Midwest UX – Conference Experience Design

Nonprofit Client Project

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Midwest UX – Conference Experience Design
As the Creative Lead and a creative team we partnered with Midwest UX to craft the creative vision for their three-day conference in Grand Rapids. Leading the creative team in the development and design of key visuals, environmental graphics, and digital touchpoints, we created a cohesive experience that reflected the theme of “Place” and highlighted the city’s culture and character.

Guided by the theme, I directed the overarching visual identity that shaped every aspect of the attendee experience. I oversaw the development of key visuals and their application across a comprehensive range of assets, including badges, wayfinding systems, environmental graphics, videos, website design, apparel, and social media content. By defining the conference’s visual language through clear assets and guidelines, I ensured the brand was applied consistently across all touchpoints, creating a cohesive, intuitive, and immersive experience for more than 500 participants for workshops, talks, and keynotes.

Beyond execution, we had the opportunity to showcase what Grand Rapids has to offer, integrating local culture, gastronomy, and context into the conference experience. I collaborated closely with the Midwest UX board, conference board, sponsors, and vendors to ensure alignment between design, logistics, and user experience, balancing creative vision with practical considerations. The resulting design system strengthened the conference brand, enhanced participant engagement, and left a lasting impression on both attendees and the broader UX community.

 

  • Midwest UX
    Conference & Event Services

  • + Brand Advisor
    + Concept Development
    + Creative Direction
    + Creative Assets
    + Environmental Design
    + Qualitative Research
    + Wayfinding Design
    + Website Design

  • MKN Design Team:
    + Michael Nÿkamp, Design Lead
    + Jonah Bailey, Interactive Design Lead
    + Jacob Mcvey, Junior Designer

    Conference Co-Chairs: 
    + Grant Carmichael, Conference Co-Chair
    + Laurel Stanley, Conference Co-Chair
    + Samuel Bowles, Conference  Co-Chair

    MWUX Stakeholders:
    + Erik Dahl, MWUX Board Chair
    + Brandon Stephens, MWUX Board Chair
    + Pam Haaser, MWUX Board Chair

MillerKnoll – Planning Guide System Design

↓ Locale Planning Guide
Several layouts from the Locale product planning guide.

 

↓ Locale Isometric Illustrations
A selection of isometric illustrations from the Locale Planning Guide.

Client Project

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MillerKnoll – Planning Guide System Design
To support Herman Miller’s vision for an accessible and scalable planning resource, we were brought in to redesign their product planning guides from the ground up.

Informed by focused research, UX insights, creative exploration, and stakeholder input, the work moved into development. Over the next two years, I worked with three product development teams to define requirements, understand their product lines, create a flexible framework, and design layout concepts paired with a refined isometric illustration style.

Each planning guide required custom product illustrations paired with copy and callouts, all maintained consistently across the system. Categories such as storage, desking, screens, displays, tables, and accessories were represented with multiple illustration types—including product views, detail views, planning views, and electrical diagrams—complete with callouts and dimensions. Across each guide, over 300 isometric and plan view components were created to ensure comprehensive and consistent representation.

The redesigned framework refreshed MillerKnoll’s planning guides, enhanced search functionality, and introduced a clearer, more intuitive layout. The final implementation delivered a user-friendly, easily navigable, and scalable guide, accessible across electronic devices, with the added ability to download and print PDFs.

“Michael’s collaboration, creativity, and design expertise elevated the planning guides, creating a user-friendly system with clear layouts, comprehensive visuals, and a flexible framework that works across product lines.”

Marketing Manager
MillerKnoll

 

  • MillerKnoll
    Furniture Manufacturing Sector

  • + Design Direction
    + Design Strategy
    + Product Research
    + Qualitative Research
    + Technical & Isometric Illustrations
    + User Experience Design

  • MKN Design Team:
    + Michael Nÿkamp, Design Director and Technical Illustrator

    Herman Miller Stakeholders:
    + Laura Bielby, Senior Marketing Manger
    +     Renee Cooper, Interior Designer
    + Furniture Design Teams, Locale, Public Office, Layout Studio

Remarker

Client Project
May 2013

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Remarker
Collaborating with Sung Yi via Carambito I assisted with developing a logo and defining the aesthetic of his notebook. Through thorough research, it became evident that the logo needed to embody both the notebook’s simple sophistication and resonate with its intended audience. The outcome was a logo that conveyed individuality and simplicity. The logos freehand script mimicked a fluid motion of pen meeting paper. Crafted to be comfortably handheld, this product provides effortless access to personalized index cards that perfectly align with users’ needs.

Crafted to securely hold index cards, with future adaptability to accommodate cell phones. Users can choose from a variety of custom-designed index card options to suit their needs, including Blank, Dot Grid, Line Grid, Isometric Grid, Idea Card, Lined, Time Tracker, Task List, Hourly Task List, and Storyboard.

Notebook Dimensions:
• Closed Notebook: 5¼" x 3⅞"
• Open Notebook: 5¼" x 7¾"

  • + Brand Identity

  • + Creative Direction
    + Market Research
    + Concept Development
    + Sketching & Ideation
    + Graphic Design
    + Illustration

  • This product was developed and designed by Sung Yi of Carambito. MKN Design assisted with ideas around binding, fabric selection and developing a logo for the product.

Design For Good

Article
June 2013

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Design For Good
In 2013, I served as an advisor for the AIGA West Michigan's Design for Good initiative. In this photo, you can see me listening to issues that required advisory support. Ultimately, we successfully addressed these issues by collaborating and resolving the issues together.

 

Herman Miller Icon System

Client Project
May 2013

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Herman Miller Iconography System
Led the Workplace Knowledge Team at Herman Miller (presently MillerKnoll) in the development and design of an iconography system pivotal in delineating crucial research methodologies within their workflow. These icons were not only instrumental in establishing definitive research practices but also needed to adhered to Herman Miller's strict brand guidelines.

  • + Iconography System

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

Sustainable Research Group

Client Project
January 2012

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Sustainable Research Group
Following a decade of expansion, SRG’s logo no longer aligned with the organization’s aspirations. Collaborating closely with the leadership I gathered key insights informing what the brand could be. Based on these insights, a fresh trajectory emerged—one aimed at broadening expertise, enlarging the customer base, and refining market focus. The bold new approach reflects an innovative impression of sustainability and boasts confidence, strength, and leadership. The rebrand extended to stationery brand standard guidelines.

  • + Brand Identity

  • + Creative Direction
    + Research
    + Concept Development
    + Design and Ideation
    + Illustration
    + Graphic Design
    + Print Management

HON, Brand Collateral Design System

▲ Storyboard Sequence
Voi Promotional Video, Magnetic Poetry

▲ Product Wordplay
Playing with two HON products names, Boda and Jetty. Work smarter with Yoda, conquer tasks with Yetti.

FYI, these didn’t make the cut.

Client Project via Peopledesign
August 2011

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HON, Brand Collateral Design System
During my time at Peopledesign, I contributed as a designer to the development of creative materials for HON. My role encompassed a wide range of responsibilities, from conceptualizing social media campaigns and creating storyboards to planning and art directing photoshoots, as well as overseeing the print production of HON’s extensive product catalog. Every project was a collaborative effort, carefully crafted to align with the unique needs of HON and support their sales team effectively.

  • + Graphic Design

  • + Art Direction
    + Research
    + Brochure Planning
    + Concept Development
    + Sketching and Ideation
    + Graphic Design
    + Illustration
    + Photoshoot Art Direction
    + Print Management and Production

  • This project collateral was completed while employed at Peopledesign.

Atmosphere Air Purifier

Client Project
July 2011

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Atmosphere Air Purifier
Collaborated with Amway on developing marketing collateral for their Atmosphere Air Purifier. Partnered with the Atmosphere marketing team to create a realistic 3D model that supported: Illustrative imagery for product collateral and Animated visualization showcasing the air purification process. The 3D model was crafted in 3D Studio Max and rendered using V-Ray, while the animation was produced in Adobe After Effects.

  • + Product Illustration

  • + Creative Direction
    + Graphic Design
    + 3D Modeling
    + Illustration

  • Animation and video completed by Joel Scott, independent 3D generalist.

Turnstone Brand Identity & Design System Collateral

Client Project (via Designvox)
2006 to 2009

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Turnstone Brand Identity & Design System Collateral
Following a series of internal shifts, Turnstone found their brand outdated and disconnected from their customer base. A relevant change was needed to resonate with the emerging demands of smaller businesses and startups. Equally important was to show that their products could grow with them and still have the quality and longevity as other furniture brands in the industry. I was a member of the design team responsible for creating a revitalized brand and integrating the new brand across various communication channels, including advertising, product catalogs, brochures, and website improvements.

  • + Brand Identity & Design Materials

  • + Research
    + Concept Development
    + Sketching & Ideation
    + Brand Development
    + Packaging Design
    + Catalog Cover Design and Layout
    + Design and Ideation
    + Illustration

  • This brand project and design system collateral was completed while employed at Designvox.

CAT Footwear

Client Project
August 2003

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CAT Footwear
While employed at Designvox I helped create the photography concept direction for Cat Footwear. Cat Footwear is a renowned brand recognized for its rugged and durable footwear designs, built to withstand tough environments and provide exceptional comfort and protection. With a legacy rooted in craftsmanship and innovation, Cat Footwear continues to be a go-to choice for individuals seeking reliable footwear for work and leisure alike.

This project faced a distinctive challenge, CAT footwear had been successfully manufacturing high-quality construction boots for 20 years, primarily catering to masculine construction workers. However, new customer demographics emerged, as women and teenagers began to purchase their rugged boots. Armed with this information, I produced some of the photography concept directions. The selected photography approach showcased consumers wearing CAT's footwear, focusing specifically on their CAT boots as they engaged in various activities within diverse environments. This concept resonated with our clients, aligned with consumers, and fit the demographics without being overtly masculine or feminine. 

  • + Photography Concept Direction

  • + Concept Development
    + Sketching & Ideation
    + Photography Direction

  • This project was a collaborative effort while employed at Designvox.