I’m driven by equal parts thoughtfulness, acumen, and craft. My work lives at the intersection of design and illustration, where shapes, colors, and forms collide with strategically rooted solutions.
Opened in 2004, Michael nurtures close, collaborative partnerships. Instead of working for you, I work with you—and value transparency from the beginning to the end of the process.
Simplifying the complex is hard. But it’s what I strive to do. That goes for the design we create and the partnerships we foster. Because in a world that’s complicated, simple just works.
If you value expertly crafted design driven by deep experience and a true partnership, let’s talk!
Studio Principle & Process
My studio principles and process guide our think- ing and approach. They’ll tell you a lot about the way I work, take a look.
As the owner and creative director of MKN Design, I work with a roster of independent collaborators. This allows me to scale as needed and tailor each client project to its unique goals.
Partial Client List:
I work with a diverse group of clients across a variety of industries.
Accolades and Awards:
• Graphis, Designers for Peace Competition – Honorable Mention (2022)
• Broad Stripes, Bright Stars – Displayed at Ely Center of Contemporary Arts (2017)
• Monsa Publications – Featured work of Urban Totem for the book, Skate, Surf and Art (2017)
• Dwell Magazine – Featured in the issue of Dwell Magazine, December (2016)
• Design for Good, Identity System – AIGA Behance Project Feature (2015)
• AIGA, University of Baltimore – O! Say, Can You Design a Poster? – Award of Excellence (2014)
• AIGA Philadelphia Animate! – Fellow Award Gif Animation (2014)
• Communication Arts – Typography Annual Award (2014)
• American Advertising Awards – Creative Excellence for Steelcase.com (2000)
• Heinz Jordan Award – Best in Show, Sheridan College and Heinz Jordan (1998)
Published Work and Articles:
• SoulDoodles - Interview, 3 Steps to Create (2021)
• Playbook – Interview with Michael Nÿkamp (2021)
• Rapid Growth Media – Building an Illustration Community (2017)
• Monsa Publications – Skate, Surf & Art (2017)
• AIGA Detroit – Member Spotlight (2017)
• Rapid Growth Media – Rapid Blog: Building An Illustration Community (2017)
• 360modern – Finding Meaningful Expression through Design and Illustration (2017)
• Moss Yaw Design Studio – The Intersection of Architecture and Illustration (2016)
• Dwell – 7 People to Follow on Dwell Right Now (2016)
• Nook – Redesigning Nook’s Search With Style Architecture Icons (2016)
• CanUX – Face Behind the Faces (2014)
• Neenah Paper – Collaboration, Freedom, Purpose (2014)
• Rapid Growth – A Designer, a Typographer and an Illustrator Walk into a Bar (2014)
• The Rapidian – Artists Collaborate to Raise Awareness of Area Design Talent (2014)
• Mutually Human, blog post – Countdown to MWUX (2013)
• MiBiz – The Art of Hustling: Freelancers finding balance (2013)
Speaking Engagements:
• Biz of Consulting (Independent Professionals Group) – Managing the Client Pipeline (2020)
• AIGA Detroit – Career Path + Freelance Advice (2020)
• Ferris State University College of Business – The Importance of Process (2020)
• Entrepreneurial Gold Podcast – Entrepreneurship in graphic design and illustrative (2017)
• Calvin College – What can design and designers achieve (2017)
• AIGA – Thoughts on Design, panel discussion (2017)
• University of Notre Dame – So You Want to be a Designer (2016)
• Kendall College of Art and Design – Building Your Brand/Ego (2015)