PORTFOLIO
Graphic Design & Illustration
BRANDING
HIDDEN HOUSE COFFEE
THE SKULL COLLECTION
When their online loyalty program wasn’t working the way it should, Ben from Hidden House Coffee asked me to help him take things old school.
I wanted to fit the coastal cowboy aesthetic of San Juan Capistrano, home of the original Hidden House location, so I pulled inspiration from linocut stamps and the wild west to come up with some stamp cards fit for a true cowboy. Each of the three HHC locations has their own unique, collectible stamp design.
These designs were such a hit, that we expanded the collection to include some merch, as well, including screen printed T shirts, printed locally on some black cotton blanks, and a set of 5 vinyl die cut stickers.
THE LASSO COLLECTION
This was the first collection Hidden House Coffee and I worked on together back in 2025, and still holds up as one of my favorites. The T shirts, available in black and an army green, were a smash hit that summer!
This was the collection that started the love for cowboy design, and I’m proud to say that prints of this design hang in several homes and businesses all around OC.
SARA HILL ARTISTRY
Building Sara Hill Artistry also gave me the chance to learn the making side of design, without anyone’s help. I worked with manufacturers, metalsmiths and enamel artists; experimented with screen printing and risograph; learned processes like laser cutting and vinyl appliqué. I wasn’t just designing what something looked like, but I was figuring out how to make it exist.
That combination of conceptualization, brand identity, product design, hands-on production, and real world problem solving is one of the things I love most about design. That feeling of taking a design from “wouldn’t it be cool if…” all the way to something real, that you can actually hold in your hands, never gets old.
CREATING A BRAND FROM SCRATCH
Early on in my career, I discovered how much I love turning my artwork into stuff. Stickers, enamel pins, T shirts, keychains, challenge coins, packaging, posters… You mean my art could actually leave the page and become something tangible? Something people can interact with in the real world? What’s cooler than that?
That’s what became my art business Sara Hill Artistry — a tiny decor and lifestyle LLC I started out of my living room where I could make colorful, eclectic goods for people who wanted to bring a little more personality into their everyday lives. Inspired by my love of vintage 60s, 70s, and 80s design, bold color, and quirky collectibles, I started making and selling products that I loved both online and in person at pop up events all over Southern California.
MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA
LITTLE WILMA’S SALON
Pride Flash Day Event Ads
To celebrate Pride Month, Little Wilma’s invited customers to come and pick any of the services available on the flash sheet for a flat $50! Kassi reached out to me to help bring her vision to life. Inspired by illustrative flash tattoo sheets, and the work of some of my favorite tattoo artists, including Genessa Gariano, I designed both an 8.5 × 11 print flyer to hang around town, and a larger 18 × 24 sign to hang at the event and act as a live menu for guests to pick from. The designs were such a hit that we expanded the collection to include a set of vinyl stickers ( and potentially some unreleased merch as well 👀 ) .
Below is the brief/vision board I sent to Kassi during our first meeting.
BROOKE & CONNOR MAKE A PODCAST
PUBLISHING & EDITORIAL
While I love so many different types of design, I have such a soft spot in my heart for the publishing industry. As an aspiring author, in addition to a designer, designing book covers and laying out book interiors will always be my favorite projects, when I am lucky enough to get to do them. I love designing novels, but I am open to all kinds of written work, including essays, poetry, nonfiction, short stories, magazines, etc.
The following collection is a mixture of conceptual redesign projects, passion projects, and published works.
Passion Project
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
DEAR SANTA, I CAN EXPLAIN!
This was me at 16 years old, posting videos on Youtube with my best friend, all about our love of books.
Let me tell ya, 2015 Booktube was where it’s at!
"A Field Guide & Compendium For Those in Search of Magic Frogs," zine, written and illustrated by Sara Hill, 2023
"A Field Guide & Compendium For Those in Search of Magic Frogs," zine, written and illustrated by Sara Hill, 2023
"Flying Car & Coffee Frog" Enamel Pins, packaging & product designed by Sara Hill, 2023
Business & Appt. Cards for Savannah Somerville (hairstylist & makeup artist) @savsomerville.mua, designed & illustrated by Sara Hill
"Voltage Arcade," digital illustration, 2023
"Ad Infinitum," digital illustration (preview from upcoming zine), written and illustrated by Sara Hill, 2024
"Whispering Forests," Risograph zine, 2023, written and illustrated by Sara Hill
"Queen of Hearts" digital Illustration inspired by Victoria Pedretti's Interview with "Style Like U", 2022
"SPIT," gouache, 2023, promotional illustration for COUCH DOG's debut album "HOW TO RUIN YOUR LIFE FAST"
"Two-Faced" oil on canvas, 2020
"Afternoon Tea" pen and ink on bristol, 2021
"Her Day Went Awry," digital illustration, 2021
"I am home" linoleum print, 2020
"Flotsam" digital illustration, 2022
"Beachside" watercolor painting, 2022
"Catching Light" - acrylic on canvas, 2023
"Morning" acrylic on canvas, 2020
"Blurred," oil on wood panel, 2020
"Floating" watercolor painting, 2022