Sara Pepper: Living out a passion for impactful design, ministry

Let’s talk about what you do.

I just transitioned into becoming an associate designer with Matchstic August 1, so it is more recent of a position. Matchstic is basically a brand agency. My day-to-day each week looks different, given the fact that it is a branding agency. I am creating brands with the team, working alongside others to create brands. I help build applications out like websites, posters—things like that. Basically, my world revolves around brand design.

How did you become interested in design?

I grew up doodling letters and I didn’t know that could be a career, funnily enough. It was probably in high school that I knew that I wanted to look for a college that had a great graphic design program. That’s how I found Anderson.

What attracted you to Anderson University?

When I looked at other colleges’ student portfolios, they were not as impressive as Anderson’s. I had a goal that I knew I already wanted to do graphic design and I wanted to go into a college that is already excelling at what they’re doing, and so I feel the number one factor that attracted me to Anderson was seeing the student portfolio work, but then also that it’s a Christian university, which was super appealing. And so it was like I didn’t have to lose out on my career because I was choosing a Christian university or I didn’t have to lose out on an experience with Christian ministries or whatever it may be because of a better graphic design program.

What are some favorite memories of being a student at Anderson?

Towards the end of my college career—my junior and senior year—the graphic design cohort I was in really bonded. There were 16-20 of us. We would all work together, but then we’d all go eat. We’d hang out. We’d drive downtown and take pictures of type. We’d go get food somewhere after a late night in the studio. It was always a good work and play balance.

Do you have any favorite classes or favorite professors?

I would say professor Speaker—I feel like he was such a great cheerleader. He was always in my corner. Professor Spainhour also pushed me; the same way with Professor Lin, she’s not at Anderson anymore. I did a one-on-one class with her, which was really sweet, and that project to this day has gotten me pretty much most of the freelance work that I received… and so a lot of credit goes to that project and also the support of all of these great professors.

How does your faith come into what you do?

Professor Anspach and professor Nelson were newer to the design program when I was a senior. They are amazing. I feel like they do such a good job of incorporating faith and design. In my own career I’ve been able to meet a ton of different people from a ton of different places. Of course that gives me opportunities to talk about the Gospel, but then also just design as a whole, like the fact that companies come saying “we need help with our brand and we don’t know what to do… being able to turn something that someone is struggling with to something that’s beautiful and has structure, but then also gives them creative freedom in the brand.

Describe some of the clients you work with.

Matchstic helps bigger companies like UPS, and they also help non-profits with their branding. If you’ve looked at Matchstic’s portfolio, it’s uncommon for an agency—they’ve done a lot of work with Christian nonprofits, too, which is amazing. It’s not a Christian agency but it’s cool there are opportunities in my career to potentially work for Christian nonprofits or whatever it may be.

Did you have an internship while you were studying graphic design?

I got to intern with a brand agency called Son&Sons in Atlanta. It was an amazing experience.

How did you get out west?

I moved out here in August 2022. I took the summer to stay at home for a bit before I moved across the country. I ended up out here with a different agency called Farm Design. It was an in-person job, so I moved to Pasadena for that.

When you’re not working in design, what do you enjoy doing?

There’s always something to do. The food scene in Los Angeles is amazing. I feel like I can get great authentic food out here, so it’s fun trying different restaurants with friends.

I am heavily involved with a North American Mission Board church plant out here, which is part of the reason I’m also out here. The South Carolina Baptist Convention has this junior and senior mission leader cohort ministry called Palmetto Collective. I know there are Anderson students that are still in it. I got the opportunity to be in it my junior and senior year of college and then when I was looking at jobs and the LA job came up, one of the leaders, who is a part of the South Carolina Baptist Convention (I didn’t know anyone in California at all). His name is Charlie Swain. I asked Charlie, “do you have any church connections out there? Because I feel like I might end up out there in LA.”

Long story short, he knew a friend of my now pastor, and so that friend connected me with my now pastor. That is how I ended up at a church plant.

I am outside of Pasadena in the Highland Park area. Super close to Glendale, Pasadena and downtown LA. It’s central to East Los Angeles.

Anything specific you’re involved at your church?

I help lead the young adult ministry. It’s been eye-opening to be a part of. There’s such a need for the gospel in LA, and so I feel like being a part of the young adult ministry, I’ve gotten a front row view of people either coming to faith or even right now one of my friends, I had dinner with her the other week and she said “I think I’m really close to giving my life to the Lord and just walking with people in those conversations and having gospel conversations, but then also answering their questions and letting the Holy Spirit work as well. It’s been very eye opening.

What advice would you give someone who’s interested in a career in graphic design?

It takes a lot of hard work, but it’s worth it in the end if you’re passionate about it. Especially at the beginning of design school, I feel it’s easy to get frustrated that maybe you’re not where you want to be, but just trust the process and work hard. Always approach professors with questions and put in the work in projects to make it the best you can. A portfolio that’s very well curated is super important for a job.