Cryptogram Ink prints by hand in Northside

A new ink shop in Northside offers no competition to existing ink specialists at Designs by Dana and Skincraft. At Cryptogram Ink, open since January 2011, offers graphic design services for communities, bands and more.

Dustin Flowers and Jon Flannery, 27 and 24, respectively, hand-print posters for music venues and bands and also help brand community events. Growing their space from a small studio to a main-drag storefront allows the growing company to raise its profile.

“Working with local businesses is easier now,” Flannery says. “We are able to have a presence in the community and display our work to the public.”

A huge opportunity this summer allowed Flowers and Flannery to be embraced by Northside. They community came to them with design needs for community events. They designed and printed posters for the Rock and Roll Carnival as well as creating the posters and overall design aesthetic for the newly formed Second Saturday in Northside. The two plan to create a unique look for the monthly event as well as print unique posters each month.

“We feel like we can do what we want to do in this community,” Flowers says.

Other clients include Southgate House as well as local band, The Harlequins. Flowers and Flannery also do design and branding for companies, from logos to business cards. But even as they take on new projects, they plan to print everything by hand.

“We’re really pushing to have our own aesthetic with everything we do,” Flannery says. “Even our shop, we want customers to come in because they know we do good work.”

By Evan Wallis