## Meet Our Newest Designer: Sam East Joins Tangram's Santa Fe Springs Team
We're excited to welcome **Sam East** to the Tangram design family! Sam brings fresh energy and creative vision to our Santa Fe Springs studio, where she'll be working as a Designer alongside our talented commercial interior design team.
### From Michigan State to Commercial Design
Sam recently graduated from **Michigan State University** with a degree in Interior Design, where she developed her passion for creating spaces that inspire. Her previous experience in retail design and visual merchandising at Pier 1 Imports gave her valuable insights into how design influences customer behavior and brand experience—skills that translate perfectly to commercial interior projects.
"I'm most excited about loving where I work and the people I work with," Sam shares. "Plus, getting to draw for a living is pretty amazing."
### Creative Spirit with Practical Skills
What sets Sam apart is her unique blend of creativity and enthusiasm. Originally from Huntington Beach, California, she brings a California sensibility to her design approach. When she's not creating stunning commercial spaces, Sam is known among her friends for crafting the perfect butternut squash risotto and hosting legendary Halloween parties.
Her recent adventures include walking barefoot through a biodynamic vineyard in Northern Tuscany on her birthday—an experience that speaks to her appreciation for authentic, sensory-rich environments. This kind of experiential thinking is exactly what modern commercial design needs.
### Bringing Fresh Perspective to Commercial Spaces
Sam's background in retail design provides her with a unique understanding of how people interact with commercial environments. She knows how to create spaces that not only look beautiful but also function effectively for businesses and their customers.
Her experience in visual merchandising means she understands the importance of: - **Strategic space planning** that guides user flow - **Brand storytelling** through design elements - **Flexible layouts** that can adapt to changing business needs - **Customer experience optimization** in commercial settings
### A Perfect Fit for Our Team
Despite some good-natured rivalry (Sam's a Michigan State Spartan, while several Tangram executives are University of Michigan alumni), we're confident Sam will be an incredible addition to our team. As she puts it, "Us Michiganders share something unique—we've all lived in one of the only places on earth that is mostly surrounded by fresh water."
That connection to natural elements and authentic experiences is something we value deeply in our design philosophy.
### Looking Forward
We're thrilled to have Sam's creativity, technical skills, and infectious enthusiasm on board. Her fresh perspective and retail design background will be invaluable as we continue creating innovative commercial spaces for our clients.
Welcome to the team, Sam! We can't wait to see the amazing designs you'll create with us.
