Become Mark Exploration

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Client Work

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Become Mark Exploration
I was hired by Become to develop their brand messaging framework and new identity. With the first phase completed we had language that helped create these concept marks. While the new identity has not launched, I wanted to share these initial concept explorations—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Not all of these explorations were shown to the client, but they all played a crucial part in shaping the final brand identity.

• Client:

  Coldbreak
  Portable Draft Beverage Systems

• Services:

  + Brand Advisor
  + Concept Development
  + Creative Strategy
  + Design Direction
  + Qualitative Research
  + Visual Identity

• Team:

  MKN Design Team:
  + Michael Nÿkamp, Design Director & Strategist
  + Rob Monacelli, Strategist
  + Nate Netti, Brand Copywriter
  
  Union Media Stakeholders:
  + Ryan Montgomery, Chief Executive Officer
  + Andrea Montgomery, Managing Editor
  + David Schofield, Designer

• Related:

  → View the completed Become Identity.

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Pink Robin

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Independent Work

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Pink Robin
The Pink Robin is native to southern Australia and is a small tubby bird.

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Chess Pieces

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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.

• Buy this Icon Set:

  This icon set is available for purchase, email me for licensing and cost.

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Aggressive Bulls

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Independent Work

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Aggressive Bulls
Exploring different simplified bull illustrations, the right emulates cave paintings while the other adopts a sleek minimalist approach.

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Girl

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Independent Work

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Girl
Enjoyable illustrative explorations with motion.

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Yield French Press

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Independent Work

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Yield French Press
Simple exploded technical illustration of a French Press and its components. Product designed by Yield.

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Otter Books

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Independent Work

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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.

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Global Sustainability Council

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Independent Work

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Global Sustainability Council
Combination of hand and globe to create this mid-century style logo.

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Cloud Castle

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Independent Work

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Cloud Castle
Solid shapes and negative space.

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Yikes!

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Independent Work

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Yikes!
A jolting wordmark expression exercise. This badge is paired with the typeface Poppins designed by Jonny Pinhorn and Ninad Kale from Google.

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Farout

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Product

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Farout
Using my custom display typeface, Flying Dutchman and added a 2-D effect I placed the word farout on a classic deck by Moose Skateboards.

• Buy this Display Typeface:

  Farout was created using the Flying Dutchman display typeface. If you're interested in purchasing this typeface, please email email me for licensing and cost.

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Illustrious Peacock

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Independent Work

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Illustrious Peacock
Fun illustrative exploration, though it was difficult to get the tail feather effect I wanted.

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Francophone du Canada

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Independent Work

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Francophone du Canada
The French-speaking population of Canada lacks a distinctive symbol that encapsulates the relationship between Canada's national emblem, the maple leaf, and Quebec's Fleur-de-lis. For those unfamiliar, Francophones refer to French-Canadians who are descendants of French pioneers. These include Acadians, Quebecois, and other French-speaking communities that were established in the 19th and 20th centuries. This study aimed to explore ways to bridge the gap between French-speaking and English-speaking Canadians. To achieve this, I simplified Stuart Ash's Centennial Symbol (1967) and updated the design of the Fleur-de-lis, integrating it into the emblem. This combined logo was then paired with Canada's federal identity program. The Francophone du Canada mark is paired with Helvetica designed by Linotype Design Studio in 1961 and Max Miedinger.

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Pelican in Flight

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Independent Work

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Pelican in Flight
Study of a pelican flying.

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Adobe Characters

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Independent Work

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Adobe Characters
Adobe Illustrator tools transformed into energetic walking, skateboarding, and roller skating characters. Right image characters names, from left to right: direct select, pen, magic wand, selection, sprayer, color palette, hand, eraser, brush, fill box, eyedropper, measure ruler, slice, stroke, layers palette and Adobe Illustrator mark.

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Umbrella Co.

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Independent Work

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Umbrella Co.
Simple lines and a bold shape. The logo’s mark is paired with the typeface Stolzl designed by Mariya Lish from Inhouse Type Foundry.

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Black Cat

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Independent Work

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Black Cat
Sly cat

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Fruit Salad

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Independent Work

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Fruit Salad
This minimal exploration through fruit illustrations offers a revealing perspective on how circles establish the fundamental framework for crafting their intricate shapes, employing symmetry in the process.

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Beacon

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Independent Work

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Beacon
A simple logo symbolizing guidance. The mark is paired with Proxima Nova, designed by Mark Simonson from Mark Simonson Studio.

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Space Invaders

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Independent Work

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Space Invaders
These illustrations were explorations of hand location/position while holding a phone. It was boring with blank screens so I added the vintage Apple logo and Space Invaders.

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