Creative Musing
Weekend Exploration
Fultonwood Type Foundry Poster
Client Project + Product
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Fultonwood Type Foundry Poster
A small West Michigan type foundry, founded by Zac Freeland, a young enthusiastic graphic and type designer. He now is works for the Detroit Red Wings & Detroit Tigers as a graphic designer. Dream job!
I collaborated with Fultonwood Type Foundry to create an illustrative story highlighting their design process and homage to traditional typeface tools, echoing the stylistic elements of typefaces they craft.
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Fultonwood Type Foundry
Independent Typography Studio -
+ Graphic Design
+ Illustration -
MKN Design Team:
+ Michael Nÿkamp, Design DirectorPeopledesign Stakeholder:
+ Zac Freeland, Founder & Type Designer -
This poster is available for purchase in my shop.
Pandas & Rainbows – Brand Identity
Client Project
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Pandas & Rainbows – Brand Identity
A collective of modest independent illustrators, graphic designers, and developers, each with their unique talents, shared a common space and goal: to produce high-quality work for clients while also supporting one another. Like the collective, the mascots are bashful Pandas, which when joining together shoot ray of love, light and magic from their badges.
The mascots are a cross between a Care Bear and Panda. These fun mascots were made several years ago for P&R. These mascots where paired with the typeface SG Europa Grotesk No. 2 designed by Scangraphic.
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Panda & Rainbows
Independent Creative Collaborative -
+ Brand Advisor
+ Concept Development
+ Creative Assets
+ Design Direction
+ Qualitative Research
+ Visual Identity -
The five members of this independent group where made up of designers, illustrators, web developers and game developers. The members of this independent group where:
+ Kurt Devlaeminck, Designer & Illustrator
+ Michael Nÿkamp, Designer & Illustrator
+ Celeste Pretzel Ritsema, Web Designer
+ Todd Ritsema, Creative Digital Experience Designer
Edgewood Bakery – Brand Identity
Client Project
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Edgewood Bakery – Brand Identity
A local bakery, owned and operated by Rita Selles. Edgewood Bakery curates a mix a delectable array of American classics and European-inspired desserts. Rita is an experienced baker who was taught baking from her mother’s kitchen, her years spent in France to her home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She graduated from the Secchia Institute of Culinary Education for Baking and Pastry Arts.
The concept exploration aimed for a simple design that conveyed delectable while evoking a modern European-American vibe. Through careful consideration of color, typography, and minimalist illustration, the final result captured the essence of Edgewood Bakery's unique desserts and evoked the name of her business.
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Edgewood Bakery
European Specialty Bakery -
+ Brand Advisor
+ Concept Development
+ Creative Assets
+ Design Direction
+ Qualitative Research
+ Visual Identity -
MKN Design Team:
+ Michael Nÿkamp, Design Director
+ Otto Selles, PhotographyEdgewood Bakery Stakeholders:
+ Rita Selles, CEO & Baker
Kindness Is Magic
Creative Musing
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Kindness Is Magic
Kindness is magic (it really needs to be mentioned twice). Let’s start each day with this important reminder. Stickers coming soon and maybe some tees. The mark is paired with the typeface Cooper Black designed by Oswald Bruce Cooper from Adobe Originals.
St. Joseph City Hall
Client Project
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St. Joseph City Hall – Illustration
Thesis is a design agency nestled in St. Joseph, Michigan, their process is embodied in their name and distinctive approach. Collaborating with a diverse clientele spanning from startups to Fortune 100, they craft innovative solutions tailored to each client's needs. Among their clients was Old City Hall, the very building that housed their business. Thesis approached me to lend a hand with their branding endeavor.
I was asked to develop a minimalist illustration of the Old City Hall. The subsequent work was completed by Thesis and integrated into comprehensive branding system and wayfinding signage for the building.
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Old City Hall via Thesis
City of St. Joseph, Michigan -
+ Illustration
+ Sketching & Ideation -
MKN Design Team:
+ Michael Nÿkamp, IllustratorThesis Stakeholders:
+ Brian Edlefson, Founding Principal & Creative Director
+ Mark Cook, Founding Principal
Postal Mark
Creative Musing
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Postal Mark
A modern interpretation of an old postal mark.
AIGA Detroit – Member Spotlight
Article
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AIGA Detroit – Member Spotlight
Big thank you to AIGA Detroit for featuring me and my work on their website and future e-newsletter. I hope to make it down soon.
David's Eye
Creative Musing
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David's Eye
Illustration inspired by the quote from Thomas Carlyle, "The depth of our despair measures what capability and height of claim we have to hope."
Community of Illustrators
Article
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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. Postcard design & illustration by Libby VanderPloeg.
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→ Building An Illustration Community – Rapid Growth Article
→ The Illustration League Identity
→ Woosah & The Illustration League Workshop
John Lennon
Creative Musing
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John Lennon
Simplified portrait of John Lennon.
Canada 150
Creative Musing
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Canada 150
I designed this anniversary mark for Canada’s 150th celebration. The mark features a maple leaf bursting like fireworks, embodying Canada's iconic Maple Leaf while also representing the unity of its citizens. The mark is paired with the typeface ATF Alternate Gothic designed by American Type Founders Collection.
Birth Of Peace
Creative Musing
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Birth Of Peace
An illustration inspired by the words of Sri Chinmoy, “War forgets peace. Peace forgives war.” From the poem, War & Peace.
Dueling Cherries
Creative Musing
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Dueling Cherries
Pattern exercise with one illustrated cherry cluster. From illustration to the pattern, to product application.
Suburban Rooftops Poster
Product
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Suburban Rooftops Poster
A cluttered illustrative representation of endless America’s suburban rooftops.
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Suburban Rooftops print is available for purchase in my shop.
Pollution's Monster
Creative Musing
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Pollution's Monster
Illustration inspired by the quote from Al Gore, “Pollution should never be the price of prosperity”
The Guardian
Creative Musing
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The Guardian
A simplified and modernized interpretation of a Lion Passant was used as a heraldic symbol in the early 14th century. The logo's mark is paired with the typeface Rama Slab designed by Ryoichi Tsunekawa from Dharma Type.
Bluejay & Cardinal
Creative Musing
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Bluejay & Cardinal
Illustration and type exploration from this past weekend. Simplified Bluejay and Cardinal illustration paired with the typeface, Sofia Pro designed by Olivier Gourvat from Mostardesign. C'est fantastique!
Lion Book Publishing Co.
Creative Musing
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Lion Book Publishing Co.
Dedicated to independent authors and their stories. The typeface utilized around the mark is ATF Franklin Gothic by American Type Founders Collection.
Uneasy Eye
Creative Musing