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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
In a world of infographics
Infographics is a relatively new word. It’s used to describe visuals that combine data and images to illustrate a complicated idea. The intent is to make complex data easy to understand by turning it into a visual presentation. You’ll have noticed them in use everywhere, but most prevalently in data-heavy news shows and articles, research documents, […]
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 […]
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: