Independent Work
Flagship
Panda
Product
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Panda
Mark exploration featuring a panda framed within a rectangular form and paired with a handcrafted typeface for a strong, recognizable presence.
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Panda graphic tee is available for purchase. 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.
Kindly
Independent Work
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Kindly
The aim of this type design exercise was to capture the essence of the name, kindly. I’m not a type designer and crafting this lowercase typeface was challenging. Nonetheless, I'm always eager to tackle new challenges.
Hello
Independent Work
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Hello
A very cramped hello wordmark featuring a custom typeface designed by me.
Keepsake
Independent Work
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Keepsake
Design exploration to match the word "Keepsake" with a typeface. I settled on the typeface URW Antiqua designed by URW Type Foundry for its balanced combination of thick and thin strokes, giving it an elegant and approachable feel.
Become – Brand Strategy & Brand Identity
Phase I: Understand + Discovery
Phase II: Ideate + Define + Develop
Phase III: Execute + Deliver
Client Work
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Become – Brand Strategy & Brand Identity
Become engaged us to develop its brand foundation, including research, naming, messaging, and visual identity. With a mission to connect individuals, schools, and businesses through data-driven insights, the platform needed a brand that could communicate both clarity and purpose. I gathered a team of independent collaborators and partnered with stakeholders to develop and craft a complete brand design system across messaging, naming, and visual identity.
Leading my team through the planning, development, and design of the Become brand identity, I guided a comprehensive process that distilled insights from audience and stakeholder interviews to establish the foundation of the brand. This foundation defined the brand’s tone, voice, and visual direction. As the work progressed, additional research, journey mapping, exploration, brand architecture, and iterative design refined the system into a simple, meaningful, and approachable brand. The process culminated in a comprehensive set of brand guidelines.
The ‘Become’ wordmark was developed as a bespoke display typeface. Its rounded letterforms and considered spacing were intentionally designed to convey approachability and create a clean, open visual rhythm. Additionally, the ‘m’—with its stem gently nudging the ‘e’—introduces a quiet gesture of encouragement and momentum.
This simple alteration embodies the concept of 'Become' as a companion throughout one's professional journey. Additionally, this modification transforms the tense of the word from future to present, implying that individuals can embrace their current selves or evolve into something new.
“MKN Design served as a patient and adept navigator during our brand discovery expedition. His guidance enabled us to gain profound insights into our company's identity. Although the outcome was unexpected, it perfectly aligned with our aspirations. None of this would have happened without him and for that, we are very grateful.”
Ryan Montgomery
Chief Executive Officer, Union Media
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Become
Educational Tech & Test Preparation -
+ Brand Advisor
+ Brand Strategy
+ Concept Development
+ Creative Assets
+ Creative Strategy
+ Design Direction
+ Naming
+ Qualitative Research
+ Visual Identity -
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
Vessel
Independent Work
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Vessel
An elegant combination mark for a memorial urns business. The mark is paired with the typeface Niagara designed by Tobias Frere-Jones from Frere-Jones Type.
Jabber
Independent Work
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Jabber
Matching the visual essence of a word into a wordmark. The typeface that I used is Proxima Nova designed by Mark Simonson from Mark Simonson Studio.
The Well – Brand Identity
Client Work
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The Well – Brand Identity
The Well Initiative is a place of gathering, conversation, and community. Formed by a group of fellow believers who felt an urgency and awareness of the racial disparities in our country and the desire to better love to our neighbors and community.
Like the priest and the Levite who pass by on the other side of the road to avoid the man who lies dying (Luke 10), we also have ignored the historic as well as present suffering of those around us, often in the context of race. The Well comes together across generations, political lines, and various backgrounds to humbly listen, learn, and engage with open hearts and minds.
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The Well
Seymour CRC -
+ Brand Advisor
+ Concept Development
+ Design Direction
+ Qualitative Research
+ Visual Identity -
MKN Design Team:
+ Michael Nÿkamp, Design DirectorSeymour Stakeholders:
+ Brian White
+ Brent Beams
+ Rachelle Bosma
+ Sara White
Basin
Independent Work
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Basin
Exploration for a combination mark for a lavatory company. The mark is paired with the typeface Kepler designed by Robert Slimbach from Adobe Originals.
Kudo
Independent Work
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Kudo
A hand-lettered wordmark study on the word Kudo, meaning praise and honor received for an achievement. This is a custom made typeface.
Onward
Independent Work
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Onward
An orderly wordmark of marching letter forms.
Yikes!
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.
Farout
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.
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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.
Void
Independent Work
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Void
Visual exploration.
Z E P H Y R
Independent Work