Our Story_

Sama Creatives was founded by Emilie Sandy and Karl Marsden, bringing together complementary expertise in photography, film, design and production.

Emilie and Karl both began their creative training on the Art Foundation Course in Stroud before taking different paths. Karl went on to study at Falmouth College of Arts, developing a strong grounding in graphic design and spatial thinking. Emilie moved to London to study at Central Saint Martins, immersing herself in photography and visual culture.

Emilie built her career in photography through hands-on industry experience — working as a black-and-white printer in Covent Garden, assisting established photographers, managing a Soho photography gallery, and developing a successful commercial portrait practice. Alongside this, she completed a Master’s degree in Photography and spent eight years teaching at Foundation Degree level, combining education with ongoing commercial work.

Karl developed his career across design and visual communication, including working as a Visual Merchandiser for French Connection and delivering a wide range of graphic and spatial design projects.

After more than two decades working across their respective fields, Emilie and Karl joined forces to establish Sama Creatives — a design and production studio delivering concept-led visual storytelling. Together, they lead projects from idea through to delivery, combining strategic thinking, strong visual direction and practical production expertise.

The SHE_SEES exhibition, creatively led by Emilie Sandy and produced by Sama Creatives in partnership with Lloyd’s Register Foundation, was awarded Personality of the Year at the 2025 Seahorse Journalism Awards. This accolade celebrates its exceptional storytelling and impact in showcasing women’s contributions across the maritime industry.

What We Do_

Design that matters

Sama Creatives is a design and production studio specialising in visual storytelling across design, photography and film. We work with organisations, institutions and brands to create thoughtful, well-crafted work that connects people to ideas, stories and place.

Our approach is collaborative and concept-led. We take time to understand context, audience and purpose, ensuring that every project is strategically grounded as well as visually strong.

Our work includes

• Creative Direction & Production
  Leading projects from concept through to delivery across design, photography, film and exhibition.

• Brand & Visual Identity
  Developing clear, considered brand systems — including identity, typography and visual language.

• Photography & Film
  Producing still and moving image content, from portraiture and documentary-led work to campaign and editorial assets.

• Exhibition & Spatial Storytelling
  Designing and delivering storytelling-led exhibitions, installations and public-facing experiences.

• Heritage & Cultural Projects
  Working with archives, collections and communities to reframe and reinterpret historical narratives through contemporary design.