We recently had the chance to connect with Sandy Mays and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Sandy, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, I have been creating surf and skate graphics inspired by my travels and personal interests, which has brought me so much joy. I’ve always been drawn to deck graphics for skateboards and snowboards. When I was an “okay” skater, I bought a snowboard purely for its design, only to realize later that it was too flat and meant for carving. I thought I was terrible at snowboarding! Once I found the right board, it quickly became one of my favorite sports, and it still is today.
I joined a design challenge for Earth Day this year and started sketching surf deck concepts on my iPad using the themes provided. I have been playing with different illustrative styles, which is both exciting and liberating. Most of my sketches start in Procreate, where I enjoy experimenting with hand-drawn illustrations, and I’ve explored sharper vector graphics with gradients in Illustrator.
That same spirit of exploration has carried into a new project. My cousin Erika discovered a scanimation book and was inspired to write her own children’s story. I am collaborating with her on the illustrations, animation, and overall design. Scanimation uses a six-phase animation process paired with a striped acetate overlay to bring the artwork to life in a playful and magical way. We will be printing the book in Spanish and German, and it will be available soon on worldofsandy.com!
The process of drawing for myself, rather than for clients, has become meditative. There are no deadlines, just me, my iPad, and my music. Part of me wonders if I should hone a single signature style, as the art world often encourages deep specialization. I feel that I am more of a “go wide” creator. While some people grow by diving deep into one approach, exploring across styles feels more natural to me. For now, I am enjoying the freedom of discovery.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a creative leader with a focus in experiential marketing and brand design. My passion lies in blending storytelling with sensory and interactive graphics, creating experiences that people do not just see but truly feel. What makes my work unique is the breadth I bring as a multidimensional designer. I thrive on projects of every scale, from designing a simple pin, creating UX for iPads, and storyboarding intro videos to developing complete wayfinding systems for multi-day events with thousands of attendees, designing immersive photo ops, and even wrapping entire buildings in bold graphics. That wide net is actually more interesting to me than focusing deeply on just a single area.
I feel incredibly fortunate to do what I love every day from the vibrant city of Los Angeles, just 15 minutes from the beach. I am currently collaborating with leading agencies such as The XD Agency, Impact XM, Spiro, and Optimist Inc. Much of my work centers on designing for big client pitches, where I shape the look and feel of a conference or activation by aligning visuals with our concept. This allows me to blend imagination, storytelling, and design, and I am proud to have more wins than losses in the pitch arena. Most of all, I am grateful to my clients for trusting me, valuing the passion I bring to every project, and continuing to return for new collaborations.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
Besides my parents, I would have to say my brother Arturo taught me the most about work. He is one of my favorite people on earth, full of energy, fun, and kindness. He will never say no and will do anything to help someone. He has been in the TV business his whole life, starting in high school when he skipped classes to go to castings (oops, secret’s out!). By the time he graduated, he had already bought his first apartment because of his early success. Agencies kept booking him for commercials, series, hosting gigs and he rose to the spotlight with shows built around him because he had the best ideas, was always on time and ready to dive into whatever the job required.
Over the years, he has shifted more behind the scenes, focusing on producing shows. In addition to acting in some movies, he became a helicopter pilot, combining his love of flying with his work. He now leads a helicopter business, renting them out for shoots, commercials, and films in Mexico. Honestly, I might just have the coolest brother on the planet. Growing up, I watched how dedication, professionalism, and respect for everyone, builds lasting success. I am a fan, can you tell?
Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
A while back, I volunteered at South Africa’s Kruger National Park with my best friend Michele. Living in a remote camp, far removed from the technology-driven life I was used to, I found a profound connection with nature. I learned to “read the bush” by identifying animal tracks, helped build roads and landing strips for the veterinarian rescue team, and cared for animals in sanctuaries. That time in nature is something I deeply miss.
Our days often involved repairing broken fences, finding traps, and sometimes coming across the heartbreaking remains of animals. Witnessing the consequences of poaching firsthand brought me face to face with the harsh realities of survival in Africa. Poachers break fences to steal or kill animals, most tragically rhinos for their horns, elephants for their ivory, or lions for so-called “canned hunts,” where wealthy individuals pay to shoot them in confined spaces. Seeing these animals in their natural habitat makes it hard to understand how anyone could treat them as trophies. Across Kruger and South Africa, poaching remains a major crisis. Rhino horns and elephant ivory are mostly keratin and dentin, like fingernails and teeth, yet myths about their medicinal or status value fuel a multimillion-dollar black market. Anti-poaching units, K-9 teams, and dehorning programs have helped, but the fight continues.
Living in the bush also gave me perspective on something bigger. The wilderness operates on its own terms. Every insect, plant, and predator plays a role in the ecosystem’s delicate balance. This species feeds that one, this plant blooms for a reason; nothing exists in isolation. We are just one small part of a vast system, not the center of it.
If I hadn’t discovered my passion for design, I could see myself working hands-on with animals, caring for them and helping to protect them. That experience gave me a profound respect for the natural world, one I carry with me every day. It’s a reminder that nature does not need me, but I desperately need it.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
I believe that the unknown sparks the best ideas. Some of our most creative thinking happens in moments of uncertainty, when imagination awakens and we are challenged to see things differently. Creativity emerges when we admit we do not have all the answers. That is where growth happens, and I feel most alive.
I thrive on that challenge and that is why I love what I do. Every new assignment inspires me with its possibilities and the chance to explore uncharted territory. For me, getting lost in wonder is not mindless; it is where meaningful creativity begins.
These experiences also shape how I see the world and what I value. They remind me that curiosity, openness, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty are central truths in my life, even if I do not always articulate them.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
With so much crisis and chaos happening in the world and the shifting politics in this country, making art can feel lately like a luxury. Yet art has a way of grounding me and giving meaning, especially in moments when everything else feels out of control. Writing my first children’s book during the pandemic showed me how creating can be a lifeline, a way to turn challenge into something tangible and joyful.
Leading my own independent design practice, I often salsa-dance my way into my chair! I thrive on the variety of assignments I get to tackle and the freedom that comes between them. The mundane and predictable have never inspired me. Creativity is not about clocking hours or following a formula. It is about curiosity, attention to detail, and intuition. A design has to feel right, look right, and communicate clearly, which sometimes means staying immersed late into the night. At the same time, I prioritize balancing work and life in a way that feels natural and deeply fulfilling, allowing me to spend more quality time with my family.
Returning to your question, yes, I am currently feeling that level of excitement in my career, yet I remain curious and forward-looking. I sense that something bigger is on the horizon, and I know I have not yet created my most impactful work.
