About aajdesign Digital Design company in Philadelphia, United States
We have a simple philosophy: connect with clarity. And we have been adhering to its principles as one of the East Coasts leading design firms since 1984.
We design build and support brand identity programs offering our suite of services — including strategy stakeholder and sustainability communications — across all media.
Our approach is sensitive and specific. Each project dictates how we craft teams and processes for our clients.
Insight
Brand Positioning
Naming
Design
Visual Systems
Brand Guidelines
Deployment
Web/Mobile
Print
Environmental
Financial Reporting
Investor Communications
Annual Reports
Sustainability Reports
Capability Reports
Without a clear position and strategy a companys brand offers a hollow promise. We start with a proper competitor review with the right expertise allowing for a deep understanding of the industry and competitive landscape. With that knowledge we can determine which steps to take to differentiate your brand so it communicates with the strongest message and voice.
A visual brand identity only works when it considers everything that contributes to an organizations unique position. We begin our process with thorough research assessment and planning. The resulting strategy may be based upon something embedded in an organizations past or contemplate the future. It may reposition an existing identity or completely regenerate it. Regardless defining an organizations essential qualities and articulating them visually requires the highest level of craft.
Our process has allowed us to help numerous organizations connect with their audience in a voice that reflects and supports their true personality and culture.
Every day there seems to be a new way to communicate with an audience: from interactive to social media from signage to collateral from email to business collateral. Insight into a particular audience leads to the execution of a successful and cohesive brand experience. Over our history we have become adept at identifying subtle yet effective ways to help our clients stand out from the crowd even as the landscape evolves.
AAJdesign has been designing award-winning investor communications — including online and print annual reports quarterly reports and proxies — for some of the most respected companies in America.
Our recipe: turn business strategy into clear verbal and visual communications that support the brand and executive strategy for the company.
Shannon Chong | Designer
Shannon Chong is a designer from the Philadelphia/New Jersey area. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design from the University of the Arts in 2016. That same year she received the Armin Hofmann Award for Excellence in Graphic Design and won a citation award for her senior degree project Can You Look At This?
Coming from a design program that values concept development and refinement within the design process she strives to create work that reflects these beliefs. For her pursuing a career in design has always been about her desire to create in a way that she found truly unique to the design process. The process of analyzing and developing ideas that best solve communication problems has enabled her to better understand how to design solutions that are best for each project. From the development of ideas to final refinement she has come to truly believe that the success of design relies heavily on the clarity of the concept.
Jake Brams | Designer
Originally from Chester County Pennsylvania Jake is a designer that takes great pride in being a Philadelphian as illustrated by his degree project Pranzo which was recognized with a citation for its distinction and execution from the University of the Arts in the spring of 2019. In addition to receiving a citation Jake was also a recipient of the Armin Hoffman Award for Excellence in Graphic Design.
As an intern for AAJdesign in the summer of 2018 Jake cut his teeth on a myriad of print and digital projects as well as contributing to the development of several brand identities and accompanying motion graphics. In his work Jake is always looking for new and innovative ways to communicate to defined audiences.
When he is away from the studio Jake spends the bulk of his time watching films supporting local musicians and riding his bike.
JP Bender | Designer
New Jersey native JP Bender graduated from the graphic design program at Philadelphias University of the Arts with high honors in the spring of 2019. He was awarded a citation for distinction in the conception and execution of his senior degree project Painting the Corners: The Art of Pitching and received the CRW Award for Excellence in Typography. During his senior year he worked as an intern under former UArts faculty member Joel Katz where he helped create a five-weight 197 character typeface. Alongside his work at AAJdesign he teaches a class part time to sophomores at the University of the Arts.
When JP isnt working on design projects hes normally catching up on a pretty large backlog of albums and movies hes been meaning to look into or sitting comfortably in the second deck of various baseball stadiums.
Jan C. Almquist | Principal
Jan is recognized by leading professional organizations and publications worldwide for his contributions to both design and photography. He has participated in numerous solo and group shows and his work is in corporate and private art collections. Jans work is also in the permanent collections of The Library of Congress Washington DC the Graphic Design Collection of the National Design Archive at Rochester Institute of Technology New York USA and the Museum of Applied Arts in Brno Czech Republic.
Jan currently holds an adjunct professorship in the graphic design department at The University of the Arts Philadelphia (formerly the Philadelphia College of Art) where he has taught part-time since 1985. Many of the courses Jan has taught have involved the development of experimental curricula.
Jan studied at the University of Connecticut Storrs holds a BFA with honors in graphic design and photography from the Philadelphia College of Art (now the University of the Arts) and an MJ in journalism and communication theory from Temple University School of Communications and Theater.
Ruth Styles | Office Manager
Ruth hails from Minneapolis MN. In 2014 Ruth earned her BA from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and received the Outstanding Graduating Student Award and Outstanding Senior Thesis Award from the Department of Geography. She then served as an AmeriCorps member at a community-based adult literacy program in Austin TX. In 2015 Ruth relocated to Philadelphia PA where she worked at the Penn Museum. Now in addition to her position at AAJdesign Ruth is the Undergraduate Coordinator and Registrar for the Penn Anthropology Department.
In her free time Ruth enjoys reading gardening traveling camping bicycling photography and spending time with her two cats Wilbur and Oscar.
Ryan Penn | Senior Designer
Born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia Ryan attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts after high school. While at PafA Ryan studied printmaking and drawing.
In 2009 Ryan attended the University of the Arts to earn a BFA in Graphic Design. While at UArts he focused on learning typography print design motion graphics and digital publications for iOS devices. Ryan also worked closely with faculty member Christine Hiebert to adapt his drawing skills to various design problems. In 2011 he completed a summer internship at Ideas On Purpose in New York where he worked alongside creative directors John Connolly and Darren Namaye on identity print and web campaigns. Ryan graduated with honors and earned a degree project citation for his digital publication ’Server Culture’. He also received the Armin Hofmann Award for Excellence in Graphic Design.
While at AAJdesign Ryan has been recognized by leading professional organizations and collections including Graphic AIGA Philadelphia and the Vignelli Center for Design Studies. Ryan currently holds an adjunct professorship in the graphic design department at Rowan University Glassboro where he teaches part-time. He has also conducted multiple design workshops for college bound high school students at The University of the Arts.
When he is not designing Ryan enjoys photography live music and riding his bicycle to the park with his young son Wyatt.
Jane Doe | TBD
Ruth hails from Minneapolis MN. In 2014 Ruth earned her BA from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and received the Outstanding Graduating Student Award and Outstanding Senior Thesis Award from the Department of Geography. She then served as an AmeriCorps member at a community-based adult literacy program in Austin TX. In 2015 Ruth relocated to Philadelphia PA where she worked at the Penn Museum. Now in addition to her position at AAJ Ruth is the Undergraduate Coordinator and Registrar for the Penn Anthropology Department.
In her free time Ruth enjoys reading gardening traveling camping bicycling photography and spending time with her two cats Wilbur and Oscar.
Jane Doe | Senior Designer Web Designer amp; Digital Products Developer
Rich graduated with honors from The University of the Arts in 2006. While attending the University he was generously supported all four years by The University of the Arts Promising Artist Award. Upon graduation Rich worked as a designer on award-winning print and digital projects for Polite Design Associates. Over time Rich has been building his facility with digital technologies and is currently developing and designing significant digital projects. He also plays bass in an indie rock band that you might stumble across in a bar around the area.
Keith Watanabe | Senior Designer
Keith earned an AB with honors from The University of Chicago in 1984 majoring in Art and Design and an MFA from the University of Iowa in 1988 studying Painting and Drawing. Keith graduated with honors in 2002 from The University of the Arts Philadelphia with a BFA in Graphic Design. He ranked number one in his class and was the Student Speaker at Commencement. Keith was the recipient of the Presidential Scholarship the Armin Hoffman Award for Excellence in Graphic Design the Liberal Arts Award in Writing and the Degree Project Citation. While pursuing his studies he worked as an intern at Allemann Almquist amp; Jones and Paone Design. Prior to attending the University of the Arts he was an administrator at the University of Pennsylvania.
Rich Cossentino | Senior Designer Web Designer amp; Digital Products Developer
Rich graduated with honors from The University of the Arts in 2006. While attending the University he was generously supported all four years by The University of the Arts Promising Artist Award. Upon graduation Rich worked as a designer on award-winning print and digital projects for Polite Design Associates. Over time Rich has been building his facility with digital technologies and is currently developing and designing significant digital projects. He also plays bass in an indie rock band that you might stumble across in a bar around the area.
