Mary-Ann Zykin
Why Hire a Designer in the Age of AI?
Why should you hire somebody to help you with your branding or your website or create a content calendar or a brand strategy when you can just turn to AI? I’m going to give you a couple of reasons, and explain just what exactly the role of a designer actually is, because I think it’s kind of gotten lost in this age of AI. And I think that there’s maybe a misconceived notion of what designers actually do.
How Three Pool Balls Inspired Our Website Overhaul
For two years, I knew our website wasn’t quite right—it was fine, but fine isn’t good enough for a design studio. Then one night at a local pool hall, inspiration struck in the most unexpected way. Here’s the story behind our complete website overhaul, from vibrant pool balls to strategic colors to service pillars to finding the perfect typeface.
Why Our New Office Space Changes Everything
After eight years of working from home as an independent designer, I finally took the leap. This past April, Zykin Design moved into our first dedicated office space here in Houston, and I can honestly say it’s been pretty transformative. The Journey from Freelancer to Studio For nearly a decade, I maintained dedicated office spaces…
7 Tips for Better Construction Photos & Videos
Strong visuals are one of the most powerful ways to tell the story of your work and company culture. High-quality imagery is essential for any brand—but you don’t necessarily need a professional photographer on-site every day to build a strong visual library. Hiring a pro can deliver a batch of polished content captured with professional…
A Strategic Approach to Construction Photography
Great on-site construction photography isn’t just about snapping pictures—it’s about capturing a company’s story with strategy and intent. From hero images to supplementary visuals for websites, we compose every shot with purpose. Whether it’s a branded hard hat, a team member walking toward a company truck, or a drone’s-eye view of the job site, every…
Bringing A-C Electric Company’s Story to Life
A-C Electric Company is a commercial electrical contractor based in California’s Central Valley, with offices in Bakersfield, Visalia, and Fresno. They’ve been a trusted name in their region for nearly 80 years—an impressive milestone that speaks to their legacy and the impact they’ve had on their community. Recently, they reached out to me because their…
Problem Solving & Embracing Change: November 2024 Recap
Now that Zykin Design has been launched and out in the world for a couple months, I want to share a bit about the challenges and rewards that came along with them, recap some recent projects, and give you a peek into what’s next for Zykin Design. I’ve been busy, but in all the best…
Welcome to Zykin Design
Welcome to Zykin Design, a design studio based in Houston, TX, where we offer a comprehensive range of design and marketing services aimed at boosting your brand awareness, driving traffic to your website, and generating qualified leads. Whether you’re looking to dive into social media, refine your brand identity, or leverage data-driven insights, we’ve got…






