guidelines and system in place.
  • Ideated and designed (UX/UI) some of the product elements (iOS and Android).
Technologies: Adobe Suite, Zeplin, Figma, Sketch, Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

UI/UX Design Lead

2018 - 2018
AppZaloot
  • Designed the entire UI/UX for a blockchain-based social media app—from the user flows and wireframes to the high-fidelity prototype and sign off.
  • Helped raise funding for the company.
  • Created the branding, art direction, and design system for their entire creative output.
  • Learned an invaluable amount of knowledge on blockchain development and the potential for DApps in future technology.
  • Built the entire website in Webflow.
Technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, WordPress, Webflow, InVision, Sketch

Director

2013 - 2016
Humantico
  • Worked with Worldreader, an international non-profit run by former Amazon directors to distribute Kindle eReaders to developing nations.
  • Built Enviromate for an award-winning startup. It's the UK's first construction marketplace for recycling unused materials.
  • Designed and built the platform, Live Learn Evolve, one of the largest news platforms for philosophical and spiritual wisdom.
  • Traveled to Thailand to help a yoga retreat build their company from the ground up. This included filming, photographing, and designing everything for their digital marketing.
  • Worked, in general, on branding, art direction, and website design for various socially responsible companies—mainly for their international marketing campaigns.
Technologies: Sketch, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop

Creative Lead — Hybrid Role

2012 - 2014
Cr2 Records
  • Traveled the world filming, photographing, and producing short films for many world-renowned music artists and DJs.
  • Created various music artwork for releases that topped the iTunes music charts globally for several weeks.
  • Redesigned the art direction and branding of an entire record label.
  • Built a website for Cr2 Records.
Technologies: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Creative Suite

Web and Graphic Designer

2011 - 2012
Fresh Dimension Media
  • Worked on the art direction, graphic design, and website design for various large UK multinational companies.
Technologies: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Creative Suite
2007 - 2009

BTEC National Diploma in Graphic Design

Canterbury College - Canterbury, UK

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