about us
Sara Schmidt Design is an artist-led studio specializing in experiential graphic design, public art, and custom architectural graphics.
We partner with architects, developers, and design teams to craft thoughtful, site-specific work that brings beauty, meaning, and clarity to the built environment. From wayfinding systems and large-scale murals to integrated artwork and branded environments, our work blends story, materials, and a deep understanding of place.
The studio is led by Sara Schmidt—a multidisciplinary designer, creative director, and artist with over two decades of experience working across architecture, brand experience, and fine art. Sara brings a unique blend of strategic thinking and creative intuition to every project, along with a collaborative spirit and a deep love for color, craft, and concept.
We’re proud to be the lead experiential graphic design firm for Portland International Airport—and to collaborate on civic, cultural, healthcare, housing, and retail projects across the country.
-
We work on all sizes and scales of projects, from full-scale experiential graphic design systems to one-of-a-kind public art murals, to custom designs for home-owners. We love a challenge and would love to hear about your project.
-
Yes! I could never do all of this alone. First, I love to collaborate with my clients and builders. They come to me with a wish and I help them hone their vision with creative solutions and options. Then, I’ll pull in whomever is needed to help execute the project with me.
-
I’d love to connect with you. I was once in your shoes and I aim to be the creative leader that I longed for when I was growing up. Reach out to me to see how I might be able to help.
-
Yes, sort of! I worked for a while with adidas as the color designer for Beyonce’s line of apparel and footwear. I was on the team creating color palettes and color concepts for her product line. Ultimately of course, Beyonce is the visionary, but it was thrilling to pitch concepts to her and her team and to be a part of designing her product line.
-
For the past few years I’ve been going back and forth, but I primarily live in Portland where my family is based. I spend as much time as I can in Palm Springs during the rainy winter, but love both cities and feel at home in both places.
-
Yes, we art direct and design signage and wayfinding packages. Our strength is in concepting tasteful simple signage that doesn’t compete with architecture.
Generally we do more than signage, but signage is an important visual element in architecture that deserves thoughtful consideration.
OUR SCRAPPY BEGININGS
Sara Schmidt Design began from the desire to bring artful storytelling into the built environment. With roots in both fine art and experiential design, our studio bridges the gap between aesthetic beauty and strategic thinking. We collaborate with architects, developers, and brands to create immersive experiences that are thoughtful, authentic, and crafted with heart.