Sum

Creative Musing + Product
February 2023

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Sum
While I am not a professional type designer, I have a passion for creating custom typefaces. I just finished this display numerical typeface, called Sum. This font comprises six sizes: Light, Regular, Semibold, Bold, Black, and Heavy. Engaging in studies like this is beneficial for graphic designers., as it enables them to comprehend the intricacies of typeface formation. This knowledge is particularly valuable when crafting a bespoke typeface for a brand.
 

Buy this Display Typeface
Sum is available for purchase, email me for licensing and cost.

MKN Design Reel

Article + Product
February 2023

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MKN Design Reel
Do you like what you see? Well, I’d like to work with you. If you're looking for an experienced independent (freelance) Art Director, Designer, and Illustrator, or if you know of any companies seeking short or long-term project contracts or retainers, feel free to contact me via email.

Note
Design and illustrative projects within this reel are a combination of strategic branding, environmental design, iconography, illustration, graphic design, and packaging.

Graphis, Designers for Peace

Creative Musing + Product
June 2022

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Graphis, Designers for Peace
I submitted a "Designers for Peace" poster series (A.K.A. Ukraine War Series) for the Graphis poster competition. It received an Honorable Mention. This series began as a personal project sparked by Russia's unprovoked war on Ukraine. My aim with this project was to capture a powerful, somber, and raw portrayal of the global emotional response to the conflict.

Buy these Purchase
These posters are available for purchase in my shop.

Accolade from Graphis
Congratulations! Your excellent poster design has been chosen as an Honorable Mention in our international Designers for Peace competition.

— B. Martin Pedersen, Creative Director & Publisher

Lost Privacy

Article + Creative Musing
December 2020

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Lost Privacy
Illustrative concepts exploring technology, who owns our data, loss of privacy, and our mental health. Technology (specifically the smallish computer in your pocket) has been a wonderful tool for us. But, they also have been used unethically for data collection, observation of dark patterns, and social network disinformation campaigns. Like warning signs located on products that are dangerous for us, should we do the same for technology products?

 

Lark & Poppy

Creative Musing
November 2020

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Lark & Poppy
This crest was illustrated upon reflection of the poem, in Flanders Fields. For those who are and are not Canadian, on Remembrance Day, Canadians adorn a red poppy over their heart to honor the veterans that fought and died for our freedoms. Read and reflect on the poem, In Flanders Field. The poem was pened during the First World War by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. Today let's remember all our veterans.

 

Clydesdale Illustration Process

Article + Creative Musing
November 2018

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Clydesdale Illustration Process
The above video shows my streamlined process for crafting icon and illustrations. This is the same phased process that I use for large design projects albeit condensed to focus on a single artifact. While some may perceive this work as straightforward, it actually demands meticulous attention to detail and draws upon thorough research to effectively sketch, ideate, and achieve visual harmony, alignment, and readability.

 

We Are Better Than This

Article + Creative Musing
June 2018

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We Are Better Than This
The words by Rep Elijah Cummings in 2018 stuck me, “We should all be able to agree that in the United States of America we will not intentionally separate children from their parents. We will not do that, we are better than that!” Our national policies affect our national symbols. What once signified freedom to the world, now represents imprisonment for the vulnerable. Using the US flag as a symbol, I deconstructed it, transforming its stripes into bars and its stars into razor wire.

 

Community of Illustrators

Article
August 2017

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Community of Illustrators
Illustration is a vital part of graphic design. As a person who is a graphic designer and illustrator I’ve found there is a lack of understanding about illustration, licensing, how illustrators work, best practices, and ethics. Because of this, Lucy Engelman and I started The Illustration League. The mark is paired with the typeface Filson Pro designed by Olivier Gourvat from Mostardesign.

Further Reading
Learn more about the Illustration League by reading the Rapid Growth Media article titled “Building An Illustration Community” Additionally, delve deeper into the world of The Illustration League by visiting their website.

Note
Postcards designed and illustrated by Libby VanderPloeg.

Skate, Surf, & Art

Article + Product
January 2017

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Skate, Surf, & Art
Monsa Publications requested permission to feature my illustrated skateboard deck graphic, "Urban Totem," in their book titled "Skate, Surf, and Art." This graphic, originally created for a fundraiser aimed at constructing a new skatepark.

Buy this Book
Skate, Surf, & Art is available for purchase on Monsa Publications website.

Dwell Feature

Article + Product
December 2016

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Dwell Feature
Thank you Dwell for promoting my work in this month’s issue of Dwell Magazine and on dwell.com It’s nice to be noticed ☺️

What the Dwell blurb reads, “Design With an Eye for Fine Lines. Michigan-based graphic designer and illustrator Michael Nykamp takes minimalist approach to creating portraits and logos for a variety of clients, including AIGA West Michigan, Herman Miller, and musician Truman Cage. We also love his crisp drawings of midcentury classics, such as Jens Risom’s A-Frame house. Follow his collaborations, posters and personal explorations like this geometric lion at dwell.”

Additional Content
View my work on Dwell.

Rethinking Math Workbooks

Article + Creative Musing
January 2016

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Rethinking Math Workbooks
During my childhood, I despised math and often wondered if it was due to how it was taught and presented. Perhaps it was, perhaps not. Even now, I feel my kids math workbooks are unapproachable. So, I thought create a cover series for simple math workbooks – taking my youngest sons math workbook, I stripped it down to its bare essentials, and gave it a complete rebranding. The typeface I used for this design is DIN Condensed VF, designed by Isabella Chaeva and Tagir Safayev from Paratype.

 

Illustration Society

Article + Product
January 2016

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Illustration Society
I contributed several limited edition screen prints from the Citizen Project, specifically the poster Thirteen Stripes, Fifty Stars, to the Illustration Society, Silent Auction (organized by Kendall College of Art and Design). The proceeds will support Kendall’s illustration program and Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.

Buy this Poster
These limited edition screen prints are available for purchase in my shop.

Related Content
Read an article about the Citizen Project by Emily Pots from Against The Grain.

Putting Your Brand To Use

Article
November 2015

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Putting Your Brand To Use
Lucy Engleman and I spoke at the Kendall College of Art and Design Career Symposium on building your brand as a freelancer. This event was  held at Fountain Street Church. The talk focused on the importance of building a brand (or ego), either as an freelancer or in search of full-time employment.

Presentation Key Takeaways
• Looking at the current freelance landscape⁠—market, location, competition, potential clients.
• Professional practices presenting yourself via social media and a personal website.
• The importance in expressing your personality, identity, style.
• Professionally curating yourself via social media, personal website, networking and joining organizations.

Additional Content
View Putting Your Brand To Use the presentation.

Woosah & The Illustration League Workshop

Article
November 2015

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Woosah & The Illustration League Workshop
A small group of ambitious individuals attended our lino-cut print workshop yesterday at Woosah Outfitters⁠—lots of good discussion and great prints. Thank you to Woosah's, Erica Lang for helping put this event on with TIL and her time with educating us on lino cutting and printing. A special thanks to Molly Singleterry of Spectacle Design Studio for coming and taking photos of the event. Also, thanks to Central Michigan Paper for providing us paper.

Further Reading
Learn more about The Illustration League.