Hello, and welcome to South Bay Design Lab
I'm Andrew Sarnecki, a creative professional based in Hermosa Beach, CA, with over 20 years of experience in design, photography, and creative leadership. Raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles, I’ve always been inspired by the Southern California coastline and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where my deep connection to nature, surfing, and the outdoors has shaped both my personal and professional life.
I studied design and photography at the University of Notre Dame, and my career began in the early 2000s as Art Director at Body Glove Wetsuits. It was during this time that I founded HippyTree, a surf and climbing inspired apparel brand. In 2007, I made the leap to pursue HippyTree full-time, where I spent over 15 years as Founder, President, and Creative Director. Under my leadership, HippyTree grew from a small garage operation to a globally recognized brand, distributed in over 500 retailers across 12 countries.
In 2022, I transitioned to a part-time role with HippyTree to focus on new creative projects and to offer my expertise as a brand consultant and freelance designer.
Throughout my career, I’ve built a vast network of talented designers, photographers, and content creators. With my background in leading creative teams and managing a successful startup, I have a strong understanding of brand strategy, marketing, product design, and the complexities of apparel manufacturing, sales, and operations. I thrive on collaborating with brands to create thoughtful, strategic, and impactful designs.
If you're looking for a creative partner or need leadership on a project, let’s connect!
SKILLS & SPECIALTIES: Creative Team Building & Leadership Brand Strategy, Marketing & Art Direction Apparel, Accessory & Headwear Design Tee Shirt Graphics Label, Trim & Package Design Yarn Dyed Fabrics + All-Over Prints Product Collab Ideation & Design Trend Forecasting + Product Sourcing Product Development & Production Logo & Brand Identity Event Flyer + Poster Design Catalog, Brochure & Mailer Design Photo Shoot & Video Art Direction Digital Display Ads + Web Marketing Social Media Strategy & Eblast Design
