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 lean into new mediums and expand my craft.
My Creative journey began before I was four, and 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, design, and beyond. Over the years, I’ve painted murals, Styled Wigs, Sewn Couture costumes and 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.
In addition to my work in production design, I perform as a drag artist and sew custom garments, most recently gearing up to launch Dean Designs Apparel, a handmade clothing line of bold, colorful button-downs created from recycled and thrifted materials.
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.