Cool signage in Lincoln Park
I just love when people get creative. Last year, we worked extensively with Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce to develop a new brand identity, including tons of print work, HTML emails, infographics and maps and an extensive custom-designed directory website in WordPress. This branding design project was one of my favorites in a long time. I was inspired […]
Poster Design for Urban Heroes, Urban Wood
An influential and inspiring new art show called “Urban Heroes, Urban Wood” is opening in Milwaukee in alignment with Black History Month – I designed the poster.
Hey Nineteen – Happy Anniversary
Wow. I got up today to many congrats via my LinkedIn profile with regards to my work anniversary. I then remembered – oh yeah – Andiamo Creative is 19 years old today. I am aghast that it’s been that long. I have been self employed for 19 years – crazy. When I started out so […]
Some of us take and some of us get took.
Can you be in a dysfunctional relationship with a client? I’ve been very lucky. I’ve been in business for myself nearly 20 years, and my clients are wonderful. I have very rarely had cause for alarm in any respect. I know that I have been lucky and I am so thankful for knowing and working […]
Does my logo need to include LLC?
Andiamo works with many small businesses, organizations and start-ups, and we typically start out developing their branding. The question inevitably comes up as we begin logo work – does my logo need to include LLC? does my logo need to include Inc? Ltd? The answer is a resounding “NO.” Nothing makes you look more rink-dink than making a mistake like that.
Fast, cheap AND great – how do you like your graphic design?
To promise great, fast and cheap as a matter of course degrades the creative process and does a disservice to the graphic design industry as a whole. You might be able to pull that kind of service out once in a blue moon, but certainly you can’t promise that every time. Creative inspiration doesn’t turn on like a light switch. And even if it could be done, it shouldn’t be done.
How to spot the crazy
Horns? Red eyes? A T-shirt that says “I’m the devil”? Would that it were that easy to spot. I’ve worked with my share of difficult clients over the years and it can be a tricky thing to see coming. On occasion I’ve seen the signs and worked with the client anyway – thinking I could deal with it and it wouldn’t be too bad. But I’ve always ended up regretting that decision. Some things are just not worth it.
What to do when everything hits at once
Time management. This can be very tricky when you run a small business. Most small business owners wear multiple hats on any given day and just keeping up with work flow can sometimes be a daunting task. I’ve been running my own business for many years and my list of to dos is always full. […]
One stop branding shop
Branding – everyone is talking about branding these days. Do we really know what it means? Branding is finding the perfect way to say what your business does, that speaks perfectly to your target audience, to garner the best result for you as the business owner.
Paying into the Good Faith Fund
Ever start communicating with a potential client and you suddenly find they’re taking up an enormous amount of your time? Way more time than they should? The Good Faith Fund is there for a reason, but it has it’s limits.