Creative Musing + Products
December 2020
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A Year Of Prints
Some prints from others and some of my own. From left to right, 1. Architectural Styles via Michael Nÿkamp. 2. Black Cat via Little Friends. 3. Goodbye 2020 via Michael Nÿkamp. 4. House Industries via David Dodde
Purchase:
Architectural Styles and Goodbye 2020 posters are available in my shop.
Creative Musing
December 2020
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Statue of Liberty
Anticipating better days ahead. The poem, The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus was the inspiration for this mark.
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flameIs the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door
– Emma Lazarus
Creative Musing
December 2020
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Goodbye 2020
A poster designed to say goodbye to 2020. It’s was a colorful and topsy-turvy year and I’m glad that it’s over. Perhaps we should celebrate its end—Goodbye, Au revoir. Adiós, 잘가 (Jalga).
Buy this Poster:
This poster is available for purchase in my shop.
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?
Client Project
November 2020
+ Portrait Illustration
+ Style Development
+ Sketching & Ideation
+ Illustration
Looking for a custom illustrated portrait of yourself or a group? Reach out via email for further information and details.
Article + Creative Musing
November 2020
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Red Riding Hood
I have been asked many times about my illustrative logo/icon process, so I thought I would share. (it’s very similar to any design process). Though my illustrative style is simple, it does not mean that it's effortless. Process takes time and is a combination of thoughtfulness, collaboration, knowledge, and craft. In the initial phase, sketches and ideation are crafted based on comprehensive research, with only one or a few selected from a wide array of rough concept drawings. Moving into the second phase, the process progresses to defining sketches, utilizing basic shapes to enhance the conceptualization. Finally, in the third phase, numerous iterations, adjustments, and refinements are undertaken until both the client and/or I are satisfied with the result, leading to the culmination of the final execution.
The typeface I used is Gotham design by Designed by Jonathan Hoefler and Tobias Frere-Jones at Hoefler&Co. Green arrows signify progress in the illustration process, while red arrows indicate a pause or halt in the process.
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.
Creative Musing
November 2020
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The Dark Side of the Moon
A modern take on Pick Floyd’s, Dark Side of the Moon album cover.
Purchase this Tee
The Dark Side of the Moon is currently unavailable for purchase. Check back in June 2024 or pursue my entire collection of graphic tees on Cotton Bureau.
Creative Musing
November 2020
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The White House
New residents in the White House. A fresh start with lots of work to do.
Creative Musing
November 2020
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Basin
Exploration for a combination mark for a lavatory company. The mark is paired with the typeface Kepler, designed by Robert Slimbach from Adobe Originals.
Creative Musing
October 2020
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Seymour Chwast
Simplified portrait of Seymour Chwast smoking his pipe. Seymour is an American Illustrator, Graphic Designer, and Type designer—he is someone I appreciate and admire.
Creative Musing
September 2020
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I Can Read
A combination mark I developed several years ago indicated reading levels for kids.
Client Project
August 2020
+ Graphic Design
+ Creative Direction
+ Graphic Design
+ Print Management
Creative Musing
June 2020
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Crow & Pitcher
This weekend I read several fables by Aesop to my kids. One of the fables, The Crow & the Pitcher draws a relationship between problem-solving and wit (critical thinking), and perseverance. Within my own practice of strategic visual communication, these two attributes are critical in the process of developing and building brands. Without it, the ability to perceive, create and innovate is deprived.
Creative Musing + Product
May 2020
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Stayhome Friends
Amidst the U.S. stay-at-home mandate, I crafted a series of playful illustrations, each carrying messages specifically designed for the stay-at-home orders. These illustrations served not only to entertain but also to reinforce the importance of staying home during this time.
Buy these Posters
These posters are available in my shop.
Creative Musing
April 2020
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Agri Canada
A mark exploration that didn’t make the cut.
Creative Musing
April 2020
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The Morning Post
Conceptual expression of a sun coming over hillsides or an individual reading a newspaper. The Mark is paired with the typeface Meta Serif Pro, designed by Botio Nikoltchev, Christian Schwartz, Erik Spiekermann, Kris Sowersby, and Ralph du Carrois from FontFont.
Creative Musing
April 2020
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Kudo
A hand-lettered wordmark study on the word Kudo, meaning praise and honor received for an achievement. This is a custom made typeface.
Client Project
April 2020
ITHAKA S+R enlisted me to modernize their design for reports, presentations, and infographics, emphasizing enhancements in design, color, and typography within a clear and comprehensive design system. The project had strict requirements, including adherence to brand guidelines, consideration of color blindness and visual impairments, and the need for distinct visual cues for various document types. Additionally, staff needed the capability to create or update all redesigned materials. After research, it was determined that Google Workspace (Docs, Slides, and Sheets) would be the optimal solution for creating these materials. The result was a unified design system that stayed true to ITHAKA S+R’s brand guidelines while providing a distinct visual identity for educational research materials and presentations.
+ Design System
+ Creative Direction
+ Project Management
+ Qualitative Research
+ Concept Development
+ Graphic Design & Layout
+ Presentation Design
+ Infographics
+ Illustration
michael@mkn-design.com
1 616 915 1941
Good design is complexity presented simply
MKN Design LLC © 2024
Formally from Ontario, Canada, now based in West Michigan, USA I help organizations develop creative strategies into artful visual solutions that delight and engage.
