explore design ideas and inspiration

Design Insights


Why, hello there—thanks for stopping by!

This area is a place to explore design ideas and inspiration, share recent work and testimonials, and let you know about upcoming CurlyRed and art-related events happening in Garrett County, Maryland and beyond.

If you would like to contribute or be featured in this blog, please contact Kendall at kendall@curlyred.com.


Published: June 24, 2026

Do you ever wonder how AI-art is "created"? Currently, the process goes something like this: The language models and image generators need samples before they can generate anything. The giant tech companies call this “training” – the Artificial Intelligence machines are being provided huge datasets that are run through several algorithms. But this data comes […]

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Published: June 17, 2026

Meet our newest CurlyRed graphic design intern, Amanda McCormick! We had her answer a few get-to-know-you questions: 1. Where do you attend school? What is your major? I attend Garrett College and my major is Graphic & Web Design. 2. What’s your dream career? My dream career is to create video games. 3. What do […]

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Published: June 16, 2026

Join us on Thursday, June 18th for great food and conversation with some of the most incredible women in Garrett County! Networking + Lunch at Ace's Run Restaurant & Pub $22 includes lunch buffet, beverage, and gratuity Our month's presenter will be Krysta Huxford, owner of Practical Pilates. Krysta was looking for a new exercise […]

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Published: June 10, 2026

Meet our newest CurlyRed graphic design intern, Alayna Weeks (fun fact: Alanya is the cousin our our very own lead designer, Olivia)! 1. Where did you attend school? What was your major? attended school at Garrett College for two years, and then transferred to Frostburg State University for two years after that and just recently […]

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Published: June 4, 2026

If you’re nervous about the data centers required to power A.I., you’re right on the money. Data centers 💦require massive amounts of water for cooling. Permanently depletes local aquifers and wells, sometimes noticeably decreasing water pressure for residential neighborhoods and agricultural needs. 💰Causes electricity demands to skyrocket and leads to higher utility bills 🏭rely on […]

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Published: May 27, 2026

CurlyRed is a small team of local artists. We geek out over typefaces and color palettes. We love looking at wine labels, movie posters and album art. We also love living, working and playing right here in Oakland, Maryland, in the heart of Appalachia. By hiring CurlyRed instead of using A.I., you're supporting local designers, […]

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Published: May 21, 2026

This video interview featuring Anthony Delauney, owner of Owning the Dash, is part of a client spotlight series by the creative agency CurlyRed. Owning the Dash is a financial literacy program for kids that makes learning financial principles fun! CurlyRed, led by principal designer M. Kendall Ludwig, helped Anthony with the visual design and layout […]

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Published: May 13, 2026

The ghost with the most comes to the stage in Beetlejuice Jr., the frightfully funny musical based on the beloved motion picture turned Broadway phenomenon. Lydia Deetz is a strange and unusual teenager, still grieving the loss of her mother and obsessed with the whole "being dead thing." Lucky for Lydia, she and her father […]

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Published: May 7, 2026

Have you ever wondered what goes into trademarking a logo? There's typically lawyers and paperwork involved, but there's also a need to demonstrate that the visual brand includes original art. Tools like Claude, ChatGPT and Gemini don't care if the art they "borrow" to generate logos is credited to the artist or unique to the […]

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Published: April 22, 2026

Hyertek's mission is to unlock knowledge, automate intelligence, and empower people—helping organizations evolve, adapt, and lead with purpose. They believe progress happens when people and information move seamlessly together. HyerTek recently underwent a significant brand transformation, partnering with our creative team at CurlyRed to redefine its visual identity and digital presence. The collaboration focused on […]

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Published: April 15, 2026

This video interview featuring Dina van Klaveren, Canon for Development and Stewardship for The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland in Baltimore, MD, is part of a client spotlight series by the creative agency CurlyRed. CurlyRed, led by principal designer M. Kendall Ludwig, handles several print design projects for the Diocese, including the Bishop's Appeal. In the […]

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Published: April 9, 2026

Join AAUW-Garrett Branch members and friends for some tea, treats and loving conversation! AAUW-Garrett Branch has been advancing equity for women and girls in Garrett County, MD since 1946 and would love to get to know YOU better! FREE to attend and bring a friend! Feel free also to bring a treat or beverage to […]

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Published: March 26, 2026

Sometimes, your branding just needs a bit of TLC. At Wellspring Family Medicine in both Accident, MD and Oakland, MD, healthcare is more than just a clinical appointment; it’s a commitment to the well-being of the entire Garrett County community. By combining top-tier clinical expertise with a personalized, "womb-to-tomb" approach, Wellspring offers comprehensive services including […]

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Published: March 18, 2026

This video interview featuring Faye Rivkin, owner of Write Faye Write in Baltimore, MD, is part of a client spotlight series by the creative agency CurlyRed (curlyred.com). CurlyRed, led by principal designer M. Kendall Ludwig, handles all of Faye's website needs. In the interview, Fayew talks about why she loves working with CurlyRed.

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Published: March 4, 2026

Hear from Women Creators & Visionaries in honor of Women's History Month! 7pm • Tuesday, March 24th Performing Arts Center at Garrett College The Garrett County Branch of AAUW is very excited to be presenting an evening of monologues celebrating Creators and Visionaries on March 24, 2026 in honor of Women’s History Month. Local AAUW […]

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Published: February 25, 2026

Meet our newest CurlyRed graphic design intern, Tara Morris! 1. Where are you attending school? Garrett College 2. What’s your dream career? If I could paint all day and sell paintings, that would be great! 3. What do you love about art and/or design? It feels like freedom and solving a problem all at once! […]

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Published: February 18, 2026

This video interview featuring John Martin, owner of New Earth Landscapes in Oakland, MD, is part of a client spotlight series by the creative agency CurlyRed. CurlyRed, led by principal designer M. Kendall Ludwig, handles all the creative needs for the company, including the visual branding and identity, print materials, signage, social media assets as […]

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Published: February 11, 2026

Love is in the air… and downtown ❄💗 Celebrate Winter Fest on Main Street, Oakland, this Saturday, February 14! Ice sculptures, sweet treats, kids activities, sleigh rides, shopping, music — and a Wine Walk for the adults 🍷 A perfect winter day in CurlyRed's very own small town. Purchase wine walk tickets here.

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Published: January 28, 2026

This video interview featuring Dr. Jennifer Virts, co-owner of The Green Room Lounge in Town of Oakland, Maryland, is part of a client spotlight series by the creative agency CurlyRed. CurlyRed handled the visual branding and identity for the lounge, as well as a fully custom WordPress website and social media assets. In the interview, […]

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Published: January 27, 2026

Cheers to 19 years of big ideas and bold design. This Thursday, we’re taking over the Green Room Lounge in Oakland to celebrate nearly two decades of CurlyRed (our official anniversary is this Saturday). Whether you’ve been with us since day one or you’re just joining the family, we want to see you there! We […]

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  • “ They took my ideas and gave them life . . . ”

    - Jason Yowell
    Owner, Allegheny Trailhouse