Lettering Works - Year in Review

2019 was one of the most rewarding years in business for Lettering Works as it was filled with growth and change.

A LOT OF BIG THINGS HAPPENED!

• Moved from Peoria to Chicago
• Increased Wholesale Accounts
• Added Murals to our creative offerings
• Introduced a new Lettering Works logo
• Sold 32,000 stickers to Bradley University
• Started the Lettering Works Blog
• Won a PRA Award
• Shifted mindset from “freelancer” to “small business”
• Celebrated THREE years in business
• Sold 3,000 postcards and 4,000 enamel pins to the Field Museum

Thank you to our clients who trusted us this year to help accomplish their creative goals. From branding projects to murals to custom product development to promotional materials and everything in between - we had a blast bringing your brands to life with compelling visuals.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2019:

• Spirit mural for Bradley University
• Custom products for the Field Museum
• Branding for The Billboard Bistro
• Promotional graphics for The Marty Monologues
• Custom postcards for the Morton Pumpkin Festival
• Branding and yard signs for Perring Landscape
• Wines in the Warehouse District branding for Easter Seals
• Brand refresh for Zandra Illustration
• Branding for Lifting Up LLC
• Custom graphics for Curated Chicago
• Artist Collaboration with Wrigleyville Sports

Explore more of our work.

Passion Projects are our jam. We brought some really great ones to life in 2019 that played a huge role in both providing creatively fulfilling work and helping establish Lettering Works in a new market.

PASSION PROJECTS FROM 2019:

• Steph’s Stickers
• Chicago Style Postcards
• 100 Days of Chicago
• 25 More Days of Peoria (an extension of 100 Days of Peoria)
• The City Collection
• Girl Power Sticker Collection

See all the designs that made it into our shop.

We love to travel and got to explore some pretty rad places in 2019. The inspiration we find from other cities and cultures fuels our creativity and open-minded approach to creative work.

PLACES WE EXPLORED IN 2019:

• England (x2)
• Denver
• New York
• Boston
• Ireland
• Las Vegas
• St. Louis

Get Inspired by photos from our trip to Ireland.

Looking Ahead…

We are ready for 2020 to be another amazing year, filled with even more growth and creativity. We are excited to explore new opportunities within branding design, specifically with restaurants, creatives, startups, small businesses, and community causes. “On Brand in 2020” is back and we will be hosting an in-person workshop on January 16th in Logan Square, Chicago as well as accepting one-on-one consulting sessions both in person and via video.

With plans to become an LLC, certified Woman-Owned Business Enterprise, and connect with the airport gift shop market, we are hopeful that wholesale opportunities for our Chicago collection will continue to grow and help us break into the tourism industry.

Since we are passionate about doing the work we love most, 2020 is sure to bring some new passion projects. Our next big one is currently being dreamed up and we can’t wait to share what we have in store so soon!

We’ve also got five trips already planned for 2020, which include three business-related trips to Portland (First Round Conference), Salt Lake City (Letter West Conference), and Austin (Brand New Conference) as well as two personal trips to Spain and Italy.

Read about our popular services.

Already know we are the right fit for leveling up your business in 2020? Get in touch about working together via our contact form.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chelsie Tamms is an award-winning lettering artist and designer based out of Chicago. She is the owner of Lettering Works, a branding studio that connects businesses to their audience through creativity and strategy. With over 10 years of practice of lettering and design, Chelsie is passionate about craft and intention. When she’s not designing, she can be found eating ice cream, traveling internationally, or starting a new passion project.