The Design Skill Nobody Talks About
There is a quality I have noticed in really great design, and it is not what gets discussed in portfolio critiques or covered in design courses. It is not an eye for color or typographic knowledge, though they matter. It is something harder to name and, I think, harder to teach. It is a sensitivity to space.
Beyond the Yellow Brick Road
I’ve always been a worker bee. Despite running my own business for years now. My best days are spent hands-on: graphic design, brand illustration, and custom WordPress web design. I thrive in long-term, one-on-one client relationships, many of which have lasted for decades. That’s where the real magic happens.
White is a Color. Pantone Says So.
In a world of CMYK printing, where full-color runs have never been cheaper, there’s a better word for white. It’s called “paper”.
A 2000-Year-Old Brand
Meet the ampersand — a mark invented in ancient Rome that’s morphed through centuries of design and still feels effortless today. Read how this tiny ligature’s long history proves the smartest brands evolve their look while keeping their core intact.
Industry jargon vs plain speech
I’ve been working in the design industry, well forever. Most of it, I’ve been working as an independent – directly with my clients, small business owners. Because I’ve not worked in a lot of agencies, I sometimes lose track of industry jargon. I pick up lingo mostly from online reading – thought-leaders, bloggers, social media […]
Mysterious cycles of productivity
People who deal with bipolar disorder experience a continual cycle of extreme ups and downs – the ups containing boundless energy and creativity, and the downs on the opposite end of the spectrum, depressive and low energy. Sometimes dangerously so. For people dealing with this disorder, treatment can often make a big difference – evening […]
Falling in love and the benefit of perspective
I think I’m in love. I can’t stop staring. I may turn away from the object of my affection for a moment or two but my eyes are inevitably drawn back to gaze upon my love. It’s hard not to want to show everyone this thing of beauty, this wonderful thing, this thing I just […]
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 […]
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 […]