Flagship

Creative Musing

—
Flagship
Wordmark for Flagship. The typeface I used is Good Headline designed by Łukasz Dziedzic from FontFont.

 

Holiday Stroll

Product

—
Holiday Stroll
Happy Holidays! Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season.

 

  • Holiday Stroll is currently unavailable for purchase. Please check back after Thanksgiving 2024. Check out more graphic tees on my Cotton Bureau profile page. All Cotton Bureau apparel comes in a variety of clothing types, styles, fits, sizes, materials, and colors.

Amazon, After Hour Hero

Article + Creative Musing

—
Amazon, After Hour Hero
A conceptual advertisement concept I created for Amazon spotlighting their dedicated drivers and their commitment to after-hour deliveries. The visual emphasis is the delivery truck’s distinctive look and warm glow from its front lights, serving as a friendly delivery beacon. The copy establishes a personal connection with the reader, emphasizing Amazon's dedication to timely and reliable service, even if it’s after hours.

 

Crayola Crayons Poster

Product

—
Crayola Crayons Poster
During my childhood, one of the highlights preparing for the first day of school was going school shopping and selecting a brand new box of crayons. I recall carefully unwrapping the box, ensuring not to tear the packaging and being greeted by its unique waxy scent. These illustrated posters are a tribute to this moment and to all who remember the scent and the joy of creating coloring masterpieces. The left poster is a 24 pack of Crayola Crayons with a Walmart price tag and the right poster is the unboxed pack of Crayola Crayons.

 

  • Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain a license from Crayola to sell these vibrant illustrative posters.

Skull & Bones

Product

—
Skull & Bones
For a limited time some of the icons I created for Halloween will be available on graphic tees at Cotton Bureau. I’ve paired the icons with the typeface Metalista designed by Tomáš Brousil from Suitcase Type Foundry.

 

  • Skull & Bones (top right tee) is the only available tee in this series to purchase (check back in early October 2024 to purchase the others). Peruse more graphic tees on my Cotton Bureau profile page. All Cotton Bureau apparel comes in a variety of clothing types, styles, fits, sizes, materials, and colors.

Notcha Tacos

Product

—
Notcha Tacos
Pronounced, Not-Cha-Tacos. Utilizing some past work I illustrated this fun tacos restaurant logo. The mark is paired with the typeface, CC Sign Language designed by John Roshell and Richard Starkings from Comicraft.

 

Sum

Product

—
Sum
While I am not a professional type designer, I have a passion for creating custom typefaces. I just finished this display numerical typeface, called Sum. This font comprises six sizes: Light, Regular, Semibold, Bold, Black, and Heavy. Engaging in studies like this is beneficial for graphic designers., as it enables them to comprehend the intricacies of typeface formation. This knowledge is particularly valuable when crafting a bespoke typeface for a brand.
 

 

  • Sum is available for purchase. Email me for licensing and cost.

MKN Design Reel

Article + Client Project

—
MKN Design Reel
Do you like what you see? Well, I’d like to work with you. If you're looking for an experienced independent (freelance) Art Director, Designer, and Illustrator, or if you know of any companies seeking short or long-term project contracts or retainers, feel free to contact me via email.

 

  • The design and illustrative projects within this reel are a combination of strategic branding, environmental design, iconography, illustration, graphic design, and packaging.

GEM

Creative Musing

—
GEM
A simplification of a sapphire gem paired with the variable typeface, New York designed by Apple. New York is a serif companion to Apple’s San Franciso-type series, it features six weights and features variable optical sizes. The 'G' in the wordmark was adjusted to mirror the shape of the gem, enhancing balance and symmetry of the combination mark.

 

Carbon Cycle – Infographic Design

Client Project

—
Carbon Cycle – Infographic Design
Creating and illustrating a carbon cycle infographic for a major producer of sustainable lumber, pulp, and paper. Our task was to clearly communicate the client's approach to combating climate change while showcasing their strong commitment to environmental sustainability.

The goal was to streamline a complex sustainability concept, making it visually captivating and ensuring the audience was able to comprehend the initiative. The final infographic was simple and friendly, conveying the client’s message of responsible environmental stewardship and dedication to a greener, more sustainable future.

 

  • Peopledesign
    Branding Agency

  • + Concept Development
    + Design & Layout
    + Illustration
    + Sketching & Ideation
    + Qualitative Research

  • MKN Design Team:
    + Michael Nÿkamp, Graphic Designer & Illustrator

    Peopledesign Stakeholder:
    + Yang Kim, Principal and Executive Creative Director

Jazz

Creative Musing

—
Jazz
An design exercise updating the Jazz Journal wordmark (a magazine produced from 1946–2019). The revised wordmark took from its past and present characteristics to envision a new wordmark with a modern flare.

 

  • Photo of Louis Armstrong, 1953. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

Chronicles of Narnia

Creative Musing

—
Chronicles of Narnia
This emblem is based on my favorite book series as a kid, Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. The crest illustrates Cair Paravel Rampart (top), Aslan (center), and Archenland Coat of Arms (bottom).

 

FluMist® – Packaging Design System

Client Project

—
FluMist® – Packaging Design System
VML hired me as a packaging specialist to create a distinctive design for AstraZeneca’s FluMist®, including physical prototypes and instructional illustrations.

Given the innovative delivery method—a single-dose nasal spray rather than a traditional needle—this project also demanded a creative approach to the visual design and unboxing experience. Our design approach was dual- focused, targeting both parents and children and included exterior and interior design considerations.

The system included a clear visual guide for administering the dose, reminder stickers, and the physical dose mechanism, all designed to work cohesively within the overall experience.

To achieve an approachable, refined, and safe feel for the design and unboxing experience, we incorporated the brand’s vibrant color palette, friendly typography, and playful illustrations. Our goal was to instill a sense of trustworthiness, friendliness, and clarity in both the exterior and interior packaging while ensuring all strict FDA packaging regulations were prominently displayed. This approach created an unboxing experience that was engaging, clear, and professional, balancing approachability and safety.

Successful packaging begins with a deep understanding of who it’s being designed for, guiding both the visual direction and overall strategy. Equally important is having the expertise to design and develop physical mock-ups, which help identify structural requirements and limitations before applying the visual design. Creating these mock-ups further strengthens the process by providing real-world insight into how the structure, materials, and design elements work together. This ensures that the visual and structural components align seamlessly with the overall design goals, especially within strict pharmaceutical guidelines.

 

  • AstraZeneca
    Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology

  • + Communication Design
    + Concept Development
    + Creative Assets
    + Instructional Illustration
    + Physical Prototyping
    + Photoshop & Physical Mockups
    + Qualitative Research
    + Unboxing Experience

  • MKN Design Team:
    + Michael Nÿkamp, Graphic Designer and Illustrator

    VML  Stakeholder:
    + David Swearingen, Group Design Director
    +     AstraZeneca, FluMist Marketing Department

Dowel Plant Stand

Creative Musing

—
Dowel Plant Stand
During my downtime, not only do I like to illustrate, but I like to design and build small woodworking projects, like this Dowel Plant Stand. Made from Poplar and constructed only using wood and glue.

 

  • These plans are available to purchase, email me for cost.

Spooky Cat

Creative Musing

—
Spooky Cat
Getting into the Halloween spirit by creating illustrations of two spooky black cats. Which one do you prefer, three-eyed cat or the ordinary one?

 

KitchenAid – Packaging Design System

Client Project

—
KitchenAid – Packaging Design System
We were hired by KitchenAid to collaborate with their team of designers, engineers, photographers, and food stylists to define, develop, and design innovative packaging concepts for their award winning appliance products.

When KitchenAid approached me, they weren’t just looking to refresh their packaging—they were looking to reimagine how their iconic products could better connect to consumers, stand out on store shelves alongside competing brands, and reflect the modern, design-forward brand they had become. At the same time, they wanted to ensure that any evolution stayed rooted in the heritage that made KitchenAid a household name—especially with their globally recognized stand mixer.

Building on research and consumer insights from the first phase, we developed a clear design strategy to guide multiple packaging concepts—showcasing KitchenAid’s products as innovative, high-quality, and reinforcing the brand’s position as a leader in kitchen appliances.

When we audited the existing packaging, it became evident that it no longer reflected the expectations of today’s consumers or the evolution of KitchenAid’s products. In a market moving toward bold simplicity, clean visual storytelling, and modern minimalism, the packaging appeared dark, cluttered, and outdated.

The design challenge was clear—reimagine the packaging in a way that honored KitchenAid’s heritage, spoke directly to today’s consumers, and embraced a modern visual language. To support this evolution, we also conceptualized a modern iconography language and illustrative system that could seamlessly integrate across the new packaging.

Working closely with the internal KitchenAid team, we began by diving into consumer insights, packaging trends, and design systems across related industries while also bringing our own creative perspective to the process. From this research, we developed a series of concepts built on a refined visual language that combined bespoke product illustrations with photography to drive storytelling, supported by iconography, color, and typography. All of this was organized within a thoughtful packaging system that could extend across product lines and packaging sizes, reinforcing the brand while prioritizing clarity and consumer engagement.

The final result was a flexible, strategic packaging system that scaled across all products—unmistakably KitchenAid, while reinforcing the brand and putting clarity and consumer engagement at the forefront.

This project came to life through a true cross-disciplinary partnership. Designers, packaging engineers, photographers, and CMF teams each brought their own craft, perspective, and problem-solving to the table—layering ideas, refining details, and ultimately shaping the final packaging concepts together.

↑ Original KitchenAid Packaging

 

  • KitchenAid
    Kitchen Appliance Manufacturing

  • + Branded Iconography
    + Communication Design
    + Concept Development
    + Consumer & Trend Research
    + Iconography System Design
    + Instructional Illustration
    + Photoshop & Physical Mock-ups
    + Product Research
    + Qualitative Research

  • MKN Design Team:
    + Michael Nÿkamp, Graphic Designer and Illustrator

    KitchenAid  Team/Stakeholders:
    + Brian Edlefson, Global Creative Manager
    + Heather Tucker, Contract Art Director
    + Katie Mubita, Senior CMF Designer
    +     Calvin Beisiege, Graphics Strategy, Brand & Trends
    +     Ashley Klee, Global Graphic Designer 
    + Steven Tillstrom, Global Graphic Designer

The Midwest Coast

Product

—
The Midwest Coast
A badge-inspired design from my home state of Michigan and its pristine coastline. The inspiration came from our family trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes, National Park—it’s just one of the many places to experience Michigan’s wonderful coast.

 

  • The Midwest Coast is currently not available. Check back in early June 2024. View additional graphic tee’s on my Cotton Bureau profile page. All Cotton Bureau apparel comes in a variety of clothing types, styles, fits, sizes, materials, and colors.