Illustrations by S.K. Simmerman

From a young age I have been interested in archaeology, especially how graphic design has informed cultures throughout history. Much of my work focuses on ephemera. I address the gimmicks of advertising and its power of persuasion, often using simple icons and carefully crafted language. I enjoy creating the name of a business as much as rendering the imagery. I’m a student of semiotics, and a long-time fan of Prairie Home Companion, where fictional products and characters made a bygone era seem more real. Thus, my creative strategy is what I like to call narrative design, where stylized imagery & hand-lettering tell a story.

My influences include early 20th century magazine artists Edward Penfield and Will Bradley, as well as Edward Hopper, Jacob Lawrence, and Alex Katz. Other designers whose work inspires me are Lucien Bernhard, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, and Andy Warhol.