Evan LaForce: Graphic Designer | Apparel & Branding Expert | Adobe CC Pro | Helping Brands Stand Out with Bold, Strategic Design in Arroyo Grande, California

As a freelance designer, I’ve led the creative direction for high-impact branding and marketing campaigns across the apparel, beverage, and sports industries—many of which translated into best-selling merchandise and long-term brand equity. I’ve developed custom visuals that not only align with each client’s voice but also spark emotional connection, driving real-world engagement and sales. My ability to adapt across diverse markets while preserving design integrity has resulted in strong client relationships, repeat business, and a steady stream of referrals. Recent collaborations include standout work for Courtland Sutton (XX Brand), Lil' Baby, Cam Kurl (BAM 31 Brand), SD Loyal Soccer, Serpentine Cider, Dee Winters (SF 49ers), and more.

At Left Coast T-Shirt Company, I played a key role in managing large-scale, production-ready apparel runs—up to 20,000 pieces—for a diverse mix of clients ranging from startups to well-established brands. Working closely with department managers and the owner, I oversaw every phase of the creative and production pipeline, maintaining a 98% accuracy rate and consistently hitting tight deadlines. I art-directed campaigns, refined brand visuals, and designed assets that directly contributed to product sell-through and target-market appeal. My creative direction helped increase social engagement by 60%, while my hands-on work with prepress, separations, and proofing made me a go-to resource for the team. I also led product and lifestyle photography, managed social media content, and mentored junior designers—balancing high-volume output with strategic, brand-driven design that supported both client success and internal growth.

As co-founder and creative director of Island Supply Clothing Co., I built a lifestyle apparel brand from the ground up—overseeing everything from original apparel graphics to marketing strategy and customer engagement. I designed every piece of visual content, including seasonal collections, ad campaigns, and promotional materials, ensuring brand consistency across all touchpoints. I also led customer outreach, social media marketing, and community engagement efforts that grew our following and drove direct sales. Launching and running this brand alongside a fellow Cal Poly entrepreneur gave me firsthand experience in blending creative vision with business strategy, and reinforced the importance of authenticity, adaptability, and connection in building something that resonates.

At Straight Down Golf Apparel, I collaborated closely with the Design Director and Product Designer to create elevated, on-brand graphics and packaging for a nationally distributed high-end apparel line. I produced production-ready t-shirt designs, tags, exclusive packaging elements, POS displays, and social media assets—many of which were featured in seasonal collections and retail campaigns across the country. Working within a fast-paced, highly detailed production cycle, I aligned my creative output with both design intent and business strategy, ensuring that each asset enhanced product appeal and supported sales. This role deepened my understanding of apparel timelines, cross-functional collaboration, and the balance between aesthetic quality and commercial performance.

As a UI/UX Designer with Shared Elements—a student-founded financial and resource-sourcing platform—I played a key role in shaping the look, feel, and functionality of the product from the ground up. I designed intuitive user interfaces, interactive prototypes, and scalable style guides using Adobe software, all aimed at improving usability and supporting a smooth development process. Working directly with the platform's founders and two experienced backers from a major industrial manufacturing firm, I helped align the visual design with technical functionality, reducing launch friction and streamlining collaboration between design and development teams. This early-stage experience deepened my understanding of user-centered design and the importance of adaptability, clarity, and precision in digital product development.

Selected from a highly competitive pool of over 100 applicants, I served as the Marketing Designer for Cal Poly Men’s Soccer, where I created a wide range of promotional assets that elevated the program’s visibility and fan engagement. Working directly with the head coach, assistant coach, and marketing director, I developed social media graphics, digital ads, flyers, apparel designs, and campaign materials that contributed to an increase in attendance and a more unified visual presence across platforms. This role gave me a firsthand look at how thoughtful, brand-consistent design can rally a community, strengthen school spirit, and directly impact event success—an experience that was both creatively fulfilling and deeply rewarding.

As the in-house designer for Cal Poly Corporation, I created a full range of marketing and advertising collateral for 20+ on-campus retail venues—everything from social media ads and digital promotions to large-format posters, flyers, coupons, and apparel graphics. Collaborating closely with the Design and Marketing Directors, I developed seasonal campaigns and day-to-day content that elevated retail visibility and supported sales initiatives. Working in a fast-paced environment, I learned to juggle tight timelines and shifting priorities while maintaining a high standard of quality. My digital content regularly reached over 2,500 students and staff per week, driving engagement and strengthening the connection between campus services and the Cal Poly community.