Independent Work
Truman Cage – Brand Identity
↓ Truman Cage alternate logo concept directions
Client Work
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Truman Cage – Brand Identity
John Swihart is a versatile artist whose work spans music performance, film and television composition, and electronic EDM production under the alias Truman Cage.
I was surprised to get a call from John, who shared that he’d been following my branding and illustration and wanted me to develope a logo for his electronic persona—something distinctive that he’d genuinely connect with. His brief was simple: incorporate the letters “T” and “C,” enclosed within a box. The final logo direction (shown at the top), with a handful of additional concepts below that he loved but ultimately didn’t make the cut.
His notable contributions include crafting the score for the iconic movie Napoleon Dynamite which won Golden Satellite Award for best Original Score. He also produced the music for How I Met Your Mother, alongside various other impressive works.
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John Swihart
Musician & Composer -
+ Brand Advisor
+ Concept Development
+ Creative Strategy
+ Design Direction
+ Qualitative Research
+ Visual Identity -
MKN Design Team:
+ Michael Nÿkamp, Design DirectorTruman Cage Stakeholder:
+ John Swihart, Musician & Composer
Death of a Lotus
Independent Work
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Death of a Lotus
Some quick stylistic illustrations created in my downtime today.
OK Tuna
Independent Work
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OK Tuna
Mimicking a fish through imitating Japanese characters for this mark. The ‘O’ and ‘K’ letterforms where custom illustrated for this mark.
Leica M
Independent Work
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Leica M
I love the simplicity of physical products, like Leica’s cameras. This simplicity mirrors my approach to design and illustration, as shown by this illustration of the Leica M.
Flight of the Crane
Independent Work
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Flight of the Crane
Inspired, I created this modern and balanced symmetrical illustration of a crane launching for take-off.
Spicy Ramen
Independent Work
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Spicy Ramen
After eating some spicy ramen, I had the idea to illustrate this.
Herman Miller Threads – Portrait Illustrations
Client Work
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Herman Miller Threads – Portrait Illustrations
At the heart of the furniture manufacturer's legacy lies its iconic pieces and the visionary designers behind them, such as Alexander Girard, and Ray and Charles Eames. "Threads" is a presentation and conversation lead by former graphic designer Steve Frykholm and writer Clark Malcolm. They weave Herman Miller's rich history of design innovation, its embrace of new ideas and talents through captivating narratives that shaped Herman Miller's 111-year journey. Because of my illustrative portrait line style, I was commissioned to create illustrations tailored to complement the theme of "threads."
Because of my former work in simple line portraits and having already completed a portrait of Steve, I was approached to create a portrait of Clark. These portraits were seamlessly woven into promotional and presentation materials, tailored to complement the theme of "Threads."
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Herman Miller (MillerKnoll)
Furniture Design & Manufacturing -
+ Portrait Illustration
+ Sketching & Ideation -
MKN Design Team:
+ Michael Nÿkamp, IllustratorHerman Miller Stakeholders:
+ Mark Beard, Art Director
+ Kathy Keating, Senior Manager, Brand Design Operations -
My portrait series, formally called Facebook Friends started as a self initiated project illustrating my friends on Facebook. This endeavor evolved into illustrating portraits of speakers for CanUX Conference, and numerous portraits for friends and clients.An article titled "Face Behind the Faces" was written about me and the portrait series.
Earth Day
Independent Work
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Earth Day
Illustration I created for Earth Day (Hug the world). While sketching this idea, I recall this quote from The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss, “I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.” Please respect, restore, replenish the only home we have.
Russian Hare
Independent Work
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Russian Hare
I had this idea, a Russian Hare grasping his Fabergé egg in my head and thought it was a perfect time to execute the idea for Easter.
AWK Clayworks – Brand Identity
Client Work
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AWK Clayworks – Brand Identity
Alyssa Westenbroek-Koster established AWK Clayworks with a purpose to create clayworks that elevate daily routines, beautify living spaces, and provide comfort in quiet moments. Alyssa started her professional career operating out her studio in Boulder, Colorado where she designs and crafts claywear that is simple, sophisticated and adored with rich and muted color glazes. Alyssa reached out to me to create a professional brand for her business instead of relying solely on her handwritten signature for her pottery.
Collaborating with Alyssa, I gathered insights that shaped her brand. These insights were gleaned through a series of interviews and a deep understanding of her personality, style, and process. Leveraging this understanding, I developed multiple concepts and iterations. The final logo encapsulated her brand—a bold yet confident, simple, and sophisticated feel that extended to stationery for her business.
Photography by Alyssa Westenbroek-Koster & Heather Kegel
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AWK Clayworks
Independent Pottery Studio -
+ Brand Advisor
+ Concept Development
+ Creative Strategy
+ Design Direction
+ Qualitative Research
+ Visual Identity -
MKN Design Team:
+ Michael Nÿkamp, Design DirectorAWK Clayworks Stakeholder:
+ Alyssa Westenbroek-Koster, Owner & Ceramic Artist
To Good For You Chicken Noodle Soup
Independent Work
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To Good For You Chicken Noodle Soup
This past weekend, I had a fun visual idea of a snobby chicken and chicken noddle soap. Sketching out some initial concepts, I developed multiple illustrative iterations to this completed illustration. From conception to final illustration took close to 3 hours.
Rethinking Math Workbooks
Independent Work
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Rethinking Math Workbooks
During my childhood, I despised math and often wondered if it was due to how it was taught and presented. Perhaps it was, perhaps not. Even now, I feel my kids math workbooks are unapproachable. So, I thought create a cover series for simple math workbooks – taking my youngest sons math workbook, I stripped it down to its bare essentials, and gave it a complete rebranding. The typeface I used for this design is DIN Condensed Variable, designed by Isabella Chaeva and Tagir Safayev from Paratype.
Illustration Society
Article
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Illustration Society
I contributed several limited edition screen prints from the Citizen Project, specifically the poster Thirteen Stripes, Fifty Stars, to the Illustration Society, Silent Auction (organized by Kendall College of Art and Design). The proceeds will support Kendall’s illustration program and Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.
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Thirteen Stripes, Fifty Stars are limited edition screen prints, they are available for purchase in my shop.
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Read an article about the Citizen Project by Emily Pots from Against The Grain.
Merchandise Mart – Architectural Illustration
Client Work
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Merchandise Mart – Architectural Illustration
I was approached by The Integer Group to license the minimalist Merchandise Mart illustration I created several years prior. The iconic illustration was used for promotional and invitation materials for the grand opening of Pella Windows' new store front, Pella Crafted Luxury in Chicago, Illinois.
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Pella via The Interger Group
Architectural Products & Luxury Home Furnishings -
+ Architectural Illustration
+ Sketching & Ideation -
MKN Design Team:
+ Michael Nÿkamp, IllustratorStakeholder:
+ Lisa Braden, Art Director
+ Jeanette Eckhardt, Director of Content Production
MCM Numbers
Independent Work
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MCM Numbers
Illustration of simple concentric MCM numbers. The numbers are a custom typeface designed for this exercise.
Putting Your Brand To Use
Article
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Putting Your Brand To Use
Lucy Engleman and I spoke at the Kendall College of Art and Design Career Symposium on building your brand as a freelancer. This event was held at Fountain Street Church. The talk focused on the importance of building a brand (or ego), either as an freelancer or in search of full-time employment.
Presentation Key Takeaways
• Looking at the current freelance landscape—market, location, competition, potential clients.
• Professional practices presenting yourself via social media and a personal website.
• The importance in expressing your personality, identity, style.
• Professionally curating yourself via social media, personal website, networking and joining organizations.
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View Putting Your Brand To Use the presentation.
Woosah & The Illustration League Workshop
Article
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Woosah & The Illustration League Workshop
A small group of ambitious individuals attended our lino-cut print workshop yesterday at Woosah Outfitters—lots of good discussion and great prints. Thank you to Woosah's, Erica Lang for helping put this event on with TIL and her time with educating us on lino cutting and printing. A special thanks to Molly Singleterry of Spectacle Design Studio for coming and taking photos of the event. Also, thanks to Central Michigan Paper for providing us paper.
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+ Building An Illustration Community – Rapid Growth Article
+ Community of Illustrators
+ Woosah & The Illustration League Workshop
House Industries Studio
Article
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House Industries Studio
I had a great Creative Mornings event this morning with David Dodde on work ethic. He is a self-taught, award winning artist, designer, and print maker and his body of work is meticulous beautiful. Love his silkscreen Home Sweet Home doormat he created for his studio.
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Learn more about David Dodde via his website.
King Coal
Independent Work