I recently decided to quit my job to pursue my passion for beautiful design in a more personal setting. Samantha Baker Designs is a full service design studio with experience in designing for people, businesses and non-profits. I have experience designing wedding suites (including invitations, place cards, programs, etc), complete event designs (including invitations, silent auction signage, photo backdrops, food/drink signage, etc.), and business suites (including logo, business cards, letterhead, advertising, etc.).

Before leaving my job to start my own design business I was working in the Brookfield Zoo Creative Services department.  The position started as a production job, but developed into a junior designer position. I enjoyed being able to both design and work with my hands in the production aspect of the job.  I was in charge of welcome signs, VIP Certificates, ads for the AZA screens around the park and various jobs for all departments around the zoo including the Education, Government Affairs, Development and Marketing Departments.

I have also volunteered my skills and design talent to various animal rescue organizations. I love that I am able to combine both my passion for design, and helping save the lives of homeless dogs in the the Chicagoland area. I was the designer and was involved in creating the marketing and look and feel for a local rescue organization, Fetching Tails Foundation. I created the flyers, social media imaging, t-shirts, brochures as well as all other marketing materials, until I left last year. I am currently the designer for another local rescue, Players for Pits. I am working with them to create a standard look and feel for their social medias and other marketing, in addition to any other design needs. In the past I have also been involved in the Bryan and Amanda Bickell Foundation and Almost Home Foundation.

I graduated from Illinois State University in May 2009 with a Bachelor of Art in Graphic Design.  While there, I studied art and graphic design.  My coursework included design, typography, photography and some web design. I am knowledgeable in the Adobe Creative Suite up to CS6, but I am always interested in learning new tools. I was involved in an internship with Design Streak, a pre-professional design studio within the University where students provide design work for the school and the community.  This was a great experience, developing both design skills and client relations.