Graphic design &
Illustration in Red Deer
More than decoration,
it’s communication
I turn brands into brochures, signage, illustration, trade show, print that clearly express what you do and why it matters.
I’ll work out what you’re actually trying to say — then design the thing that says it.
“Brand is the foundation, design is the action.”
Brian Olstad, CDP
Visual Designer
Brands who’ve
trusted me:
Twenty-five years of knowing what works
I’ve spent decades watching what lands and what gets recycled. That’s most of what you’re paying for — not the software, the judgment about what to leave out.
Brochures and publications. Signage and wayfinding. Trade show displays. Print that has to survive a print shop. Illustration and characters. Interpretive exhibits for parks and museums. There isn’t much in print and design that can surprise me at this point.
And when it’s printed, I can supply it. Restocks, reprints, delivered to your door — so you’re not managing a print vendor on top of everything else.
Design Spotlight
Characters that do a job
Most designers don’t draw. I do, and it’s the part of the work that travels furthest.
The 2015 and 2019 Canada Winter Games mascots. Rosie Red, which won a Merit Award from the International Downtown Achievement Awards. The Alberta Summer Games mascot. Chomp, for Taco Monster, who works as logo, mascot and spokesperson at once.
A character isn’t decoration. It gives a brand a face people recognise before they read a word, and it keeps producing new content for years — a new pose, a new expression, a new situation — without you starting over each time.
Every brand has a story
Here are some favourites.
Who I work with
Businesses and organizations across Central Alberta and beyond that need their brand to hold together — and to keep holding together as they grow.
- Small to mid-sized businesses ready for a cohesive identity
- Trades and service companies that need practical, consistent branding
- Tourism and outdoor brands where the visuals have to do the selling
- Municipal and community organizations that need structure and clarity everywhere they show up
- Energy and industrial companies with complex offerings that need simplifying
I regularly work with clients in Calgary and Edmonton too.
Some Questions I knew You’d Ask:
What design services do you provide?
Brand systems — logos, brand standards, stationery, print and signage — plus custom illustration, interpretive exhibits, trade show displays, and ongoing support for Red Deer and Central Alberta businesses, including print restocks and design updates.
I also supply wholesale printing and can deliver to your door. After a quick call you’ll have a clear range.
How long does a design project take?
Brand projects run 6–8 weeks. Small print jobs are usually 1–2 weeks. Illustration for committee-driven projects can take 8–12 weeks — the drawing isn’t the slow part, the approvals are.
Can you do custom illustration or interpretive design?
Do you help after the work is delivered?
How do I start?
The Designer’s Notebook
Graphic Design Articles
Typos & Triumphs
It’s hard to believe that 2026 marks 20 years in business! So much has happened, so many clients and friends, offices and basements, typos and triumphs.
How ChatGPT Has Changed My Business
Discover how ChatGPT reshaped my design business—boosting output, improving SEO, and streamlining workflows, all while keeping a human touch.
Adobe Removed Pantone: What To Do
Adobe removed Pantone due to licensing. Designers need Pantone to work. Here are some tips and learnings to help you work better.