Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Samantha Segalas-shaw. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Samantha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

This is such a profound question, and one I’ve been reflecting on a lot lately. In the past decade—especially the last four years—I’ve experienced immense loss. The presence of death in my life has shaped me in ways I never expected. It’s been a catalyst, a reminder that life is fleeting, and if there’s something calling to you, you owe it to yourself to answer. That realization was a major reason I left my former employer and set out on my own.

The ripples I want to leave behind go beyond the two-dimensional world of design. I want people to experience my work—not just see it, but feel it. I want my designs to hold emotion, carry intention, and resonate on a deeper level. Whether it’s helping someone bring their dream business to life or designing a product (which I’m currently doing) that helps people hold themselves through life’s hardest moments, I want my work to mean something.

This pull toward meaningful design isn’t new—it’s been with me from the start. In college, I worked alongside Cleophace Mukeba for The Vermont Ibutwa Initiative (now Baraza La Afrika), where I was the design intern helping raise awareness about the devastating effects of conflict minerals on communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Through my work, I helped bridge the gap between the devices we use every day and the human cost of their production—between convenience and consequence.

That experience was deeply eye-opening—not just in terms of design’s power to inform and mobilize, but in the way it made me confront my own privilege. It taught me that design is more than just making things beautiful—it can be a tool for rebuilding, strengthening, and amplifying voices that deserve to be heard. That realization shaped my approach, showing me that design has the power to shift perspectives and drive real change.

Branding and packaging design are no different. A brand is a living entity—it carries emotion, history, and intention. Packaging, especially, isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about storytelling, creating a physical connection between the brand and its audience. When done right, it’s not just something people see—it’s something they experience, remember, and trust.

As I’ve grown, I’ve come to realize that the work that resonates most—the work that feels like home—is the kind rooted in intention, emotion, and intuition. That’s what I want to be known for. When you hire me, you don’t just get a designer—you get thoughtfulness, connection, and a deep understanding of how to translate passion into something tangible.

Because design is more than aesthetics. It’s the first introduction your brand has to the world, and it’s rare that you get a second chance to make a first impression. It’s what makes someone stop, feel something, and decide to connect. That responsibility isn’t lost on me—it’s what fuels me.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

About Me & My Work

I found my way into design in high school, almost by accident. I was given the opportunity to create a poster for the senior play, and I poured myself into it. When I saw how people reacted to it, the way a design could evoke emotion, build excitement, and bring a vision to life, something clicked. That moment stuck with me, and I knew I had found something I wanted to pursue. I went on to earn my BFA in Graphic Design and Digital Media from Champlain College, and from that point on, I was hooked.
Over the years, my work has evolved beyond just creating something visually appealing. I approach design as a form of storytelling, connection, and experience-building. I specialize in branding and packaging design for bold, impact-driven businesses. My role isn’t just to make something “look good.” It’s about translating a brand’s essence into a visual identity that resonates, tells a story, and leaves a lasting impression.

What I Do & Who I Help
I work with brands that want to make a statement, businesses that are ready to step into their identity with confidence. My services include:

Brand Identity Design – Developing logos, color palettes, typography, and full visual systems that align with a brand’s purpose and personality.

Packaging Design – Creating packaging that isn’t just beautiful but intentional, something that connects with the right audience and feels like an extension of the brand experience.

Social Media & Marketing Collateral – Designing assets for my branding and packaging clients that help their brands show up consistently and confidently across platforms.

Naturally, with the way I design, I’ve found myself working with a lot of wellness brands. It’s a space I deeply resonate with and intentionally market myself toward. However, I don’t believe in limiting creativity. If a brand’s mission and vision align with me, I’m open to exploring projects beyond the wellness industry. The best work happens when there’s excitement and connection, and that’s what I prioritize—whether it’s a wellness brand or something entirely different.

What Sets Me Apart?

I don’t just deliver files. I immerse myself in my clients’ vision, helping them clarify their brand’s essence before translating it into design. My approach is intuitive and strategic, balancing the emotional and the functional to ensure that every design feels right and serves a purpose.

Beyond aesthetics, I also work hard to ensure my designs are visually inclusive. My brother is colorblind, and growing up, I saw firsthand how differently he experiences the world. I remember learning in school that 1 in 12 men (8%) and 1 in 200 women are colorblind, adding up to over 350 million people worldwide. That statistic stuck with me. It made me realize that design isn’t just about what looks good; it’s about what is accessible, legible, and functional for as many people as possible.

Because of this, I take extra care in my design choices, considering everything from color contrast and typography to layout and usability. The brands I build aren’t just beautiful; they’re intentional and inclusive. Thoughtful design should welcome everyone, and I want to make sure those 350 million people are considered in the brands I help shape.

Many of my clients come to me at pivotal moments—launching a new business, rebranding, or needing a visual presence that finally reflects their evolution. My work helps them show up authentically, powerfully, and with clarity.

What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m most proud of the way my work bridges aesthetics with deeper meaning. I’ve had the privilege of working on projects that support mental health, elevate brands with strong missions, and help businesses connect with their audience in a way that feels deeply personal.

At the core of my brand, I believe design is more than decoration. It’s an experience, a story, and a reflection of who you are. My goal is to create work that doesn’t just stand out visually but truly resonates with the people it’s meant for.

What I Want People to Know
When you work with me, you’re not just getting a designer. You’re getting a partner—someone invested in bringing your vision to life in a way that feels intentional, bold, and uniquely yours.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Absolutely. I’ve come across plenty of people who don’t fully understand the depth of work that goes into being a creative—some assume we just “draw all day” or that design is purely about aesthetics. But being a creative entrepreneur requires far more than just making things look good.

Beyond the actual design work, we wear many hats—client acquisition, marketing, client communication, project management, admin work—all before we even get to the creative process itself. And even then, design isn’t just about making something visually appealing; it’s about strategy, problem-solving, and crafting a message that resonates.

Every logo, brand identity, or packaging concept goes through meticulous planning and refinement to ensure it truly aligns with a brand’s vision. What might seem like a “simple design” is often the result of hours of research, exploration, and thoughtful decision-making to get it just right.

And despite all of that—I love it. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It challenges me in ways that make me better every day, pushing me to think deeper, create more intentionally, and grow both as a designer and as a person. There’s something deeply fulfilling about taking an idea, shaping it, refining it, and watching it become something that connects with people in a meaningful way. The creative process—from the spark of inspiration to the final execution—is what fuels me.

I deeply admire my fellow creatives who understand and embrace the full scope of this work—the ones who know that creativity isn’t just a talent, but a skill honed through dedication, strategy, and relentless passion.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Alongside my client work, I’m also pursuing my own creative projects—ones that were born from grief, loss, and the need to make sense of what came after.

In 2022, my world shattered with the sudden passing of my dad. Our relationship was complicated—we tried, but it was far from the fairytale father-daughter story. When I moved to Utah at 25, we were working toward something better, but our time was cut short. He died of a heart attack at just 56 years old, and I was across the country when I got the news.

Grief alone is hard enough, but what followed was worse than I could have ever predicted. His girlfriend, as the executor of his will, withheld it until the last legally required day. I opened it in my old office, only to find a clause of disinheritance—my name and my brother’s listed beneath it, signed in September 2020, two years before his death. It broke me. The foundation I had within myself—the pillar of family, however fractured—crumbled in an instant. I was left confused, devastated, and angry, struggling to make sense of how someone I was actively trying to rebuild with could legally erase me.

A year and six months before my dad, I lost my Grandmama, Diane Segalas. And then, the losses kept coming. Just six months after my dad, I lost my Papou, Spiros Segalas. Three pillars in my life, gone within two years. Grief became a constant, an unrelenting force that I had no choice but to wade through.

But I wasn’t alone. My brother and I bonded together, holding onto what we still had, rebuilding from the wreckage. My mom and stepdad were an unrelenting force of support, standing beside us through every heartbreaking moment. My Shaw family—my dad’s side—made sure we never felt alone, reminding us that we were loved, seen, and supported. The Segalas side of my family also held space for us in this turbulent time, anchoring us with their presence and care.

My boyfriend, Spenser, was there helping me stay afloat, but I knew that wasn’t his to hold. Therapy, twice a week at first, helped me take ownership of my grief, and I was beginning to steady myself.

And my friends—though I lost a couple in the midst of these life shifts—the ones who stayed became my scaffolding. They held me up in ways I didn’t even realize I needed.

That time of immense loss was also the time I was reminded most of the love, resilience, and unwavering support I have in my life. I am forever grateful for all of them.

Slowly, I learned that grief doesn’t end—it shifts. It’s wild and unpredictable, but over time, we learn how to carry it.
Even after the will, the legal battles, and everything that came with it, even trying to retrieve our own belongings or a few sentimental items of our fathers was deemed impossible. It felt like we were being erased from his life entirely. But I refused to let that happen. I had to take matters into my own hands—so I tracked down and purchased a vintage Black Dog puppet that my dad used to make me laugh with as a child, the same one that soothed me to sleep so many nights. It wasn’t the original, but it was something. A small, tangible piece of a love that, despite everything, still existed.

That experience—grappling with loss while navigating the weight of complicated relationships with the dead—made me realize how many others are carrying the same unspoken grief. The kind that doesn’t fit into neat narratives, the kind that’s layered, unresolved, messy, and deeply personal. So, I started creating something for them.

I’m working on a creative project that helps people hold their own grief—to process the parts of loss that don’t always have a clear space to exist. It’s a project that has been healing for me, something I wish I had when I felt like I was drowning. I’m still working on it, still bringing it to life, with the goal of getting it published for my fellow grievers—for those who don’t fit into the expected frameworks of loss and remembrance.

Resilience, to me, isn’t about “moving on.” It’s about allowing yourself to feel it all, to break, to rebuild, and to create something meaningful from it. That’s what this project is—it’s for the version of me who couldn’t see the shore through the waves. And it’s for anyone else who is still learning how to swim.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://samanthawestdesign.com/
• Instagram: @samantha.west.design
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthasegalasshaw/
• Other: https://www.behance.net/samantha_west

Image Credits

Photo by Sunny Jee Photo