About Us: Shared Values Make All the Difference

Video file
Video loop shows a variety of typical activities by Sandstormers in the office. The quick clips include meeting at a whiteboard, chatting in a group, riding a mini bike, a chihuahua dancing, fresh cookies coming out of the oven, meeting in the blue cube room, handing out You Rock notes, meeting in our conference room, making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for our volunteer activity, and playing foosball.

Brilliant ideas have no boundaries. We're here to share our insights— from 4,600+ hours of UX research and analysis — to help you implement compelling creative solutions for explosive growth.

We believe in the “yes, and” philosophy – building upon each others’ ideas to bring breakthrough thinking to life. Our unique blend of artists, philosophers, educators, musicians, scientists, and poets live, eat, and breathe brand strategy, creative design, user experience (UX), accessibility, and web development. We don’t simply make creative things; we have the know-how to leverage emerging technologies to build new connections.

No matter what challenge you give us, we’ll take ownership of it and we won’t give up. We call this our “warrior spirit.”

Core Values

warrior spirit shield icon
Warrior Spirit
When we commit we persevere. We’re all in this together.
be curious brain icon
Be Curious
We take pride in being lifelong learners with insatiable appetites for new perspectives and sharing ideas.
create joy party ball icon
Create Joy
The joy we derive from what we do is contagious. We only have one life; let’s make it great.

Team Sandstorm

Inclusive design is more than a principle. It’s built into who we are.

Sandy Marsico a light skinned female with long blonde hair wearing a white top smiling at the camera
Sandy Marsico a light skinned female with long blonde hair holding her brown and black small shaggy dog Remi
Sandy Marsico (she/her)
Jay Silverman is a light skinned male with dark mustache and beard, bald head, wearing glasses and a blue Chicago Cubs shirt with a book case in the background
Jay Silverman is a light skinned male with dark mustache and beard, bald head, wearing glasses and a blue Chicago Cubs shirt holding his grey cat with a book case in the background with his black cat on top
Jay Silverman (he/him)
Laura Chaparro a light skinned female with long brown hair wearing a white shirt smiling at the camera
Laura Chaparro a light skinned female with long brown hair with a wide brimmed sun hat and fun sunglasses wearing a white shirt smiling at the camera
Laura Chaparro (she/her)
Alma Meshes a light skinned female with dark hair, blue glasses, wearing an owl print dress with plants, knick knacks and art work in the background
Alma Meshes a light skinned female with dark hair, blue glasses, wearing an owl print dress with plants, knick knacks and art work in the background holding her chihuahua, Chuppie
Alma Meshes (she/her)
Joanna Jackson a light skinned female with long blonde hair wearing a stylish shirt in a room with a mirror and flowers
Joanna Jackson a light skinned female with long blonde hair wearing a stylish shirt in a room with a mirror and flowers
Joanna Jackson (she/her)
Neil Pichan is a light skinned male with brown hair, light brown facial hair, tortoise shell glasses, wearing a blue and white stripped shirt with a hallway in the background
Neil Pichan is a light skinned male with brown hair, light brown facial hair, sun glasses, wearing a light green shirt with white flowers with a hallway in the background
Neil Pichan (he/him)
Andy Cullen a light skinned male with brown facial hair wearing a White Sox baseball hat and a red shirt
Andy Cullen a light skinned male with brown facial hair wearing a White Sox baseball hat and a red shirt
Andy Cullen (he/him)
John Brooks a light skinned male with brown hair smiling at the camera wearing a green polo shirt
John Brooks a light skinned male with brown hair smiling at the camera wearing a green hat with his brown dog with a white stripe on his face sitting in his lap
John Brooks (he/him)
Josh Hunter is a light skinned male with black hair, mustache, and beard wearing a blue and white polka dot shirt with a picture of a cherry blossom tree in the background
Josh Hunter is a light skinned male with black hair, mustache, and beard wearing a blue and white polka dot shirt pointing with both fingers at the viewer with a picture of a cherry blossom tree in the background
Josh Hunter (he/him)
Emily Kodner is a light skinned female with blonde shoulder length hair smiling at the camera wearing a read sweater
Emily Kodner is a light skinned female with blonde shoulder length hair smiling at the camera wearing a read sweater
Emily Kodner (she/her)
Syd Hunsinger is a light skinned person with glasses and a shaved head wearing a grey sweater and colorful shirt sitting in a gaming chair with a monitor in the background
Syd Hunsinger is a light skinned person with glasses and a shaved head wearing a grey sweater and colorful shirt with their stripped cat, Becky in their arms, sitting in a gaming chair with a monitor in the background
Syd Hunsinger (they/them)
Amanda Heberg is a light skinned female with blonde wavy hair, black glasses wearing a white sweater
Amanda Heberg is a light skinned female with blonde wavy hair wearing a white fedora with a black stripe, black glasses wearing a white sweater
Amanda Heberg (she/her)
Mike Marsico a light skinned male with a bald head wearing a black t-shirt smiling at the camera
Mike Marsico a light skinned male with a bald head wearing a black t-shirt with a concerned look as a scary wolf head appears from the right
Mike Marsico (he/him)
Noah Sekreter a light skinned male with glasses, light brown goatee and beard, long wavy light brown hair wearing a pink shirt with book case and computer monitors in the background
Noah Sekreter a light skinned male with large dark sunglasses, light brown goatee and beard, long wavy light brown hair with a black wide brimmed hat wearing a large brimmed black hat with book case and computer monitors in the background
Noah Sekreter (he/him)
Anne Lentino is a light skinned female with curly red hair wearing a colorful shirt smiling at the camera
Anne Lentino is a light skinned female with curly red hair holding a masquerade mask in front of her face
Anne Lentino (she/her)
Janna Fiester a light skinned female with grey hair in an updo, clear glasses wearing a red shirt with birds on it smiling at the camera
Janna Fiester a light skinned female with grey hair in an updo, clear glasses wearing a red shirt with birds on it smiling at the camera with her beagle, Miles
Janna Fiester (she/her)
Shawn Hopkins a light skinned mail with glasses, a white beard and mustache, wearing a blue shirt, and smiling at the camera with a wooded area behind him
Two pictures of Shawn's cat, a brown and black stripped cat. On the left, the cat is standing on a railing with its tail raised up. On the right it is laying upside down on a couch with a fuzzy belly showing.
Shawn Hopkins (he/him)
Justin Redfearn a light skinned male with black hair, headphones and a blue shirt with ninja turtles in front of a zoom background of the Golden Gate Bridge
Justin Redfearn a light skinned male with black hair, headphones, wearing cool shades and a blue shirt with ninja turtles making a rock and roll sign with his hand in front of a zoom background of neon pink lines with a sunset
Justin Redfearn (he/him)
Nathan Haas is a light skinned male with brown hair, tortoise shell glasses, light stubble wearing a white shirt with orange and blue plaid with a window in the background
Nathan Haas is a light skinned male with brown hair, sun glasses, light stubble wearing a red Hawaiian print shirt with a window in the background
Nathan Haas (he/him)
Madeline Jensen is a light skinned female with short curly brown hair, brown eyes, glasses wearing a red and black flannel shirt smiling at the camera
Madeline Jensen is a light skinned female with short curly brown hair, brown eyes, glasses wearing a red and black flannel shirt smiling at the camera holding a 2024 hockey playoffs towel
Madeline Jensen (she/her)
Cameron Panice a light skinned male with glasses, dark brown hair, dark brown mustache and stubble wearing a pink shirt with cactuses and a kitchen and couch in the background
Cameron Panice a light skinned male with glasses, dark brown hair, dark brown mustache and stubble wearing a pink shirt with cactuses pressing index finger to mouth while looking at clone of himself carrying a green coffee cup standing in the kitchen
Cameron Panice (he/him)
Nick Meshes a light skinned mail with black glasses, blonde hair, blonde handle bar mustache and goatee wearing a white shirt with blue diamonds with a book case of collectables and art work in the background
Nick Meshes a light skinned mail with sunglasses, tan colored hat, blonde handle bar mustache and goatee wearing a t-shirt holding faun colored chihuahua, Chuppie on his left shoulder in White Sands New Mexico
Nick Meshes (he/him)

Be your most authentic self – we like it that way

Our commitment to inclusion across race, gender, age, religion, sexuality, disability, and life experience drives us to better ourselves and create more impactful work for all. So we’re building a diverse team where individuality is celebrated. Together, we continue to foster an inclusive culture through education, recruitment, and implementation.

Good Work for Good People

Bringing Humanity to Tech

There's no room for hate in our hearts

Our strength lies in our diversity, so we are committed to fostering a community of respect and inclusion. We stand against hate, discrimination, and prejudice in all their forms. Read more about our DEI efforts.

Sign up for FREE webinars, original UX research, and trends: