Don’t let the shark die.
A brand is a living thing. Like a shark, it needs to keep moving to stay vital. Small businesses, maybe even more than big ones, need to keep fresh. Fresh visuals are an outward sign of the vitality of your business. It shows that your business is quick to evolve with changing times. For a […]
Artists Write to Work
This is pretty cool news. My talented friend Kate just wrote a book. It’s a book that would have been very helpful to me had I read it as a younger person, but it is still very helpful now. Kate Kramer is a lecturer in critical writing at University of Pennsylvania, and she has a […]
20/20 vision on Andiamo’s 20th Anniversary
Updated June 14, 2026 I took the leap. And here’s what I learned. I was, I now recognize, so very young when I started Andiamo. So very young to have walked away from a corporate job and into the big wide world of self-employment. But even then, at that age, I recognized that the safe […]
Give me the tools of the master
Updated June 14, 2026 The biggest complaint I get from clients who switch to my services after working with another designer is “can you get the file sizes smaller?” The problem usually lies in someone using the wrong tools. In this case, the tools refer to software choices and how they are used. It seems […]
Design and puzzles – my favorite things
I’ve always loved puzzles – jigsaw, crossword, word games, whatever you’ve got. I think that’s one of the things that makes me passionate about design. Every design project is a puzzle – a problem-solving exercise. The pursuit of the answer is fun – and finding the right answer can be incredibly satisfying. Design and puzzles […]
Branding bands, a case study
Updated June 14, 2026 One of my clients is the new Milwaukee-based band, The Hungry Williams. (Ok, full disclosure, this is John’s band – John is my hubby.) Being that I’m a branding and digital designer, and John has played with dozens of bands over the years, we bring unique perspectives to the endeavor of […]
JPGS and PNGS and TIFS, oh my!
Updated June 14, 2026 Along my journey in the visual design industry, I’ve accumulated a list of best practices on handling graphic files. I find that people who do not walk this road every day tend to get confused. JPGS and PNGS and TIFS and EPS files, what to choose? How do you know you’re […]
Illustrate your idea, stand out in a crowd
How do you make your marketing stand out? Catchy headlines? Yes.Striking design? Of course.Arresting imagery? For sure! Stock photography and illustration is a great way to go if you’re on a budget – but getting something that’s custom designed for your brand and message is even better, right? Custom illustration doesn’t necessarily mean you need lots-o-dollars […]
Tell me the one about the armless designer
On May 9, 2017 at 6:59am – I had two working arms. Two minutes later, I didn’t. Spoiler alert: I’m fine now. So I got that goin’ for me. Several years ago, I took some good advice and purchased disability insurance. Being self-employed and the sole earner in my household, I needed to plan for the […]
Top 5 ways to be self-employed AND productive
Updated June 14, 2026 Number one thing people ask when I tell them I’m self-employed and I work from home: “How do you do that? I’d never get anything done!” Well — first of all, if I didn’t get anything done, my self-employment gig would have died a quick death many years ago. I wouldn’t get repeat […]