Book a call

Insights

Ideas and insights on branding, marketing and web design.

Latest articles

All Atomicdust Insights Atomicdust News B2B Marketing Construction Marketing Consumer Marketing Culture Education Marketing Featured Food and Beverage Marketing Healthcare Marketing Non-Profit Marketing Professional Services Real Estate Marketing
  • Atomicdust team member holds our 2026 American Digital Design Awards from GDUSA.

    Graphic Design USA Names Atomicdust A Top 5 Design Firm

    We’re officially in awards season—move over, Wicked—because we’re adding a few more wins of our own to the mix. Atomicdust won eight honors in the 62nd Graphic Design USA Design…

  • Atomicdust team members wearing 25th anniversary t-shirts and holding custom-labeled beers a client surprised us with for our party

    Celebrating Enthusiasm, Our Worst Days & 25 Years of Atomicdust

    It was a Wednesday. Which, admittedly, isn’t the best day to throw an office party. Everyone in the corporate party game knows that Thursday is the day. And definitely not…

  • Atomicdust Senior Designer Frances Foster
    ,

    Atomicdust Welcomes Senior Designer Frances Foster

    We’d been watching the work of designer Frances Foster for years, admiring the spirit, craftsmanship and success of her designs. So when we had an opening on our team and…

  • Mike Spakowski, Atomicdust founder and 2026 St. Louis TITAN 100 honoree, sits on a throne made of stuffed animals

    Mike Spakowski Named a 2026 St. Louis TITAN 100

    I am convinced that Mike Spakowski wakes up every morning with about 10 new ideas. From what I can tell, he’s always been that way. Twenty-five years ago, he had…

  • St. Louis creatives explore the featured projects at the AIGA St. Louis Design Show 28

    Eight Atomicdust Projects Featured in AIGA St. Louis Design Show 28

    Atomicdust didn’t win any Judges Choice Awards at the 28th Annual AIGA St. Louis Design Show—and we’re still thrilled. Last week was a pretty great week for Atomicdust. First off,…

  • An Atomicdust team member holds a 2025 Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Awards certificate

    Atomicdust Earns a 2025 GDUSA Health + Wellness Design Award

    Design can do more than make things look good. It can calm nerves in a waiting room. It can make a complicated process feel a little easier. It can even…

  • Our Thinking

    Ideas on branding, marketing and web design.

    View all insights
    • The Future of Brand Strategy Is Rooted in the Past

      The Future of Brand Strategy Is Rooted in the Past

      Why timeless design principles still matter in a world obsessed with trends. The Problem with Modern Branding A…

    • Why Your Brand Sounds Like Everyone Else’s (And How Brand Voice Development Can Save You)

      Why Your Brand Sounds Like Everyone Else’s (And How Brand Voice Development Can Save You)

      You know that sinking feeling: You’re reading your competitor’s website, and the messaging sounds… familiar. Too familiar. You…

    • Your Competitor Rebranded. Now What?

      Your Competitor Rebranded. Now What?

      The notification pops up on LinkedIn: Your biggest competitor just dropped a rebrand. It’s sleek. Bold. Everywhere. Your…

    • A Repeatable Marketing Strategy Framework

      A Repeatable Marketing Strategy Framework

      Originally published in February 2015. Rewritten in July 2026, because AI changes marketing execution. When I first became…

    • We Rewrote Our Healthcare Marketing Guide for the AI Era

      We Rewrote Our Healthcare Marketing Guide for the AI Era

      Back in 2016, we published a guide called Content Marketing: A Guide for Healthcare Marketing Managers. It told…

    • Rebranding versus Brand Strategy: Knowing Which One Your Business Actually Needs

      Rebranding versus Brand Strategy: Knowing Which One Your Business Actually Needs

      A client call last week reminded me of a question I hear all the time: rebranding versus brand…

    • Brand Due Diligence: The Risk You’re Not Measuring

      Brand Due Diligence: The Risk You’re Not Measuring

      This is for my friends in private equity. From my experience, private equity firms stress-test everything. Cap tables.…

    • Marketing Planning for 2026: Everything You Need to Know

      Marketing Planning for 2026: Everything You Need to Know

      Recently, the American Marketing Association St. Louis Chapter asked me to speak on a panel about marketing planning—specifically,…

    • The Future of Brand Strategy Is Rooted in the Past

      The Future of Brand Strategy Is Rooted in the Past

      Why timeless design principles still matter in a world obsessed with trends. The Problem with Modern Branding A…

    • Why Your Brand Sounds Like Everyone Else’s (And How Brand Voice Development Can Save You)

      Why Your Brand Sounds Like Everyone Else’s (And How Brand Voice Development Can Save You)

      You know that sinking feeling: You’re reading your competitor’s website, and the messaging sounds… familiar. Too familiar. You…

    • Your Competitor Rebranded. Now What?

      Your Competitor Rebranded. Now What?

      The notification pops up on LinkedIn: Your biggest competitor just dropped a rebrand. It’s sleek. Bold. Everywhere. Your…

    • A Repeatable Marketing Strategy Framework

      A Repeatable Marketing Strategy Framework

      Originally published in February 2015. Rewritten in July 2026, because AI changes marketing execution. When I first became…

    • We Rewrote Our Healthcare Marketing Guide for the AI Era

      We Rewrote Our Healthcare Marketing Guide for the AI Era

      Back in 2016, we published a guide called Content Marketing: A Guide for Healthcare Marketing Managers. It told…

    • Rebranding versus Brand Strategy: Knowing Which One Your Business Actually Needs

      Rebranding versus Brand Strategy: Knowing Which One Your Business Actually Needs

      A client call last week reminded me of a question I hear all the time: rebranding versus brand…

  • Inside the Atomicdust marketing agency in St. Louis

    Atomicdust Wins Best Marketing Firm in St. Louis for the Fifth Year in a Row

    We got some nice news recently—Atomicdust has been named Best Marketing Firm in St. Louis by Small Business Monthly. The cherry on top? It’s the fifth year in a row…

  • John Binder, Brand Strategist, at the Atomicdust office

    Atomicdust Welcomes Brand Strategist John Binder

    John Binder doesn’t just like marketing—he’s obsessed with its creative potential.  With a client portfolio that’s included brands across healthcare, logistics, tech, aviation, athletics, banking and more, John understands how…

  • Mike Spakowski, Partner / Creative Director at Atomicdust

    Atomicdust Team Hits the Stage at MDMC 2025

    “Ask anything.” That simple directive in ChatGPT—and really, AI overall—is changing marketing. AI tools can outline strategies, write copy, generate images and handle tasks marketers used to spend hours on.…

  • Mike Spakowski sits on an Eames chair in the middle of Locust Street in Midtown St. Louis

    St. Louis Magazine Names Mike Spakowski in the St. Louis Business 500

    Wow…we didn’t prepare a speech. But if we did, we’d start it like this: Thanks to St. Louis Magazine for including Mike Spakowski in the inaugural St. Louis Business 500.…

  • Project Manager Amy Gardiner

    Get to Know Project Manager Amy Gardiner

    Amy Gardiner is more than a project manager; she’s an endlessly curious self-starter, talented developer and impressive multitasker. And as a former barista, she’s blown us away with latte art…

  • An Atomicdust team member holds the five 2024 AVA Digital Awards certificates representing winning projects

    Atomicdust Work Recognized with Five 2024 AVA Digital Awards

    Our core philosophy at Atomicdust is “To know truth. To make beauty. To do good.” Those few words guide a lot of what we do. We’re not here to make…