Brands aren’t logos.
Brands are worlds.
I’m Kyle.
Nice to meet you.
I'm a strategic design partner for two kinds of clients: founders who are ready for something new, and design studios with too much on their plate.
Before opening Eertmoed Studio, I co-founded and ran Knoed, a Chicago design agency, for over a decade. After that, I joined a client as their in-house director of brand design, which led to a successful acquisition.
I’ve been on the agency side. And I’ve been on the client side. Having experience in both means I understand what's at stake. You can't afford to get this wrong. So let's get it right from the start.
Core Service
Strategic Brand Identity Design
Strategic brand identity is at the core of everything I do because it informs every interaction your customer has. It's more than a logo. It's vision-building.
We start with a strategy. What are you building? What's working today? Where are you headed? What's stopping you from getting there? My strategic style is lean, sharp, and effective. You get clarity, alignment, and direction on what your brand needs to solve.
Once strategy is defined, I present highly-crafted creative directions. A cohesive system of logomarks, color palettes, typography, imagery, and sample applications. The strategy, visualized with real-world examples, so you can choose a path with confidence.
Example Brand Kit
Once the vision is set, core assets are made to get you up and running. Maybe that's a website, packaging, or signage. Maybe it's business cards, apparel, or social media templates. Sometimes, I collaborate with a network of specialists when the project calls for it.
From discovery to delivery, I guide the way to make sure every piece works together seamlessly. You get a new identity, core assets, and guidelines for your team to carry forward. But more importantly, you get clarity, cohesion, and confidence.
Not sure what you need to get started? Let's talk about it.
01
Intros
We start with a short video call to talk about what you're building to see if I'm a good fit. A proposal comes next, outlining process, deliverables, cost, and timing. Once an agreement is signed and deposit paid, we schedule our discovery session.
02
Discovery
We kick off with a discovery session. An interview-style deep dive into what you're building. At this stage, you can expect me to do more listening than talking. I want to understand where you are, where you're headed, and what's standing in the way.
03
Define
After Discovery, everything gets synthesized into observations, research, insights, opportunities, and recommendations which result in a sound brand strategy. If you already have a brand, it would be a brand analysis. This is the point where we define the foundation before anything visual begins so you gain clarity, direction and confidence. This will be your North Star that guides you, and it becomes a reliable reference in the future for decision-making.
04
Design
Once the strategic direction is set, l begin intensive creative exploration, resulting in a presentation of two highly-crafted and distinctive brand worlds that are both on strategy. Why two? Because too many options are paralyzing. More decisions get made upfront, which means less back-and-forth, fewer revisions, and a process that moves in weeks. Each direction shows a cohesive system of logomarks, color palettes, typography, imagery, and sample applications. The strategy, visualized with real-world examples, so you can choose a path with confidence.
05
Develop
Once a brand direction is chosen, the strategy will determine what comes next. That might involve creating the core brand assets, a full design package or simply just guidelines to follow. Whichever direction and deliverable is right for you, I will design everything you need to get up and running in order of priority. I work with a network of people who are excellent in their craft, from illustrators and photographers to developers and printers, to keep things streamlined.
06
Deliver
Final delivery of your brand kit includes the working files, collateral, and guidelines. If there is a website, it gets launched and you get a tutorial on how to use it without needing any technical skills. Everything is organized, packaged, and handed off to your team to run with. Nothing is left undone. Exclusive rights to the work are transferred to you upon completion of the project.
Services
Eertmoed Studio’s work is guided by a single conviction: most brands don’t need more. They need what is essential, done with more care. Subtract what doesn't matter to reveal what does. Launching a brand is about clarity and execution. I help get your brand up and running, guide you through a phased rollout based on priorities. From digital to physical touch points, your identity will feel cohesive, authentic, and distinctly yours. And to give each project the attention and care it requires, I work on one project at a time.
Clients + Collabs
My clients span a wide range of industries. What they have in common is that they all care about design. Not as decoration, but as a way of building something with meaning and purpose that stands the test of time.
Recognition
My work has been featured in Communication Arts, Dwell, Graphis, HOW, Print, and others. I've spoken about branding and design at Brand New Conference, Creative Mornings, AIGA, First Round, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, SEEK Design Conference, and at the Apple Store.
2026
Communication Arts Design Annual
Reductive Calendar
2025
Top 1% of Framer Creators
Eertmoed Studio
2024
Craft Beer Marketing Platinum Crushie Award
Top Crop Website
2024
N. American Guild of Beer Writers Award
Top Crop Website
2020
APD No.16, Sandu Publishing
Echo Vie Branding
2019
APD No.15, Sandu Publishing
Boss Hair Group Branding
2019
Creative Boom Magazine
Omega Yeast Branding
2018
The Dieline Trend 2018 Report
Seed to Serum Package Design
2018
The Dieline
Echo Vie Packaging
2018
Newcity
Branding Knoed: Kim Knoll Makes Things Happen
2018
Novum Magazine
Knoed Creative Spotlight
2018
VoyageChicago
Meet Trailblazer Kim Knoll
2018
Communication Arts 'Webpick'
Omega Yeast Website
2018
Print Regional Design Annual
Seed to Serum Branding
2018
APD No.14, Sandu Publishing
Kim Scodro Brochure
2018
APD No.14, Sandu Publishing
Seed to Serum Branding
2018
French Design Index
Omega Yeast Website
2018
Great Lakes by Design
Textural Minimalists
2018
99u
Knoed Creative
2018
Novum Magazine, 03.18 Issue
Echo Vie Branding + Packaging
2017
Chicago Design Museum Shop
2017 Minimalist Wall Calendar
2017
Dwell Shop
2017 Minimalist Wall Calendar
2017
Design Milk
2017 Minimalist Wall Calendar
2017
Newcity
Design 50: Who Shapes Chicago 2017
2017
Communication Arts 'Exhibit'
Schuler Shook Website
2017
"Gold" Excel Award of Association Media & Publishing
American Dental Association Catalog
2017
Mindsparkle Mag
Seed to Serum Branding
2017
Vintage Modern: Design with A Past
Scorched Earth Brewing Co. Branding
2017
The Dieline
Seed to Serum Package Design
2017
Mindsparkle Mag
Echo Vie Branding + Packaging
2016
Communication Arts 'Exhibit'
Hannah's Bretzel Environmental Graphics
2016
The Best Designs
One of a Kind Show Chicago
2016
Designlicious II, Basheer Graphic Books
Hannah's Bretzel Environmental Graphics
2016
Design360º Magazine
Scorched Earth Visual Identity
2016
For Print Only (FPO)
Tru Studio Promo
2016
Communication Arts ‘Exhibit’
Tru Studio Identity
2016
Asia-Pacific Design No.12, Sandu Publishing
Scorched Earth Visual Identity
2016
For Print Only (FPO)
Kim Scodro Interiors Brochure Design
2016
For Print Only (FPO)
2017 Minimalist Wall Calendar
2015
No Plastic Sleeves
Tru Studio Promo
2015
Start Me Up!, Gestalten Publishing
BAHS Branding
2015
Start Me Up!, Gestalten Publishing
Outpost Branding
2015
Top Graphic Design Series 3 - Brochure & Layout, Hightone Publishing
Jayson Home Catalog Design
2015
Modern Heraldry, Counter-Print
BAHS Logo
2015
Modern Heraldry, Counter-Print
Nuvango Logo
2015
Good Idea 4, Hightone Publishing
Skyline Furniture Design
2015
Good Idea 4, Hightone Publishing
Nuvango Design
2015
Communication Arts Fresh
Knoed Creative
2015
Newcity Design 50: Who Shapes Chicago
Kim Knoll
2015
The Dieline
Scorched Earth Package Design
2015
Communication Arts 'Webpick'
Goltz Group Website
2014
Pack Your Life III, Artpower International Publishing
Vosges Packaging
2014
Behance Branding Served
Gene's Sausage Shop Branding
2014
The Best Designs
Hedge House Website
2014
Behance Branding Served
Optimo Branding
2014
The Best Designs
Skyline Furniture Website
2014
Behance Branding Served
BAHS Branding
2014
Monogram Logo, Counter-Print
Pilgrim Christakis Logomark
2014
Monogram Logo, Counter-Print
Outpost Logomark
2014
Monogram Logo, Counter-Print
Tru Studio Logomark
2014
Monogram Logo, Counter-Print
Hedge House Logomark
2014
Behance Branding Served
Outpost Branding
2014
The Best Designs
Goltz Group Website
2014
Behance Editorial Design Served
Korte
2014
The Best Designs
Scorched Earth Brewing Website
2014
For Print Only (FPO)
Tru Studio Promo
2014
Society of Typographic Arts Archive14
Hedge House Identity
2013
Top Graphic Design Series Vol. 2, Hightone Books
Vosges Packaging
2013
Top Graphic Design Series Vol. 2, Hightone Books
X-Doria Branding
2013
For Print Only (FPO)
British American Branding
2013
The Best Designs
British American Website
2013
CSS Design Awards Nominee
Knoed Website
2013
The Best Designs
Knoed Website
2013
siteInspire 'Selected Site'
Knoed Website
2013
Abduzeedo
Knoed Website
2013
For Print Only (FPO)
Outpost Branding
2013
The Dieline
Outpost Branding
2013
Design: Logo, Rockport Publishers
Merchant Logo
2013
Design: Logo, Rockport Publishers
BAHS Logo
2013
"People to Watch" - Graphic Design USA
Knoed Creative
2012
Magic Branding 2, Designer Books
Optimo Hats Branding
2012
Magic Branding 2, Designer Books
RFRM Jewelry Branding
2012
Magic Packaging 2, Designer Books
Vosges Packaging
2012
Creative Bloq
826 Seattle Website
2012
Brand Magazine, Sendpoints Publishing
Vosges Packaging
2012
The Dieline
X-Doria Packaging
2012
Communication Arts 'Webpick'
X-Doria Website
2012
APD No.8, Sandu Publishing
Merchant Branding
2012
Good Idea, Hightone Book Publishing
Oven Branding
2012
Behance Packaging Design Served
Vosges Packaging
2011
Fire it Up by Joseph Szala
Gene's Sausage Shop Branding
2011
Choi's Gallery, Vol. 12
Oven Branding
2011
Choi's Gallery, Vol. 12
Gene's Sausage Shop Branding
2011
Colour Party, Dopress Books
Gene's Sausage Shop Branding
2011
Colour Party, Dopress Books
Lifebook Branding
2011
Colour Party, Dopress Books
Snap36 Branding
2011
Smashing Magazine
RFRM Jewelry Website
2011
Smashing Magazine
Chicago L-Shirts Website
2011
siteInspire 'Selected Site'
826 Seattle Website
2011
Typekit 'Sites We Like'
826 Seattle Website
2011
Print Regional Design Annual
Oven Branding
2011
Big Cartel "Featured Store"
Chicago L-Shirts
2011
siteInspire 'Selected Site'
Gene's Sausage Shop Website