“I grew up working in a CNC machine shop, and I have to say I learned more about design there than I EVER did at college. One of my dad’s favorite sayings, ‘You can always take more off, but you can’t put it back on’, really stuck with me, especially on logo design.”

“I always start in my Field Notes, sketches and playing with as many ideas and concepts as I can. Never go straight to the computer, as it can make work look ‘done’ before it’s really complete. Then I start to pare each idea down to its basic elements. A good logo should be simple and memorable, and it HAS TO be able to scale. Some of the best designers, and I’m not just talking about the legends, made beautifully simple logos that can stand the test of time. No fads welcome here.”

“Once the initial concepts are complete, I bring them in to illustrator to sharpen them up. Those concepts are then presented to the client, always in context, and not drunk on white space. When the pixels settle, they have a new logo that’ll be unique and memorable. Some of these were done for fun, some for funds and some for friends. Good luck picking out which one is which!”

“One of my favorite pastimes… designing icon sets! Keep line weight and style consistent, but it’s harder than you think. Pay attention to those little details.”

“Easily one of my favorite logos of all time. I used to play table tennis full-time, and while I loved the equipment from the big manufacturers, I HATED the apparel. So like so many of us today, I made my own thing! I wanted something that could be worn in competition, or just around the town. I kicked it off in September of 2016, but 2017 is the year it’s really going to take off! That’s the plan, anyways. By the way, you can pick up a shirt or two by hitting this link. Enjoy!”

“I’ve been in my current studio for a year now, but the most incredible part for me is walking in every day under the sign that I designed. Michael Tavani hired me for the sign and the branding for the building, affectionately known as Switchyards Downtown Club. The crazy part? They hired one of Atlanta’s best sign painters, my buddy Adam McNeil, to paint it on the bricks of this 90 year-old building. And I got to obsess over every little detail. The ‘H’ that hits that center column right on target? All by design.”

“My space is another story. It’s packed to the brim with books, posters, paraphernalia, Field Notes, Sharpies and a collection of design relics that take up a little too much space. I go all over Georgia and Tennessee to snag these treasures, and they influence my work every single day.”

Get in touch at [email protected] and tell us what you think of this new series highlighting the type habits of graphic designers and font addicts just like you. Want to share your Favorite Five with us and the rest of the world? We’re looking forward to hearing from you!