ee smith designs
“Design is a solution to a problem. Art is a question to a problem.”
— John Maeda
For 20 years, I have tried to find solutions to problems. To ask why there is a problem. To ask what the client wants to solve. It’s not always about pretty pictures, but sometimes they help. Those of us who spend our lives trying to figure out why and how people think a certain way, gain a perspective of understanding and universality, that can hopefully translate into beautifully designed solutions.
My work spans the gamut of graphic design - from web to digital to print and branding.
Website Design & Development
I built my first websites in college, and began getting paid to build websites in 2003. I have developed everything from simple wordpress (or html) to complex financial web applications.
Web Design and development is always a dance between form and function. For me, it is always thoughtful reduction that leads to solutions.
Branding Design & Strategy
What defines a logo? Well, logos is the word with many meanings. Depending on the context, it can mean ‘divine wisdom’ or ‘logic’ or ‘universality’ or ‘reason’. Simplicity and reduction are key to logo design. Does it evoke the emotions, ideas, and feel of a business – or is it just an image?
The process of logo design can be simple or complex, but one must spend the time to consider not only the meaning, but also the use cases for the branding. Creating a branding system is important for the long-term viability of a logo, and cohesion across applications.
Marketing Design
How do you translate messaging into design? This is the question with marketing design. Hierarchy of both visuals and words are imperative when creating designs for marketing. The branding system for the company must also be considered when creating all the collateral, whether print or digital.