Dean Designs
Dean Designs
Portrait of Sam Russell
     Sam Russell / Designer & Maker    

      About / Dean Designs    

      Hi! I'm      Sam Russell.

        I'm a production designer with a background in costume design, special effects makeup, and visual storytelling. I graduated from Ringling College of Art and Design in 2024 with a BFA in Film (Branded Entertainment) and minors in Creative Writing and Business.  Since then, I've been working freelance as a production and costume designer while continuing to explore new mediums and expand my craft.      

        My creative journey began before I was four. I would wake my mom up        before the sun came up, wanting to "make art." Then, in middle school,  my love for horror films led me to my first special effects makeup kit. That spark grew into a lifelong exploration of art across theater, film, drag, and design.      

        Over the years, I've painted murals, styled wigs, sewn couture worthy costumes to streetwear, designed dead bodies, crafted props, and mixed music. My forte is projects that require resourcefulness, inventive problem-solving, and thinking outside the box on a budget.      

        At the heart of my process is a love for creating, finding new ways to bring ideas to life, and building work that is imaginative, impactful, and uniquely my own.

     
See My Work