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Hello it's me and my face

Hello, It’s Me

I’m Samara Zabala, or Sam for short. I’m a web designer, digital designer, and illustrator based in San Diego, California.

I’ve been doing graphic arts since 2010, and I got into front-end development a couple years later as a hobby and creative outlet. Eventually I realized I liked both way too much to keep treating them as separate things, so I ended up building a career around design, illustration, and the web.

I graduated as one of the top students from Platt College San Diego with an Associates of Applied Science on Graphic Design and a Bachelor of Science in Media Arts emphasizing on Web Design and Development.

Outside of work, I’m also a musician who enjoys singing covers, producing music, and performing at local events. I also play a lot of video games, and yes, I’m absolutely the type to get distracted by ridiculously good visuals before I even care what’s happening in the story. Occupational hazard of being a designer, I guess.

Download Resume (PDF)

Some Stuff I Can Do

Web Design

Proficient in UX,UI concepts, Data Visualization, Design Systems, Wireframing, and Prototyping.

Digital Design

Efficient in using design softwares such as Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, and InDesign.

Illustration

Proficient in Graphic Design and Illustration across both Web and Print mediums.

Front-End Web

Experienced with HTML, CSS, JS, D3.js, ThreeJS, React, Vue, Node, Brew, Rollup, and WordPress.

Other related skills

  • Fluent in English
  • Native Filipino and Bikol speaker
  • Baybayin alphabet
  • AI-assisted workflows with Figma Make, Adobe Firefly, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude
  • Version control (Github / Git)
  • Typeface design

Fun Facts

Experience

  1. Web Developer
    (Front-End UI & UX Systems)

    1Point21 Interactive

    San Diego, CA

    August 2018
    – Present

    Full Time

    • Bridge designers and developers as a go-to technical partner, advising on feasible interaction and animation solutions while preparing implementation-ready SVGs, CSS/JavaScript animations, and web graphics for handoff.
    • Improve CMS and internal tool usability across 200+ websites by organizing Advanced Custom Fields structures and settings and mapping user and application flows for clearer, more efficient workflows.
    • Carry design quality through responsive, accessible implementation and design QA for 200+ web builds, resolving visual inconsistencies.

  2. Illustrator
    & Graphic Designer

    Independent

    San Diego, CA

    September 2010
    – Present

    Freelance

    • Created illustrations, visual identities, branding assets, web visuals, marketing materials, and print collateral for 20+ freelance clients across digital and print platforms.

  3. Digital Media Advisor
    & Tutor

    Platt College

    San Diego, CA

    September 2015
    – September 2018

    Part Time

    • Advised 10-40 students per term in technical and conceptual design skills, helping them develop portfolio-quality work.
    • Provided tutoring in responsive web design and front-end development fundamentals.

  4. UI Designer
    & Front-End Developer

    Web Shop Manager

    San Diego, CA

    June 2017
    – April 2018

    Full Time

    • Designed responsive e-commerce layouts and digital graphics with an emphasis on visual hierarchy, usability, and brand consistency across 20+ desktop and mobile storefronts.
    • Organized content and creative materials for 30+ websites to improve the presentation and shopping experience across digital storefronts.

  5. Graphic Designer

    TreeHaus Ink

    San Diego, CA

    October 2015
    – February 2017

    Freelance

    • Produced 20+ branding and marketing deliverables for 5+ local businesses and organizations, including branding systems, logo redesigns, print collateral, and promotional materials.

  6. Graphic Designer

    Intrepid Theatre Company

    San Diego, CA

    June 2015
    – March 2016

    Internship
    to Freelance

    • Designed promotional graphics and digital marketing assets for theatre productions across print and web campaigns.

  7. Graphic Artist
    & Music Performer

    Tinambac Association of California (TIASCA)

    San Diego, CA

    June 2011
    – August 2020

    Freelance/
    Volunteer Work

    • Designed promotional artwork and annual Peñafrancia event booklets for community events and performances. Volunteer representative for shows.

Don’t Forget My Resume

Download PDF

Check Out My Work