Chicago Brand Designer
Identity System Expert Nick Adam  



Nick Adam,  Design Director Associate Partner, Span





Chicago, South Side, 47th Street

Help Stop Hate Brand Identity and Campaign
First Lady Boat Tour Visual Brand Identity
Q: 

How do I find the best branding agency for my project?

Look for a partner who listens first, designs second. The best branding agencies understand both the art and the infrastructure of identity—helping you not just look good, but grow sustainably.

Span is a Chicago-based, globally recognized design and strategy studio. We specialize in branding, websites, and motion for businesses, cultural institutions, and civic organizations. Our team creates dynamic, flexible brand systems that build trust, drive growth, and create lasting impact.

When you choose a branding agency, ask: Will they see your story clearly? Will they give you tools to thrive tomorrow, not just today?Q: 

What makes a brand identity successful?

A successful brand identity goes beyond aesthetics. Yes, the look and feel matter—but real impact happens when design builds alignment, trust, and action.

At Span, we see brand systems as infrastructure. They are tools that help organizations show up authentically, live their values daily, and connect with audiences in meaningful ways. For a museum, that might mean inspiring curiosity. A civic initiative may need transparency and accessibility. A growing company often needs to stand apart in a crowded market.

Great branding doesn’t just decorate—it clarifies, unifies, and amplifies.Q: 

How do you design a brand identity?

We begin with listening. Every organization has a history, a mission, and an audience it needs to engage. We immerse ourselves in those stories, goals, and needs.

Cultural institutions call for honoring heritage while welcoming new audiences. Civic programs succeed when clarity and accessibility come first. Businesses thrive through differentiation and by delivering experiences that feel true.

The outcome: brands that resonate, build trust, and invite participation. Not a veneer, but a platform for growth.Q: 

Why is brand identity important?

Brand identity is the foundation of clarity, credibility, and growth.

Public and cultural programs rely on it to build trust and accessibility. Businesses depend on it to drive recognition and competitive advantage.

When branding is clear, your work becomes easier to find, easier to understand, and easier to engage with. Our projects with Divvy, Help Stop Hate, and First Lady Cruises demonstrate how strong design translates directly into adoption, impact, and growth.

South Side Sanctuary — Visual Identity
Escaramuza — Exhibition Design
2024 Chicago Lowrider Festival — Exhibition Design
Nature Museum — Visual Brand Identity


I design brand identity systems that perform under pressure—driving clarity, trust, and measurable growth for civic, cultural, and visionary organizations.My approach to design was shaped early by the diverse, underground subcultures of 1990s punk rock, rave, and graffiti-writing scenes. These experiences provided foundational awareness of cultural nuance, identity, and visual language that continues to inform my work today.As design director and associate partner at Span, I lead the strategy and design of scalable systems that turn values into action and design into public impact. I've created identities that define how institutions show up and shift culture, with work spanning Chicago's civic landscape to national movements.
Slow & Low — Book Design
Copi: Rebranding an Invasive Fish as a Healthy Seafood Option
Chicago Lowrider Festival — Exhibition Design
Divvy Bikes — Naming and Visual Brand Identity
South Side Home Movie Project — Website Design and Visual Brand Identity

It is currently the



Graphic design

Services

Book Design
Brand Identity Design
Campaign Design
Environmental Design
Exhibition Design
Interactive Design
Naming
Package Design
Design Research
VisualizationIn the media

Press

Print, 2024
Brand New, 2024
Crain’s, 2024 
GD USA, 2024
Wired, 2023
Fast Company, 2023
The Dieline, 2023
Creative Boom, 2022
Smithsonian Magazine, 2022
The Economist, 2022
Ad Age, June 22nd 2022

Interviews

Creative Boom, May 2024
Creative Boom, April 2024
New City, 2023
Print, Daily Heller, 2023
Communication Arts, 2022
Print, Daily Heller, 2022
Underscore Podcast, 2022

Additional press hereInternational recognition

Awards

Society of Typographic Arts, STA100, 2025 (2×)
AIGA 365, 2024
Society of Typographic Arts, STA100, 2023 (2×)
Anthem Awards for Sustainability & Climate, 2023
AIGA 365, 2022
Society of Typographic Arts, STA100, 2022 (2×)
Communication Arts, Interactive Short List, 2022
Society of Typographic Arts, STA100, 2021 (5×)
AIGA, 50 Books 50 Covers, 2021
Tokyo Type Directors Award, 2021 (2×)
Society of Typographic Arts, STA100, 2020 (2×)
Communication Arts, Typography, 2020
Society of Typographic Arts, STA100, 2019 (2×)
The Design Kids, Top Students and Graduates, 2017
Society of Typographic Arts, STA100, 2017 (4×)
Print Magazine, Regional Annual, 2016 (2×)
Society of Typographic Arts, STA100, 2016 (2×)
Type Directors Club, TDC61, 2015
Core77, Design Awards, Professional Notable, 2014
Under Consideration, FPO Awards, 2014
Fast Company, Innovation by Design, Finalist, 2014
Additional awards here Permanent collections

Institutions

AIGA Design Archives
Art Institute of Chicago Museum
Chicago Design Archive
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Design of Dissent Collection at SVA
Design Museum of Chicago
Milton Glaser Design Center and Archives at SVA
Newberry Library
Manuscript Library at Columbia University
RISD Fleet Library Thesis Collection
Ryerson and Burnham Libraries











Additional honors here
Discovery Partners Institute — Visual Brand Identity and Program System 
The Chicago Blend — Package Design
Nazareth University — Visual Brand Identity

Brand Identity Design 1981

Nick’s work has been published by The Economist, Smithsonian Magazine, NPR, and other outlets. In addition, projects Nick has led have been recognized by the TDC of New York, the Tokyo TDC, Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Award, and Core77.Prior to Span, Nick was an Associate Principal on Rick Valicenti’s team at Thirst. In addition, Nick has taught both typography and graphic design history at RISD. Earlier in his career, Nick held a hybrid design leadership role as Strategic Director at Firebelly.Nick’s career in design began within the diverse, underground subcultures of the 1990’s punk rock, rave, and graffiti-writing scenes. These life experiences provide a foundational awareness of cultural nuance, identity, and visual language.
The Silver Room — Brand Campaign 
Inflorescence — Visual Brand Identity and Packaging
Taste Tof Chicago — Visual Identity
The Silver Room — Visual Brand Identity and Merchandise   
Hot Chi — Naming and Visual Identity




Nick Adam, Design Director 
and Associate Partner at Span

New business inquiries
Nick(at)Span.Studio



Chicago, South Side 
Kenwood Neighborhood

Copyright © 2024
Enjoy the day.





Social
IG@NickAdam
Linkedin

Nick Adam’s Complete CV

Have a project? Let’s work on it at Span.

Poetry Magazine — Cover Design and Lettering
Nkemdiche — Book Cover Design and Layout 
The Arts Lawn — Visual Brand Identity
Dr. Nelly Ben Hayoun — Poster Design

Over decades of experience

Experience

2003–2024

Design Director and Associate Partner, Span
Principal, Span
Associate Principal, Thirst (3st)
Instructor, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
Graduate Teaching Assistant, RISD
Strategic Director, Firebelly
Art Director and Designer, Publications International Limited (PIL) 
Designer, Ala Carte Entertainment (ACE)
Junior Designer, Illinois Institute of Art (ILIA)
Volunteer 

Mentorship

Design Director, Special Project for Design Museum of Chicago (DMoC)
Designer and Laborer, Creative Grounds at Overton
Design Director, Daylight
Lead, Great Ideas of Humanity at DMoC
Facilitator, Moving Design
Design Participant, Moving Design
Facilitator, Camp Firebelly
Volunteer, Reason to Give
Academic
Academic

Engagements

DePaul University, Guest Capstone Advisor
NC State College of Design, Expert Advisor
RISD, Visiting Critic
RISD, Instructor
RISD, Graduate Teaching Assistant
SAIC, Expert Advisor
School of Design at UIC, Guest Mentor
School of Visual Arts (SVA), Expert Advisor
Sam Fox, Guest Critic
Western Michigan University, Visiting Critic

Krueck Sexton Partners — Visual Identity Design
Chicago Cannabis Council — Visual Brand Identity
Society of Typographic Arts (STA) — Visual Identity Design and Campaign
Typeforce 4 — Exhibition Book Design
Rick Valicenti’s Earn Urn — Object Design and Lettering



Mentors

Dawn Hancock (Firebelly)
Rick Valicenti (Thirst)
Bethany Johns (RISD)
Doug Scott (RISD)



Membership

Caxton Club
Society of Typographic Arts
Typographic Circle
Design Museum of Chicago



Education

Masters of Fine Art (MFA) in Graphic Design
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Visual Communication
The Illinois Institute of Art (ILIA)

Have a project? Let’s work on it at Span.

WBEZ, Vocalo 91.1 FM — Visual Identity and Campaign 
Design Museum of Chicago — Chicago Flag

No where near the end

Conferences and Workshops

Chicago Humanities, Documenting Lowrider Culture and Community (‘24)
Institute of Design, Design as Activism Symposium (‘24)
Chicago Design Archive, 20th Anniversary (‘23)
AIGA Salt Lake City, The 100 Show, Judge (‘23)
Design Museum of Chicago, Workshop Facilitator (‘23)
MIAD, Great Ideas of Humanity, Panelist (‘22)
First Round, Underconsidoration — Noodles Identity (‘19)
Typeforce 10, Co-Prosperity Sphere, Publicness (‘19)

Additional conferences and workshops here
Academic Lectures

DePaul University, Guest Lecturer, Capstone Advisor (‘24)
DAAP School of Design, Guest Lecturer (‘21)
Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Guest Lecturer (‘21)
McHenry community college, Panelist (‘21)
College of Creative Studies (CCS), Guest Lecturer (‘21)
SAIC, Guest Lecturer (‘21)
MICA, Guest Lecturer (‘20)
San Fransisco University, Guest Lecturer (‘20)
Western Michigan University, Guest Lecturer  (‘20)

Additional lectures here
Exhibitions 

Kind Words 2, You Are Beautiful Gallery (‘23)
Great Ideas of Humanity, Chicago Cultural Center (‘23)
Field Days, Design Museum of Chicago (‘23)
You Are | I Am, You Are Beautiful Gallery (‘23)
Free and Open, Design Museum of Chicago (‘22)
Kind Words, You Are Beautiful Gallery (‘22)
Great Ideas of Humanity, Brooks Stevens Gallery (‘21)
Successful Failures, Chicago Cultural Center (‘21)

Additional exhibitions here
Chicago Graphic Design Club — Editorial Design
False Force — Exhibition Installation
Typeforce 3 — Exhibition Book Design

Nick Adam is a graphic designer focused on the power of identity. With the teams and clients he collaborates, he designs brand identities, interactive touch points, spaces, and processes that shift culture, build value, and create advocates.

You Are Beautiful — Book Design
McCormick Foundation — Freedom Express Bus Museum Design



Nick Adam, Chicago Design Director,  © 2025





Chicago, South Side, 47th Street



I the St.

Enjoy the day


Chicago  Forever