ABOUT
Sam is the associate chair of graphic design at SCAD Atlanta. He is also the creative director and founding partner of RED Partners. He counts over 20 years of experience in branded identities, campaigns, and events. While he participates in just about every level of the company, his primary focus is to see through the eyes of his audience and offer clear vision to his staff and clients.
RED Partners does on-going work with a broad range of clients including HBO Max, the National Football League, CNN, Google, PBS, Apollo Theater, Guggenheim, Nike, Hamilton The Musical, NBC, Abrams, and American Ballet Theatre. Their work has won numerous awards, including AIGA365, Art Directors Club, FPO, CMYK and Print, as well as Judge’s Pick at the Type Directors Club.
Prior to RED Partners, Sam was a designer for SpotCo, one of the world’s leading arts and live entertainment advertising and branding agencies, working under creative director Gail Anderson. He developed key art for numerous Broadway shows including Julius Caesar and Democracy. Before that, he was with the National Football League, where he led brand development for the annual NFL Kickoff campaign. Sam was also honored to work for Milton Glaser, both as an intern and designer. Sam earned a Bachelors of Journalism from the University of Nebraska, and an MFA in Design from the School of Visual Arts in New York, where he later taught graphic design for the Continuing Education department.
From 2019 to 2021, Sam was proud to serve as President of the Atlanta chapter of AIGA. Past time hobbies including coaching youth baseball and bicycling around the city of Atlanta.
SPEAKING & JUDGING ENGAGEMENTS
Print Magazine Southern Regional Judge - 2019
Creative Circus Speaker, Atlanta GA - 2017
SCAD Speaker, Atlanta, GA - 2015
AIGA Type Fight Judge - 2015
National Football League Speaker, New York NY - 2014
FIT Speaker, New York, NY - 2013
EXHIBITIONS
AIGA Poster Show, Atlanta GA - 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Free Time Gallery, Atlanta GA - 2018
Type Directors Club, New York NY - 2014
Image of the Studio, Cooper Union, New York NY - 2013
AIGA, New York NY - 2013
AMC, Grand Central Station, New York NY - 2004
Art Director’s Club, New York NY - 2003
DESIGN PUBLICATION FEATURES
New Masters of Poster Design
by John Foster
Becoming a Graphic Designer
by Steven Heller
The Language of Graphic Design
by Richard Poulin
Design Firms Open For Business
by Steven Heller
Type Tells Tales
by Gail Anderson and Steven Heller
Typography Sketchbooks
by Steven Heller and Lita Talarico
The Type Directors Club Annual
The New York Times ArtsBeat Digital
FPO - Under Consideration.com
AIGA 365 Annual
AIGA Design Archives
Baseline Magazine
Step Inside Design Magazine
CMYK Magazine
WORK
SCAD Associate Chair of Graphic Design 2019-Present
Atlanta, GA
Sam divides his time between managing faculty, and teaching. His ultimate focus is to maintain a premium level of education, while preparing his 350+ student body to succeed in the ever-changing field of design.
RED PARTNERS Founding Partner 2006-Present
Atlanta, GA
Founded by Stuart Rogers and Sam Eckersley, RED Partners is a design and branding firm. Since 2006, RED Partners has helped companies and institutions communicate through clear, meaningful, and people-focused design. Specializing in design for events and experiences, our capabilities range from digital media to print production and environmental design, allowing us to execute projects from conception to completion. Our client relationships are built on a foundation of trust developed not just from purposeful design solutions, but from our ability to utilize strategic partnerships and execute on time and on budget.
Our work has been featured in respected design publications and award exhibitions including The Type Directors Club Annual, The New York Times ArtsBeat, AIGA 365, Baseline Magazine, Step Inside Design, CMYK, New Masters of Poster Design by John Foster, Becoming a Graphic Designer by Steven Heller, Image of the Studio Exhibition, The Language of Graphic Design by Richard Poulin, and more.
SPOTCO Graphic Designer 2003-2006
New York, NY
SpotCo is one of the world’s leading arts and live entertainment advertising and branding agencies in the country. Working under creative director Gail Anderson, Sam developed key art campaigns for over 20 broadway shows including Julius Caesar, Democracy, In the Heights, Dirty Rotten Scoundrals, The Pillowman, and The History Boys (Tony Award winner for best play)
MILTON GLASER, INC. Graphic Designer 2003
New York, NY
Sam worked with the world renowned designer Milton Glaser on a variety of brand and campaign focused projects for such clients as Brooklyn Brewery, Stoney Brook, and Shakespeare Theatre.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Graphic Designer 2002-2003
New York, NY
Sam led the brand development and execution of the 2003 NFL Kickoff Live event, including the creation of all visual components, photography, and art direction of stage and talent.
TWIST MARKETING Senior Designer 2000-2002
San Francisco, CA
THE TOWNSEND AGENCY Associate Art Director 1998-2000
Chicago, IL
TEACHING
SCAD 2019-Present
Associate Chair of Graphic Design
Classes:
- Introduction to Graphic Design
- Typography l
- Typography ll
- Portfolio
- Studio l
- SCADpro
PORTFOLIO CENTER 2014-2019
Adjunct Faculty, Design Department
Classes:
- Sports Branding
- Design Thinking
- Publication Design
- Core Narrative, Annual Reports
- Information Design & Data Visualization
- Experience Innovation
- User Experience
- Systems Design
- Corporate Identity
SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS 2005-2009
Adjunct Faculty, Continuing Education
Classes:
- Design for Theater
- Publication Design
EDUCATION
School of Visual Arts 2002-2004
Master of Fine Arts, Design
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 1993-1998
Bachelors of Journalism
Major: Advertising
Minors: History, Art, Spanish
MEMBERSHIPS AND BOARD POSITIONS
American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) - since 2006
Atlanta Chapter President - 2019 to 2021
Atlanta Chapter Board Member - 2017 to 2019
Type Directors Club - since 2006