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 […]
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 […]
Focus on focal point
After many years of working as a professional designer and illustrator, I tend to focus on design all around me. When I notice a great design it’s usually because it has a strong focal point, and you can tell right away this designer knows what they’re doing. Whether it’s a minimalistic layout or a busy […]
Pop goes the art
Updated June 14, 2026 With the passing of iconic pop artist James Rosenquist passed in 2017, it got me thinking about the overlap of art and design, and how that has affected my work. Prior to Rosenquist and his contemporaries – Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein and others of the era – the art created […]
The casual typographer
The vernacular long ago dictated “email” over e-mail and “internet” over Internet, and today the rules have finally caught up. High time, y’all.
Your face is Irish
Ever wonder where the beautifully styled Irish type faces came from? You see these fonts often used on signage for Irish pubs and shops, on throw pillows embroidered with charming Irish sayings, and on pretty much anything marketed as Irish or to those who romanticize the Irish. Lyrical and calligraphic, and reads instantly as nothing but Irish. […]
Ode to the Ampersand
The ampersand. The central graphic in the Andiamo Creative logo, it is a favorite mark for a typography geek like me. Originally formed by a ligature of the latin word ‘et’ which means ‘and’, it is a combination of the letters E and T. This can still be seen in some versions of the mark, depending on the font you are using:
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 […]
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.