Sam Gruen —
Creative Director
Throughout my professional journey, my focus has been mainly on the apparel vertical – where I feel most at home. I aim to work on projects that allow me to use my craft to create compelling visual narratives alongside talented groups of people.
Window Director —
J.Crew
2018 — Present
As a Creative Director at J.Crew, I lead the development of narrative strategies for seasonal creative campaign briefs and bring concepts from ideas to production.
Collaborate closely with an extensive network of talented and diverse individuals, like designers, writers, and strategists, to enhance the quality and effectiveness of our creative projects.
Eloquently communicate and present my team's shared vision to stakeholders.
Translate J.Crew's business objectives to consumers through captivating stories and messages.
Senior Visual Display Designer —
Forever 21
2010 — 2018
As team manager, I led an efficient eight-person fabrication team through every step of the window design and store fixture process.
Oversaw the initial concept, in-house fabrication, and execution of installations with meticulous attention to detail.
Collaborated with domestic and international store groups to meet their unique requirements and specifications.
Maintained strong attention to detail and clear visual communication to ensure that my team consistently delivered high-quality results
Design Director —
Bloomingdales Soho
2005 — 2010
As a Design Director, it was my responsibility to manage all aspects of in-store and window displays, from initial concept ideation to the final execution process.
Collaborated closely with the corporate Creative Director, aligning our visions and leveraging each other's expertise.
Meticulously selected the perfect materials to oversee the fabrication phase and to ensure that every display element was visually striking.
Seamlessly combined creativity and attention to detail to deliver displays that supported the overall brand image.