Anything but TEETH

I recently took on the challenge of my family dentist's identity. This is a situation where the son was taking over the business from the father and wanted to update things a little. He knew he wanted something more modernized but still clean and conservative enough to fit into their affluent community. After checking out some other examples he liked, I went to work. My only goal was to avoid teeth and tooth imagery. I failed.

Or did I?



It's true that sometimes when you fail, you succeed. As I conceptualized I kept coming back to abstract representations of teeth. I couldn't get it out of my head, like a challenge I had to face. I endeavored to hint at the letters for the business, primarily U and D, for "Uday" and "Dentistry", while trying to evoke all things dental. When I put them together, bold and clean, they worked. It's abstract enough to hint at dentistry, and modern enough not to be cliche. The client agreed. Sometimes the taboo becomes the rule.

New RECRUIT

I'm considering joining the Freelancers Union and the New York chapter of the AIGA.


The Freelancers Union is an organization united to make sure independent workers have access to quality health insurance and the benefits of advocacy. Considering my decision to continue freelancing in New York until the right full-time position comes along, I figure it's smart to give myself the best shot at viable local business. Who knows, freelancing may turn out to be just as lucrative. It certainly did in Detroit.

The AIGA is just a good idea. It's been a good idea but I've been reluctant to shell out the cash to join. But let's face it, it's tax deductible, and professional associations carry with them many benefits.


Namely, a cache of networking events and growth opportunities currently hard to find as a New York newbie. I have to say it's long overdue. I think it will also make me feel a little more credible as a member of the design community.

HELP I need HELP

Help's web site might say it best: "Many companies enjoy packaging their goods inside nasty materials covered in gaudy graphics.That’s because many companies are controlled by crazy people."

With a majority of their packaging made from 100% recycled materials like molded paper pulp, Help products look more AIGA than CVS. Started by Richard Fine and a partner because they found common drug store packaging more pain-inducing than pain-relieving, Help's white yet "green" packaging was designed by Chapps-Malina Design Studio and clearly steps out of the garish pattern of modern drugstore packaging.

All ABOARD

My good friend Sara Jezewski has asked me to design her shower and wedding invitations. First out of the gate was this amusing train ticket styled shower invite. Sara loves trains, as I do, and while she didn't want to do a train theme for the wedding invite, the shower invite was fair game.

We found a number of train tickets online and chose some examples we liked. Then I set about creating a facsimile for her. This is it.