My Approach

Every family tree I create is designed by hand. The layout, the typography, the composition, the connector lines, and every design decision are mine. I use AI as a production tool to format and place family data consistently, according to specifications I define. No part of your tree's design is generated by AI.

Background Designs

When developing the background concepts for the design gallery, I searched stock image libraries for images that would support a tree layout without competing with it. For the ring formats, I found repeating patterns and built them into concentric circle compositions sized for that structure. For the bracket and waterfall formats, I looked for images that work as borders and frames. I built mockups of every design using my own family data to see how each one held up with real names and real generations before it went into the gallery.

Building Your Tree

Each tree is built as a new piece of art within Adobe Illustrator. After the background is positioned, I arrange your family's information on the page based on your design intent. If names run long or a generation crowds its neighbors, I reposition and adjust the typography until the layout is visually balanced. I check every name against the information you provided before the artwork reaches you.

Where AI Fits In

I use AI as a production tool in two places: formatting your family data before it goes into the artwork, and supporting my research workflow for transcription, analysis, and report writing. In both cases, I direct the work, verify the output, and make every decision. The Privacy Policy explains exactly what that looks like and how your information is handled.

If you have questions about my process before we begin, the best place to start is a free consultation.