Our Philosophy
We find joy in excellence
Everything you see on our site is original art, created with care by our team of artists at Anderson Design Group (a family owned business) and produced by American printers who take great pride in their work. As artists and craftspeople, we are passionate about preserving the time-honored traditions and techniques of artists and print-makers from the 20th Century. We pick up where masters from the Golden Age of Travel Art Illustration left off, continuing this tradition with a whole new body of travel posters for our generation. We travel all over America (especially the National Parks) for adventure and inspiration, but we love our hometown: Nashville, Tennessee. Each day, we get up and go to work, using our talents to create affordable, accessible wall decor that makes us smile. Our goal is to connect with others by producing high-quality prints, books, and gifts that beautify everyday life. When you buy one of our creations, you provide opportunities for artists, print-makers, book binders, paper vendors, shipping partners, and many others who take pride in working with their hands. Every print, postcard, or book we produce is printed in the USA.
We believe in generosity
As a family business rooted in Nashville, Tennessee, it is our pleasure to donate travel posters and books to local charities who sell them at silent auctions to raise funds for their ongoing work. It is our privilege to donate 10% of our annual profits to a number of non-profit organizations, including the National Parks Foundation. Proceeds from your purchases improve the lives of battered women, the homeless, nature-lovers, and students who want to pursue a career in the visual arts.
We love to encourage young artists
We often host tours for college design and illustration classes to see our studio, meet our artists, ask questions, or apply for internships. If you are an illustration or design professor and you would like more info about scheduling a class tour, please call us at 615-327-9894 or e-mail: Info@AndersonDesigngroup.com
Our History
Our founder Joel Anderson graduated from Ringling School of Art & Design in 1986. He was recruited straight from college to work as a staff illustrator and designer at Carden & Cherry Advertising in Nashville, TN. While at C&C, Joel won an Emmy Award for his work on a CBS show, Hey Vern, It's Ernest. Joel worked at C&C for 7 years, learning the art & science of advertising (and how to talk like Ernest P. Worrell.)
In 1993, Joel and his friend David Thomas founded Anderson Thomas Design, Inc. The firm focused on CD package design at first, and quickly grew into a diverse print & web design company with a client list that included Universal Studios, MCA Records, DreamWorks Pictures, Golden Books, Hasbro and more.
In 2007, the partners decided to pursue different interests, so Joel reorganized the design firm as Anderson Design Group, Inc., narrowing the studio's focus to specialize in illustration and poster design. When Joel and the art team are not doing illustration work for clients, they create new poster art. Averaging 4-10 new designs per week, Team ADG has produced over 3,000 designs, including poster art for each of the National Parks.
Our Techniques
Through the years, we have studied the Masters of the Golden Age of Poster Art. Inspired by graphic design and travel art illustration from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, we enjoy doing as much as possible by hand. We start out by sketching up ideas. Then we draw, paint, and hand-letter our travel poster concepts before we move to the computer (a finishing tool that helps us spend less time cleaning brushes and allows us to edit our work more easily). Our goal is to create art the way it was done before the era of cameras and computers. We strive to create travel wall decor that looks like it was produced in the early part of the 20th century. Once we have finished a design, we produce posters on gallery-grade paper in our very own print shop. Our family owned business is dedicated to creating the highest quality and most affordable travel decor possible. We hope you can see and feel the quality that goes into our American-made prints, books, and gifts. And we hope you enjoy our original creations as much as we have enjoyed producing them! Thanks for supporting the arts and small family-run American businesses like ours.
Creatively Yours, Joel Anderson--Founder of Anderson Design Group
Our Team
Joel Anderson Creative Direction & Design
After graduating from Ringling School of Art & Design in 1986, Joel moved to Music City and worked at Carden & Cherry Advertising for 7 years, winning an Emmy Award for his work on a CBS kid's show. He co-founded Anderson Thomas Design in 1993, producing countless award-winning creative projects. In 2007, Joel retooled the firm to specialize in branding packaging and poster art. The Nashville Advertising Foundation named him Art Director of the Year 2010. Joel launched Anderson Design Group's critically-acclaimed National Park Poster Series in 2016. A best-selling coffee table book followed the classic poster art, creating a demand for an entire line of coloring books, Adventure Guide Books, stickers, and other National Parks gifts and keepsakes. To date, Joel has published 14 books and over 1,700 posters.
When Joel is not serving a client, studying classic poster design, or producing new paster art, he enjoys gardening, wood-working, creative folk art, and spending time with his family. As a fan of Indian food, Star Wars, The Simpsons, all things Southern, Tom Petty, French cuisine, classical music, and peanut butter, you could say that Joel has a diverse palette.
Patty Anderson Finance & Food
Born in Paris, France, Patty came to the USA as a high school student. She studied Interior Design at Ringling College of Art & Design, where she met Joel. They got married in 1986 after graduating and moved to Nashville, Tennessee. For the next 5 years, Patty worked in architect and interior design firms doing space planning and design. She helped Joel start up his design firm in 1993, handling all matters financial, and creating delicious gourmet meals for hungry ADG designers on special occasions.
Patty loves the beach, good coffee, and 80s music. In addition to being the person that writes paychecks and keeps ADG financially sound, Patty is a mother of 4, a fantastic cook, a savvy designer, and a model of order and common sense among a messy gaggle of artists.
Nathan Anderson Online Retail & Wholesale Director
A native Nashvillian and self-proclaimed bon vivant, Nathan takes delight in the colors, flavors, and sounds of Nashville life. He has been the fulfillment & wholesale director and staff writer at ADG since May, 2013. He has worked in the retail industry since 2007, helping folks have the best shopping experience possible, whether online or in-stores. He has written multiple books for Anderson Design Group, including the award-winning Illustrated National Parks book series. In his free time Nathan enjoys books, bourbon, and bonding time with his wife and two daughters.
Aaron Johnson Illustration & Design
Aaron was raised in Nashville, where he dedicated his early years to drawing cartoons and making corny jokes. Finding illustration and graphic design the perfect fit for his odd skill set, he attended Watkins College of Art, Design, and Film. In his spare time Aaron enjoys eating strawberry flavored foods, building replicas of TV show & movie props, watching Japanese Anime, and teaching people Photoshop. After becoming an illustrator his new life goal is to one day ride a zeppelin.
In 2012 Aaron went for his dream job as an Illustrator at ADG, since the world was scheduled to end that year and he wanted to go out with a bang. The world kept turning and Aaron kept producing cool Illustration. Now he excels in illustration, hand lettering, logo and package design, and fixing our computers when they're on the fritz. Aaron has done work for clients such as MCA Records, Ram Trucks, Coors Light, Miller Light, Syracuse University, J.M.T. Spices, Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, Ellusionist Playing Cards, and many more.
Molly Mann Communication & Customer Service
Molly graduated with a degree in journalism in May 2015 and is our go-to girl for all things social media. She manages our Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest accounts. Her passion for travel helps her connect with art-craving customers from all over the world. She and Nathan work as a team to deliver amazing five-star customer service. Molly enjoys queso, being a die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fan, and adventuring in Nashville and beyond. Her hobbies include buying plane tickets, attending concerts, and game nights.
Derek Anderson Design & Illustration
Born and raised in Kansas City, Derek (not related to ADG founder Joel Anderson) eventually made his way to Nashville where he studied graphic design and illustration at Watkins College of Art. During his senior year, Derek was an all-star intern with us, producing several posters that have been published in our various collections. His stellar work earned him a full-time staff position once he graduated in the spring of 2017. Derek enjoys creating ideas from a narrator’s point of view, deciding what perspective tells the story most effectively. In his free time Derek enjoys exercising his creative muscle through multiple outlets, such as skateboarding with friends and playing music on his guitar. Derek is a sci-fi nerd at heart and lately has taken to creating fictional movie and video game poster art. Derek’s drive and passion to make poster art is fueled by the inspiring people he works with at ADG.
Videos
Here is a video tour of the Anderson Design Group Studio Store and Print Shop
This video interview by Barry Amato was created for Line Dancing Magazine.
This video was produced by one of our clients after we created their logo and fell in love with their products.
We are a full-service Illustration Studio.
You may know us for our travel poster art, books, and gifts. But did you know that we also provide professional illustration, hand-letter and design services for companies of all sizes?
We have been doing award-winning artwork for clients such as Macy’s, Uinta Brewing, Universal Studios, Coors, Chrysler, Denny’s, Harper Collins, and others since 1993.
Feel free to contact us if you are in need of our professional creative services.
