Creative Musing
Kudo
ITHAKA S+R – Brand Collateral Design System
Nonprofit Client Project
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ITHAKA S+R – Brand Collateral Design System
ITHAKA S+R, an organization that conducts research and provides strategic guidance to help the academic community navigate economic and technological change, needed a unified design system for all their communication materials. They hired us to modernize their system by creating an accessible, brand-compliant design that could be easily updated and maintained by their team.
A key requirement was enabling staff to create or update all redesigned materials. Our research identified Google Workspace (Docs, Slides, and Sheets) as the optimal platform for implementation. The resulting design system follows Ithaka’s brand guidelines, incorporates accessibility considerations—including color blindness and visual impairments—and provides clear, distinct visual cues for different document types such as case studies, issue briefs, research reports, and unpublished reports.
Through iterative design explorations, we delivered a unified system that gives Ithaka’s educational research materials and presentations a consistent, distinctive, and accessible visual identity.
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ITHAKA S+R
Research & Consulting Services -
+ Art Direction
+ Concept Development
+ Creative Assets
+ Illustration
+ Infographic Design
+ Qualitative Research
+ Visual Identity -
MKN Design Team:
+ Michael Nÿkamp, Art Director
+ Kate Folkert, Graphic Designer
ITHAKA S+R Stakeholders:
+ Liza Pagano, Creative Director
+ Kimberly Lutz, Publications, Communications, Marketing Director
+ Travis Shook, Microsoft 365 Specialist
3DC19 – Brand Identity
Nonprofit Client Project
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3DC19 – Brand Identity
During the 2020 pandemic, 3DC19 emerged as a response to the heightened demand for PPE among frontline workers. This initiative was prompted by disruptions in the supply chain caused by the U.S. stay-at-home order.
To tackle this challenge, a group of makers, creators, and volunteers based in West Michigan collaborated to print 3D face shields, ear savers and more. This collaborative effort brought together individuals with a shared objective to address the pressing need for protective equipment.
In this collaboration, my role involved assisting the 3DC19 team in crafting a logo, icons, and brand guidelines to enhance their visibility within their communities and on social media platforms. The group and I contributed time, materials, and resources to manufacture PPE equipment free of charge for frontline workers.
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3DC19
Healthcare & Medical Products -
+ Brand Advisor
+ Concept Development
+ Creative Strategy
+ Design Direction
+ Qualitative Research
+ Visual Identity -
MKN Design Team:
+ Michael Nÿkamp, Design Director
3DC19 Stakeholders:
+ Chris Kaminsky, Co-Founder
+ Charles Elwood, Co-Founder
+ Winston Hofer, Co-Founder
+ Dugan Karnazes, Co-Founder
+ Jeff Robinson, Co-Founder
+ Stephen Wierenga, Co-Founder
Wilhelm Tell
Creative Musing
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Wilhelm Tell
A fun exploration of the Wilhelm Tell folk tale.
Onward
Creative Musing
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Onward
An orderly wordmark of marching letter forms.
Paralympic Games
Creative Musing
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Paralympic Games
Study of icons for Paralympics Games.
Loon Family
Creative Musing
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Loon Family
Loon and her nestlings floating on the water.
Universal Mickey
Creative Musing
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Universal Mickey
Merging an illustrative world globe with mickey’s ears.
Paper Airplane
Creative Musing
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Paper Airplane
Bold fill and uniformed shapes.
Mother Teresa
Creative Musing
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Mother Teresa
This could make a great guitar pick : )
Topiary Wordmark
Creative Musing
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Topiary Wordmark
Exploration developing hand-styled lettering and animation that demonstrates the definition of the word. This is a custom made typeface.
Various Clients – Brand Motion Design
Client Projects
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Various Clients – Brand Motion Design
Motion design brings logos and brand marks to life, turning static visuals into dynamic elements that engage audiences and strengthen brand storytelling.
Incorporating simple, purposeful motion into a brand not only enhances its visual appeal but also creates an emotional connection with the audience when executed thoughtfully. Beyond applying simple animation to a logo or mark, motion can tell a more engaging brand story, making it easier for customers to relate to, remember, and interact with the brand. These animated elements can also be applied across digital platforms, presentations, and social media, ensuring consistency while capturing attention in a crowded visual landscape.
Looking for assistance in establishing a brand or revitalizing an existing one, contact me!
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Various Clients
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+ Design Direction
+ Concept Development
+ Illustration
+ Motion & Animated Design
+ Storyboard Development -
MKN Design Team:
+ Michael Nÿkamp, Design Director
Stakeholders:
+ Various Clients
Young Mr. Tumnus
Creative Musing
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Young Mr. Tumnus
As a child, I adored Mr. Tumnus's character for his timid yet gleeful demeanor, his kind-hearted nature, and his occasional moments of somber reflection in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe."
Illustration Credit: AF Fotografie / Bridgeman Images. Photograph of colored illustration by Pauline Baynes (1922-2008) from a 2014 edition published by HarperCollins.
Pink Robin
Creative Musing
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Pink Robin
The Pink Robin is native to southern Australia and is a small tubby bird.
Chess Pieces
Product
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Chess Pieces
Fun illustration study of chess characters with rosy cheeks. From Left to Right: Rook, Knight, Queen, King, Bishop, and Pawn.
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This icon set is available for purchase, email me for licensing and cost.
Aggressive Bulls
Creative Musing
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Aggressive Bulls
Exploring different simplified bull illustrations, the right emulates cave paintings while the other adopts a sleek minimalist approach.
Girl
Creative Musing + Product
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Girl
Enjoyable illustrative explorations with motion.
Yield French Press
Creative Musing
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Yield French Press
Simple exploded technical illustration of a French Press and its components. Product designed by Yield.
Otter Books
Creative Musing
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Otter Books
Exploration of two logo concepts for a fictitious book publisher The mark is paired with Utopia designed by Robert Slimbach. From Adobe Originals.
Global Sustainability Council
Creative Musing