• Home
  • Design Packaged
  • Studio
  • Chronicles
    • Articles
    • Client Projects
    • Creative Musings
    • Products
    • All Chronicles
Menu

MKN Design

  • Home
  • Design Packaged
  • Studio
  • Chronicles
  • Chronicles
    • Articles
    • Client Projects
    • Creative Musings
    • Products
    • All Chronicles

Become, Brand Strategy & Identity

June 2, 2021

Beome_MAIN_4.png
Beome_MAIN_5.png
View fullsize Phase I: Understand + Discovery
Phase I: Understand + Discovery
View fullsize Phase II: Ideate + Define + Develop
Phase II: Ideate + Define + Develop
View fullsize Phase III: Execute + Deliver
Phase III: Execute + Deliver
2021_Become_SEC_3.gif
2021_Become_SEC_2C.png
2021_Become_SEC_1.png

Client Project
June 2021

__
Become, Brand Strategy & Identity
Become is an education and learning website that help individuals navigate and connect with schools and businesses through deep insights and data-backed guidance. My team worked closely with Become's founders to develop their brand design system, covering everything from messaging, naming to the identity. 

I led a team in planning, development, and design of the Become brand identity. Through my comprehensive process we distilled insights gathered from audience and stakeholder interviews, shaping the foundation of the brand. This foundation delineated the brand’s tone, defined the voice and visual direction of the brand. As we progressed, additional interviews, journey mapping, naming, brand architecture, iterative brand development evolving into a simple, meaningful and approachable brand. After this effort a detailed brand guidelines was established.

The word 'Become' was crafted by merging the space between its initial and final letters. This simple alteration embodies the concept of 'Become' as a companion throughout one's professional journey. Additionally, this modification transforms the tense of the word from future to present, implying that individuals can embrace their current selves or evolve into something new.

  • + Branding

  • + Team Leadership
    + Project Management
    + Creative Direction
    + Qualitative & Quantitative Research
    + Brand Messaging
    + Naming
    + Visual Identity

  • Michael Nÿkamp served as a patient and adept navigator during our brand discovery expedition. His guidance enabled us to gain profound insights into our company's identity. Although the outcome was unexpected, it perfectly aligned with our aspirations. None of this would have happened without him and for that, we are very grateful.

    — Ryan Montgomery, CEO of Become

  • View the initial mark exploration concepts for Become.

  • Phase III fun illustrations drawn by David Schofield.


In Client Projects Tags Branding, Become, Strategy, Design, Logo, Mark, Client Project, MKN Design, 2021, Wordmark

Become Mark Exploration

May 8, 2021

Become_Mark_Exploration_MAIN_1.png
Become_Mark_Exploration_MAIN_3.png
Become_Mark_Exploration_MAIN_2.png
Become_Mark_Exploration_MAIN_4.png
Become_Mark_Exploration_MAIN_5.png

Client Project
October 2019

__
Become Mark Exploration
I was hired by Become to develop their brand messaging framework and new identity. With the first phase completed we had language that helped create these concept marks. While the new identity has not launched, I wanted to share these initial concept explorations—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Not all of these explorations were shown to the client, but they all played a crucial part in shaping the final brand identity.

  • Brand Identity

  • + Creative Direction
    + Concept Development
    + Sketching & Ideation
    + Illustration

  • View the completed Become Identity.


In Client Projects Tags 2019, Creative Musing, Become, Concepts, Exploration, Egg, Elephant, Bird, Hand, Conceptual, Brand, Logo, Illustration, Minimal, MKN Design

MKN Design, LLC
michael@mkn-design.com
1 616 915 1941 

Good design is complexity presented simply
MKN Design LLC © 2025

Originally from Ontario, Canada, and now based in West Michigan, Michael Nÿkamp is dedicated to helping organizations develop and refine creative strategies into clear, impactful solutions that captivate and engage.

Instagram
Linkedin

Client Access