Jun 08, 2023

design companies



us based portfolios
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Kindness and Humility

Kindness and Humility - Chris EriksonIn the work and not work of Chris Erickson, we don't find a lot not to love... (get it?) Yes, his work is really nice. However, we are totally crazy about the compressed minimalist Flash UI that gives us a very easy framework from which to view a showcase of his print, identity, packaging and industrial design talents. Set into a grey background, the web and print projects really pop out nicely, yet they all still fit snugly on a laptop screen. Now getting back to the work, it's important that you also don't sleep on the not work (or "play") which unveils a compassionate and down to earth side to this talented multimedia designer. Great stuff there, not here.... Read more

Also posted under graphic design, multimedia.

Kindness and Humility - Chris Erikson

Skwiot Smith

Skwiot Smithskwiot/smith is a small graphic art and design studio based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The work revolves around a smattering of many projects - from print, identity and collateral materials to CD designs, books, posters and websites. Essentially, this is a one person studio, and skwiot/smith is actually Peter Skwiot Smith... which tells us a little about the artist himself: He enjoys producing minimal, yet beautiful abstract works that are sprinkled with a distinct esoteric quality.... Read more

Also posted under graphic design.

Skwiot Smith


Joshua Distler

Joshua DistlerThis super understated HTML portfolio betrays little of the actual work that went into the selected print and interactive projects. It doesn't scream "Wow. Look at me!", or "Hey, I'm a great web designer!". Nope. None of that. Partly that's because the designers' strength is in print, packaging and book designs. Partly because it's easy to update and shows photos of his work in a really accessible way. And partly because of the Joshaua's obvious love of minimalism. The end result is that we looked through almost all of Joshua's contemporary design works - including his contributions on none other than Apple's iPod and G5 award winning packaging design. Great stuff.... Read more

Also posted under graphic design.

Joshua Distler

Mogollon

MogollonMogollon is collection of graphic design, production design, branding, illustration and motion graphics by a fresh, young duo who met while working on a film documentary for PS1/MoMa. They produce some interesting work spanning a range of media that has a youthful appeal and is still in a process of evolving. They even had a steaming series of music accessible from their site dubbed "Mogollon FM" which you can just click and play. These two are true kids of the multimedia age, getting their fingers messy in any way that they are able.... Read more

Also posted under multimedia, illustration.

Mogollon


Friend of a Friend

Friend of a Friend Down-right dirty, but right to the point, this is a portfolio site that takes a back-yard approach. Wheel in the pick-up truck of links on this single page wonder, and you'll basically get direct project URLs, a bunch of motion videos, shorts, and a reel of their work. Simple and sans information, this dusty minimal approach gets high marks for originality, verve, and kudos for just not giving a damn (but underneath it all, showing they really do). Brilliant.... Read more

Also posted under film, motion + video.

Friend of a Friend

Milky Elephant

Milky ElephantMilky Elephant is a professional collective of three unique design artists based in New York. This collective consists of Karl Ackermann, Eun-Ha Paek and Mumbleboy (a.k.a. Kinya Hanada), who together make installations, games, illustrations, music videos, animated series, and artistically inspired designs. They work on an eclectic variety of funky projects spanning from toy design to viral interactive e-postcards that you've probably helped spread. Very quirky, often miniture and cute, it seems like they have a niche around being silly and youthful, which also shows in the variety of mediums they like to craft their projects (everything from coin purses to TV interstitials). Also check out The Milky Shop, the cool pink retro nav (that we really like) and the sites of the three design artists.... Read more

Also posted under multimedia, illustration, film, motion + video.

Milky Elephant


Upnorth

UpnorthUpnorth is a duo of designers by the names of Steve Green and Justin Kay... Currently based in New York City, but once hailing from the bitter north of Wisconsin, Upnorth blends clean graphics and original typography into designs which have been inspired by a rich history of skateboarding, Black Sabbath and the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers. Upnorth publishes the online 'zine Oneonenine, but the two are probably more well known for their work designing and art directing Marc Ecko's trendsetting print magazine Complex (Internal Link). Cruising through this simple site is like skateboarding by a splattered wall of fun graphic designs and street stickers.... Read more

Upnorth

Otra Design

Clicks, pings, whrrs, and a slightly challenging interface... Otra Design makes us feel like we're not quite on the same planet as when we started this journey. And that's a good thing. Too many websites try to make you feel like you're in a modern minimal winterland or reading a slick print newspaper, and we often forget that we're still surfing the same cyber world as envisioned in the cyberpunk sub-genre created in William Gibson's novel Neuromancer. Well, Otra - meaning Other - reminds us again that the Internet is still digital and dark and difficult. And while exploring this cyber dream world - use the strange octopus plant to navigate - we discover that creator Jozias Dawson is a designer with his own particular vision. Strong in Flash and digital illustrations, we also should bring attention to his 200 plus sounds made for Flash and web designers. Great original... Read more

Also posted under sound design.

Otra Design


root45 design

root45We're not so sure what a root45 is, but this personal play space and work portfolio of Gary Pikovsky makes a defining impression that explains everything we needed to know. From many great logotypes and identities, to print, posters, websites and even signage, every project is simply presented in beautiful large format with great descriptions within a flowing navigational architecture. In fact, besides the name, there's nothing we could possibly find on the site that isn't perfectly explained and showcased. Great work from a designer who has worked in such firms as Pentagram, The Partners, Visual Dialogue and others.... Read more

root45

The Rock Collection

The Rock CollectionYou know you're a talented graphic designer when you create a 3-page website, plaster in a bunch of huge jpeg samples of your work, and don't even bother to put in a back button. It's like... who needs a website with navigation when the work speaks for itself... and your browser has a 'back' button embedded in it anyway? Well, this is one of those special occasions where it truly doesn't matter, because in the personal portfolio of Philippe Richardson, the illustration work and stills of broadcast commercials (some with Quicktime movies) will blow you away, and you won't even notice you're sitting at your desk anymore, much less which direction you want to navigate (besides simply scrolling up and down... over and over and over again).... Read more

Also posted under illustration, film, motion + video.

The Rock Collection


Atslopes

AtslopesWestchester County's finest is none other than independent brand, motion, interactive and graphic designer Andrew Thompson. This self-proclaimed portfolio of "trendy stuff" shows us that Andrew has a solid understanding of the design game and knows where and how to kiss some serious butt. Yes... it's all in the irreverance, isn't it? As long as it sells, kids... as long as it sells! And that's why this great motion graphics designer with a BFA in design is looking for full time work? Please, someone snap him up quick.... Read more

Also posted under film, motion + video.

Atslopes

in the habit

A nice window into the moonlighting career of New York resident (but Swiss born) graphic designer Tiziana Haug. Fluid monochromatic elements give a decidedly feminine feel to most of the pieces. Nice presentation of pitches and personal projects. This student of the Swiss style is a top print designer and has a great mind for keeping design in the fore-front of all of her projects. She also helped us cultivate version 2 of Digitalthread.com.... Read more

in the habit


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us based portfolios

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us based portfolios is...

Independent web designers, freelancers, solo firms and boutiques predominantly working for screen and online who maintain individual sites, design blogs or personal portfolios. Restricted to individuals located in the United States (see 'International Portfolios' for global listings).

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