Oprah rocks
I ran into Oprah one day walking down Michigan Avenue in Chicago about 20 years ago, and narrowly missed a chance to high five with her – I will always regret that. Oprah Winfrey has always been a inspiration to me for her strength, intelligence, thoughtfulness, compassion, and integrity. Her Golden Globe speech really had […]
Brand new year
I hope 2017 has treated you all well, because 2018 is here already, and 2018 marks Andiamo’s twentieth year in business. TWENTY. Holy moly how did that happen so quickly? Brand new year In honor of this momentous moment I am offering a special on branding services – A Brand New Year – for those who […]
Let’s go, Mrs Carr
The word Andiamo means “we go” in Italian – or colloquially “Let’s go.” My recent marriage and subsequent name change turns out to be a nice parallel. I am thrilled to announce to any who will listen that on December 2 2017, on an unseasonably warm day, I married a man called Carr. John Francis […]
Give me the tools of the master
Yes, tools matter. 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 a […]
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 […]
Websites for Architects
Andiamo Creative has a long history of working with clients in the Architecture, Structural Engineering and Interior Design industries. Some of our earliest connections when starting the business nearly 20 years ago were through the Merchandise Mart and friends in the architecture realm in Chicago. We’ve worked with high profile firms such as Powell Kleinschmidt, […]
Branding bands, a case study
One of my clients is the new Milwaukee-based band, The Hungry Williams. (Ok, full disclosure, this is John’s band – John is my sweetie.) 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 effective brand marketing for […]
JPGS and PNGS and TIFS, oh my!
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 headed down the right […]
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 […]