Both is Better is a small writing and design firm that is owned and operated by Rachel Estrada Ryan. Fully licensed and insured, Both is Better is also certified by the MBEC (the City of Philadelphia's Minority Business Enterprise Council) as a woman- and minority-owned business enterprise. (And for those affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania, please note that Both is Better is a BEN Buys approved supplier!)
Rachel graduated with a BA cum laude in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2000, and now has over 8 years of experience using her writing, design, and project management skills for Philadelphia's public, nonprofit and private sectors. Her client list includes City departments, prominent child advocacy and direct service organizations, small and startup businesses, and Christian ministries, churches and faith-based nonprofits.
Her background in the visual arts dates back to childhood. She has produced a substantial body of work in pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, and watercolor. Her transition to graphic design in 2003 seamlessly blended her lifelong study of color and form with self-taught knowledge of the major Adobe and Quark software applications.
As a writer, Rachel has authored dozens of short stories, essays, and articles. She is the managing editor of esteemed literary journal Story Quarterly and has been published in Philadelphia Weekly, The Pennsylvania Gazette, and AAA World. She continues to pursue freelance journalism opportunities, and is also working on both a novel and a collection of personal essays. She is a student of the Rutgers-Camden MFA Program in Creative Writing.
