A project, a practice, a 350+ ampersand love letter to our most beautiful letterform.
It all started back in 2019…
I set out to learn more about type by drawing something I would never get tired of — ampersands. Since then, the project has grown to include hundreds of ampersands, a multitude of genres of typography and decorative techniques , inspiring me to learn type design and lettering in the process.
The first question people ask about this project is, why ampersands? Designers love ampersands. Consider the ampersand in any font — in composition it is afforded more expressive opportunities than the average. How many single letterforms can have bowls, stems, diagonals, and terminals? Ampersands are designed for vibrant personality, and perhaps typographic stardom. But don’t forget the big “and” picture — the ampersand as a symbol of connection, union, and creativity. Ampersands add. Ampersands connect. Ampersands turn you and me, into us and we. Ampersands are fun to compose, a delight to decorate, and full of pure love, typographic and otherwise.
Above, the first two hundred ampersands in the Ampersand Storm typography project.
So far I’ve created over 350 illustrated ampersands for this project, each one unique. They’re sketched by hand, refined or vectored, colored and decorated with care to share with a community of fellow letter lovers on Instagram.
Selected ampersands from the project are now available in desk calendars, stickers, and prints — thoughtfully produced in small batches with local printers and vendors. I hope these ampersand calendars, prints and stationary products bring you as much joy as they brought me to make!
2026 Ampersand Calendars
These limited edition 2026 monthly desk calendars each feature 12 richly illustrated ampersands from the six-year archive of The Ampersand Storm in either Victorian or Botanical motifs. Printed on lush, thick, uncoated paper by the Midwest’s most awarded commercial printer, and tucked into beautiful custom packaging, these calendars are a perfect gift for designers, illustrators, calligraphers, or anyone who loves typography.
Pre-order now — quantities are limited. Ships by October 15, 2025.
