News + Musings

We’re pleased to find out our branding and packaging work for Beaumondes has been selected to be featured on World Brand Design Society (WBDS). WBDS is an internationally focused community, founded in 2008 with the mission of highlighting exceptional consumer packaging and corporate brand design while bringing knowledge and community closer together.

Many thanks to the kind folks at WBDS and to our client Beaumondes trusting us with their brand. To see more of the project, click here.

We got more good news from Bill Gardner, and our friends at Logo Lounge. This year, out of more than 35,000 entries, our logo design for Phoenix based, Twin Engine Design was selected for inclusion in LogoLounge Vol. 11.

The 11th edition of the bestselling LogoLounge book series features the leading edge of identity design created by highly accomplished and noteworthy up-and-coming designers from around the world. Logo Lounge 11 is available now on BookBaby.

Many thanks to the kind folks at LogoLounge and the panel of esteemed judges for recognizing our work once again. Click here to see more of our logo work.

We’ve had our noses to the grindstone the past several months, so much so that we almost forgot to post this. We got more good news from Bill Gardner, and our colleagues at Logo Lounge this week. We’re honored to learn that out of 37,000 entries received, two of our logos have been selected to be published in LogoLounge Vol. 10.

Our logos for Howler Horticulture, a horticulture services company in Colorado, specializing in brokering tree sales, and for Original Gravity, a bar in central Phoenix offering small plates, wine and craft beer made the cut for publication. Logo Lounge 10 is available now on Amazon. Click here to see more of our logo work.

Thanks to the kind folks at LogoLounge and the judging panel for the recognition.

We heard from Bill Gardner, and our colleagues at Logo Lounge that our logo design work would be featured in the 2017 Logo Trends Report delivered by Bill at How Design Live in Chicago, May 4 and online at LogoLounge today. Our logo for Chimera Screems made the list as an example in the category of MicroLines.

Of the trend category, Gardner remarks, “Going against every rule of smart identity design, this works. We’ve been admonished time and again that too fine of a line will not scale down well. Allowing line work to run together will create a printing nightmare. And don’t go for a swim for a half-hour after you’ve eaten. I’m here to say this trend dispels at least two-thirds of those warnings.” We couldn’t agree more.

Read the full report at logolounge.com, or click here to see more of our logo work.

We’re excited to learn that several of our logo designs and brand identities have been recognized for excellence by Graphis. Six entries ( for CEA, Original Gravity, Howler Horticulture, Chonka Projekt, St. Jude, and our own studio identity) received merit distinctions. Entries for Chimera Screems and Custom Church Interiors were awarded Gold distinctions and will be featured in Graphis Logo 9 & Letterhead 8 with half-page presentations in the hardcover book. Graphis Logo 9 & Letterhead 8 will be available March 15, 2017 from graphis.com.

Graphis Inc. is a publisher of the world’s most significant and influential works from the greatest talent in Design, Advertising, and Photography since 1944.

To see more of our award-winning logo design work, click here.

We welcomed 2017 with a move into a mid-century modern building designed and built in 1955. Our new studio is located on the second floor at 1429 North 1st Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004 — just across the street from the Phoenix Art Museum and two doors down from Giant Coffee. If you find yourself in the area, drop by and say hello.

This year phD turned 15 — old enough to know better, but still too young to drive. When I started the studio in 2001, I did so with the belief that design has immense potential to inspire, inform and impact commerce, community and culture. Today, 15 years and thousands of design projects in, I believe it more than ever.

To mark the milestone, we’ve launched a new identity and website. Check it out, let us know what you think, and come back for updates and new design and branding work.

I’d like to extend heartfelt thanks to all of our employees, clients and partners, past and present. Each of you has had a role in shaping the studio. I’m incredibly grateful and looking forward to the next 15. Cheers!

We’re excited and very thirsty as we set out to create new work for our friends at Original Gravity—a small plates, craft beer, wine and champagne bar opening late 2016/early 2017 at the Strip (at 12th Street and Highland in Phoenix).

Our engagement includes a branding workshop, restaurant branding, packaging design, signage development and environmental design, website development and consultation on interiors and artwork. Stay tuned!

Recently I had the pleasure of traveling to San Francisco to attend SF Design Week and take part in a three-day type design workshop hosted by Crafting Type. In my studies and career I’ve worked extensively with letterforms and have designed typefaces for personal use. 

For my type design project I decided to complete and refine an uppercase, partial display type that I had developed as a component of an in-progress branding engagement. The client brief was to create a brand identity that conveys a conservative, elegant and contemporary feel. I set out to design an extreme contrast Didone type to meet the objectives of the brief.

Special thanks to Dave Crossland and Thomas Phinney at Crafting Type for their insight, critique and a great workshop. The branding work is scheduled for launch in early October. Stay tuned.

Made with love, in Phoenix and San Francisco using Glyphs.