About Sam McGinnis | Interior Architect & Visual Designer

INTERIOR ARCHITECT / VISUAL DESIGNER

Visionary interior architect specializing in corporate office design with a passion for transforming sophisticated concepts into stunning realities. Proven leadership in guiding artistic direction, implementing innovative technologies, and orchestrating successful rebranding for high-profile corporations. Eager to contribute design expertise, visualization mastery, and effective leadership to propel corporate office projects to new heights of excellence.

summerville cabin

never built

Highlights

  • Winner, Jamie Stern Rug Design Contest (October 2023).

  • Successfully managed and completed a $30,000,000, 380,000sf Corporate Headquarters for an International Corporation.

  • Led the execution of 33 individual field-office buildouts for a high-profile technology corporation.

  • Headed an internship/mentorship program and a comprehensive training initiative.

Education

Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, Ga

  • B.S. Architecture | 2012-2018

collaging with friends

Work

Insight Design Interiors, Inc. | Atlanta, Ga

Boutique architecture and interiors firm specializing in corporate office design

  • Coordinator of Architecture | May 2022 to January 2024

    • Led artistic direction and collaboration efforts, guiding both client interactions and the creative team to an award-winning rebranding strategy

    • Spearheaded website development and marketing initiatives. 

    • Established and maintained quality control standards, including drawing and documentation protocols resulting in 30% fewer RFIs and COs

    • Successfully managed internships and mentorship programs, demonstrating a commitment to fostering talent.

    • Proficient in schedule management, RFP preparation, and advocating for clients throughout the construction process.

  • Design Lead/Project Architect | August 2020 to May 2022

    • Managed multiple projects across various construction stages, ensuring seamless coordination. 

    • Oversaw the tracking of submittals, alternates, COs, and RFIs. Engaged and coordinated with consultants, internal teams, contractors, clients, landlords, and other key stakeholders. 

    • Developed client budgets, estimated design development pricing, and played a pivotal role in resolving site and drawing conflicts swiftly.

  • Sr. Designer | August 2019 to August 2020

    • Specialized in creating attractive and efficient space plans during schematic design. 

    • Skillfully implemented client feedback to refine design concepts. Built engaging, story-based visual presentations to communicate design visions. 

    • Prepared detailed design development drawings for pricing and consultants.

    • Delivered compelling and clear public speaking presentations tailored to executives and end-users.

  • Designer | Aug 2018 to Aug 2019

    • Produced complete, code-compliant, and detailed permit drawings, meticulously considering ADA regulations, IBC occupancy loads, and egress planning.

    • Mastered the art of preparing interactive and exciting multimedia presentations.

  • Intern Architect | May 2016 to Aug 2018

    • Developed space plans with early consideration of materials, furniture, lighting, and details. 

    • Communicated design concepts through visual sketches, fostering effective collaboration.

1-2-me

award winning rug

non-award winning rug

Freelance Design

  • Modelling and Visualization | 2015 to Present

    • Create photorealistic renderings of designed spaces with an extreme degree of accuracy to increase client confidence by showing them the final product before ground is broken

    • Understand and recreate complex surfaces and geometry

    • Reconstruct 3D environments from 2D CAD drawings

    • Compose artistic still images from the digital model

    • Design Accurate PBR Materials from scratch

    • Source accurate models of lighting and furniture from myriad sources

    • Model high fidelity 3D models of complex furniture and lighting when unavailable

    • Understand how light works and construct realistic lighting setups based on IES Data and HDRI Environments

  • Graphic Design | 2018 to Present

    • Create and register brand marks within a corporate identity

    • Create templates and DAM implementations for both print and digital media

  • Photogrammetry & Digital Twins | 2020 to Present

    • Capture and recreate real-world objects in 3D using, LIDAR, 360° panoramic photography, NeRF(Neural Radiance Fields), Point cloud data, and traditional photogrammetry

folk album art idea

Technical skills

Sketchup

Vray

MicroStation

Bluebeam Revu

Photoshop

Illustrator

Lightroom

Substance Designer

ProCore

PlanGrid

Basecamp

Blender

Powerpoint

Rhino

Excel

Materialize

PureRef

Matterport

Luma.ai

Enscape

Unreal Engine

repetition

i love synthesis

Certifications

  • Advanced Excel for Data Processing, Georgia Tech Department of Professional Practice

About me

  • Avid musician, guitar and synthesizer enthusiast

  • Visual Artist with a love of pattern and texture experiments

  • Daily NYT Crossword solver 

  • Actor and screenwriter of absurdist short films

laramie

#FFF8E7

Made on mmm