The Highlands

Client Project

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The Highlands – Architectural Illustration
I illustrated a simple representation of the Highlands for owners Boon & Caro Sheridan. The architectural style of the church is a Victorian Gothic Revival, constructed in 1885, which now serves as their residence.

 

  • Boon & Caro Sheridan

  • + Architectural Illustration
    + Sketching & Ideation

  • MKN Design Team:
    + Michael Nÿkamp, Illustrator

    Stakeholders:
    + Boon Sheridan
    + Caro Sheridan

Google Doodle Building Blocks

Creative Musing

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Google Doodle, Building Blocks
My idea of writing 'Google' with building blocks came from playing with my two kids and their wooden blocks. We were using a set of primary color blocks, and the colors and shapes reminded me of Google. This inspired me to use the blocks to create an abstract version of Google's wordmark.

For nearly two centuries, wooden building blocks have been a common presence in children's playrooms (and for the adults who join in), enriching their playtime experiences. In the 1800s, German education pioneer Friedrich Fröbel crafted wooden block set, laying the groundwork for his innovative approach to early childhood education.

Fröbel, renowned for inventing "Kindergarten," revolutionized the field and his educational concept remains influential today.

 

Ramen House

Creative Musing

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Ramen House
Chopsticks, ramen, in a Jukkoku-bachi bowl. The letterforms are a custom typeface designed specifically to for this mark.

 

Spectrum Health – UX & Illustration Storytelling

Client Project

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Spectrum Health – UX & Illustration Storytelling
A prominent healthcare provider dedicated to delivering exceptional medical services and improving community health, Spectrum Health (now Corwell Health) plays a vital role in enhancing the well-being of individuals across various West Michigan. Working alongside a team of engineers and developers, I helped design and develop functional prototype application named My Chart.

This endeavor required a strategic approach, including the use of personas, iterative wire-framing, and meticulous design iterations to craft a compelling and user-centric digital journey for patients.

The application catered to both new and returning patients of Spectrum Health facilities, offering features such as iPad-based check-in for hospital and doctor appointments, seamless access to medical records, and entertainment options.

 

  • Spectrum Health via Mutually Human
    Health Care Facilities & Services

  • + Concept Development
    + Design Direction
    + Illustration Storytelling
    + Qualitative Research
    + User Experience
    + Sketching & Ideation

  • MKN Design Team:
    + Michael Nÿkamp, Visual Storytelling & UX/UI

    Mutually Human Stakeholders:
    + Ross Hunter, Software Craftsman
    + Mark Van Holstyn, Founder and CTO

North Shore

Creative Musing

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North Shore
An organic clothing brand logo incorporating earth elements seamlessly paired with a custom typeface I designed specifically to complement the mark.

 

Blue Whale

Creative Musing

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Blue Whale
Detail of simple circular blue whale mark as a signature for letterhead.

 

Star Wonder

Creative Musing

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Star Wonder
I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night – Sarah Williams. Star Wonder paired with Suburban Rooftops print

 

Black Swan Records

Creative Musing

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Black Swan Records
There's nothing more pleasing to a designer when two elements come together magically.

 

ILLOHUS

Creative Musing + Product

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ILLOHUS
I designed this logo for my side hustle.

 

  • I opened up a small shop on my website to sell posters and digital products. Peruse all the products available in my shop.

Weekend Exploration

Creative Musing

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Weekend Exploration
Fun exploration with typeface and illustration this weekend.

 

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.

 

  • Fultonwood Type Foundry
    Independent Typography Studio

  • + Graphic Design
    + Illustration

  • MKN Design Team:
    + Michael Nÿkamp, Design Director

    Peopledesign Stakeholder:
    + Zac Freeland, Founder & Type Designer

  • This poster is available for purchase in my shop.

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.

 

  • Old City Hall via Thesis
    City of St. Joseph, Michigan

  • + Illustration
    + Sketching & Ideation

  • MKN Design Team:
    + Michael Nÿkamp, Illustrator

    Thesis Stakeholders:
    + Brian Edlefson, Founding Principal & Creative Director
    + Mark Cook, Founding Principal