Fiscal Responsibility
Here at McDill, we practice fiscal responsibility by design. Many of our clients tell us that they not only trust us as creative partners, but as reliable business partners, as well. They know they can count on us to practice careful stewardship of their marketing budgets. That way, we can provide them with more bang […] Read more >
Video Conference Etiquette
By now, we’re all familiar with meeting online. Today, Zoom has 300 million daily meeting participants, a massive incr... Read more >
The Importance of Brand Colors
Your brand probably has a signature color. But, to make it a truly powerful brand, you need a palette of colors that com... Read more >
5 Things I’ve Learned About Digital Marketing Post-COVID
If the past two years have taught us anything, it’s that having a digital-first mindset is a must. But the evolution, ... Read more >
Engaging your agency, one ingredient at a time
Anyone that knows me, knows I LOVE to bake. It’s my jam – even to the chagrin of my husband. I can make some kick-as... Read more >
Cheers to 2022!
What a martini can tell us about the year ahead - A glass half full is only half the story. ... Read more >
Happy Milwaukee Day!
We are proud to say that we have been a part of Milwaukee’s cherished history for over 40 years, and are honored to ha... Read more >
A return to the bright side
They say adversity builds character. If that is the case, 2020 provided us all with enough mettle to last a lifetime.... Read more >
Managing Revisions – and Your Budget
There’s no easier way to blow your precious budget than to make umpteen revisions on a single project. During my tenur... Read more >
The Art Of The Handwritten Thank You Note
Some might say that writing a personal thank you note is a dying art, but I think otherwise.... Read more >
A bright green square
Forty years ago when we first considered naming our business, Dillon McCarthy sounded too much like Lennon and McCartney... Read more >
F-Patterns and Layer Cakes: Writing for Scanners
Design is key in controlling how people scan. And here’s how writing can make a difference.... Read more >
Creative life, for the most part
I realized that what I needed, wanted and could have, was a job that would be a part of my life, or rather, a life that ... Read more >
Are you asking enough questions?
Client services teams must discover what isn’t being said to truly understand the challenges clients are looking to so... Read more >
Hey Logo, Meet Your Mark
When MLB approached us to design a new logo for the Milwaukee Brewers, they really weren’t so interested in a new logo... Read more >
You never get a second chance at first impressions
A little note from our intern Olivia, regarding making first impressions via phone.... Read more >
10 tips for a well-designed PowerPoint
Here are some tips to create a fresh, engaging and inspiring presentation.... Read more >
Six Months In
A recent grad’s perspective on entering the design biz. Read some of my takeaways.... Read more >
Proofreading 101: (Spell)check yourself
Whether it’s an internal newsletter, new business proposal or routine email, make time to proofread your writing.... Read more >
Brand Guidelines 102
So, our company has this set of brand guidelines…now what? How do we know if our creative is properly representing our... Read more >
Thirty-five years
McDill Design turns 35 this year and in that time everything has changed and yet so much is still the same. Things are e... Read more >
Designing minds: Making a mark
Graffiti, the scourge of urban development, it turns out, is a condition of human life. The drive to inform the world of... Read more >
Brand Guidelines 101
A brand is a visual representation of an organization or business, its mission and, usually, its products and services.... Read more >
Everyone’s a critic
Criticism is an important part of the design process. It’s how we refine our concepts, make them stronger, prettier, m... Read more >
Adaptive vs. Responsive Design
How do we make our sites support multiple devices? And how do we improve the user experience, regardless of the device b... Read more >
How to find the right partner for your design project
The prospect of hiring a design firm may appear to be just as difficult as the design process itself. Here are some tips... Read more >
Simple Isn’t Easy
At its core, a logo should be simple, unique and instantly recognizable. See some examples of companies who have strong ... Read more >
Designing Sausages
A little history about bringing the Milwaukee Brewers' racing cartoon sausages to life.... Read more >
Designing Minds, Part 1
Part of being a graphic designer is the ability to see things in a way that other people probably don’t. There is rare... Read more >
Beer Browsing
Exploring different beers for their design... and taste.... Read more >
There’s Nothing Here To Fear
Whitespace is one of the most valuable elements of great design. It is the one element that gives design sophistication,... Read more >
There’s An App For That
App development creates an interesting design and programming challenge. User experience varies greatly depending on the... Read more >
They Keep Me In The Back
They keep me in the back... a little note from Cindy.... Read more >
Art That Protects Your Head
As a racecar driver my helmet is a priceless item because I can't race without it. As it turns out, without racing helme... Read more >
Nifty Fifties
Designers look to all sorts of places for inspiration, for me one of those places is 1950’s. After the severity of the... Read more >
McDill Evolution
Welcome to our first blog. You will hear our thoughts on graphic design, digital and print, typography, color and probab... Read more >