About

Both is Better is a boutique writing and design firm that is owned and operated by Rachel Estrada Ryan.

Rachel graduated with a BA cum laude in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2000, spent three years in research and writing positions at two Philadelphia nonprofits, then started Both is Better in 2003; she now has over 10 years of experience using her writing, design, and project management skills for the public, nonprofit and private sectors of Philadelphia and NYC.

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; today, she is an avid paper crafter and a budding seamstress as well. Her transition to graphic design in 2003 blended her lifelong study of color and form with self-taught knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite.

As a writer, Rachel has authored dozens of short stories, personal essays, and articles.  Her work has been published in Writer’s Digest, AAA World, The Pennsylvania Gazette and Philadelphia Weekly.  She continues to pursue freelance journalism opportunities and is at work on a novel.

Part of the beauty of hiring Both is Better is that Rachel herself can complete a wide variety of writing and design projects from start to finish; however, certain web projects do require the assistance of sub-contracted coders and developers, and, of course, print projects more often than not require the assistance of commercial printers.  Rachel takes great pains to select the right person or company for each job, and is guided by budget and other requirements to make these choices on a project-by-project basis.  Both is Better is fortunate to be surrounded by a diverse range of talented individuals who can take on any project our clients send our way.