Meet the Oregon teen whose design work is all over the Heisman Trophy festivities

Bo Nix isn’t Oregon’s only representative at the Heisman Trophy ceremony this weekend.

Much of the signage around the event in New York City and the program at the Heisman gala were designed by 18-year-old Will Sussman from Happy Valley.

Last year, Sussman, who is a senior in the North Clackamas School District, was on a family vacation in New York in December that coincided with the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

“Being the big sports fan that I am,” he said, “I obviously made that connection.”

Sussman, who had picked up photography as a hobby during the pandemic, inquired about student opportunities to photograph the event.

Tim Henning, the Heisman’s associate director, reviewed Sussman’s work and not only gave him a pass to take photos, but asked if he would do some graphic design work for social media.

Sussman, whose father is longtime Portland meteorologist Bruce Sussman, is a regular on the sidelines at high school football games, shooting photos and video. He makes graphics for college commitments and designs jersey swaps. He travels with the Team Lillard football team doing visual media and interned last summer for the Hillsboro Hops.

And last December, he found himself photographing the Heisman finalists out and about in Manhattan and was there when USC’s Caleb Williams was named the award’s 86th recipient. This year, his designs can be found all over the Heisman weekend.

“It’s amazing to see my work on a stage that big,” Sussman said. “To think that all the football legends that will be in attendance at the Heisman gala will see my work is pretty surreal.”

As Sussman was doing his work in preparation for this year’s Heisman, it wasn’t lost on him that there was a chance that his Heisman moment might correspond with that of the Oregon Ducks quarterback.

Nix threw for a career-best 4,145 yards, the second most of any quarterback in the country, while tossing 40 touchdowns and only three interceptions.

The 23-year-old fifth-year senior was seen as the favorite for college football’s most coveted award before the Ducks fell short against Washington in the Pac-12 championship game last week in Las Vegas.

Sussman got a close-up view of Nix twice this season, photographing him at Autzen Stadium during Oregon’s games against Hawaii and Cal.

“Watching Bo Nix on the field like down there that close, he’s so dynamic,” Sussman said. “Obviously he hits his targets. He rarely misses. I think I like him for Heisman. I don’t know if it will pan out if I’m being completely honest, but he’s who I want to win for sure.”

Sussman will earn his diploma online from Clackamas Web Academy in the spring — taking classes online has allowed him a flexible schedule for his work with Team Lillard — and then plans to attend college next to continue his career.

“I’m looking to go for one of the big basketball or football schools around the country and work for their creative team,” he said.

When Sussman arrives on campus,…