Independent Work
Kindness Is Magic
St. Joseph City Hall
Client Work
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St. Joseph City Hall – Illustration
Thesis is a design agency nestled in St. Joseph, Michigan, their process is embodied in their name and distinctive approach. Collaborating with a diverse clientele spanning from startups to Fortune 100, they craft innovative solutions tailored to each client's needs. Among their clients was Old City Hall, the very building that housed their business. Thesis approached me to lend a hand with their branding endeavor.
I was asked to develop a minimalist illustration of the Old City Hall. The subsequent work was completed by Thesis and integrated into comprehensive branding system and wayfinding signage for the building.
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Old City Hall via Thesis
City of St. Joseph, Michigan -
+ Illustration
+ Sketching & Ideation -
MKN Design Team:
+ Michael Nÿkamp, IllustratorThesis Stakeholders:
+ Brian Edlefson, Founding Principal & Creative Director
+ Mark Cook, Founding Principal
Postal Mark
Creative Work
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Postal Mark
A modern interpretation of an old postal mark.
AIGA Detroit – Member Spotlight
Article
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AIGA Detroit – Member Spotlight
Big thank you to AIGA Detroit for featuring me and my work on their website and future e-newsletter. I hope to make it down soon.
David's Eye
Independent Work
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David's Eye
Illustration inspired by the quote from Thomas Carlyle, "The depth of our despair measures what capability and height of claim we have to hope."
Community of Illustrators
Article
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Community of Illustrators
Illustration is a vital part of graphic design. As a person who is a graphic designer and illustrator I’ve found there is a lack of understanding about illustration, licensing, how illustrators work, best practices, and ethics. Because of this, Lucy Engelman and I started The Illustration League. The mark is paired with the typeface Filson Pro designed by Olivier Gourvat from Mostardesign. Postcard design & illustration by Libby VanderPloeg.
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→ Building An Illustration Community – Rapid Growth Article
→ The Illustration League Identity
→ Woosah & The Illustration League Workshop
John Lennon
Independent Work
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John Lennon
Simplified portrait of John Lennon.
Canada 150
Independent Work
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Canada 150
I designed this anniversary mark for Canada’s 150th celebration. The mark features a maple leaf bursting like fireworks, embodying Canada's iconic Maple Leaf while also representing the unity of its citizens. The mark is paired with the typeface ATF Alternate Gothic designed by American Type Founders Collection.
Birth Of Peace
Independent Work
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Birth Of Peace
An illustration inspired by the words of Sri Chinmoy, “War forgets peace. Peace forgives war.” From the poem, War & Peace.
Dueling Cherries
Independent Work
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Dueling Cherries
Pattern exercise with one illustrated cherry cluster. From illustration to the pattern, to product application.
Suburban Rooftops Poster
Product
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Suburban Rooftops Poster
A cluttered illustrative representation of endless America’s suburban rooftops.
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Suburban Rooftops print is available for purchase in my shop.
Pollution's Monster
Independent Work
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Pollution's Monster
Illustration inspired by the quote from Al Gore, “Pollution should never be the price of prosperity”
The Guardian
Independent Work
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The Guardian
A simplified and modernized interpretation of a Lion Passant was used as a heraldic symbol in the early 14th century. The logo's mark is paired with the typeface Rama Slab designed by Ryoichi Tsunekawa from Dharma Type.
Bluejay & Cardinal
Independent Work
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Bluejay & Cardinal
Illustration and type exploration from this past weekend. Simplified Bluejay and Cardinal illustration paired with the typeface, Sofia Pro designed by Olivier Gourvat from Mostardesign. C'est fantastique!
Lion Book Publishing Co.
Independent Work
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Lion Book Publishing Co.
Dedicated to independent authors and their stories. The typeface utilized around the mark is ATF Franklin Gothic by American Type Founders Collection.
Uneasy Eye
Independent Work
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Uneasy Eye
Simple little illustration and animated gif to give it life.
King Lear
Independent Work
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King Lear
Simple lines to create this portrait of King Lear for a book jacket. The typeface used on this book jacket is ITC Franklin Gothic designed by Morris Fuller Benton from Monotype.
Panel Discussion & Portfolio Review
Article
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Panel Discussion & Portfolio Review
Over the weekend, I dedicated my morning to attending "WIP it into Shape," a panel discussion and portfolio review tailored for design students in West Michigan. The event provided an invaluable platform for emerging talents in the design field. Panelists included: Emily Boyd, Sarah Brockett, and Carlos Estrada. This day was organized by AIGA West Michigan, curated by Studio_Us and graciously hosted and sponsored by Atomic Object.
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Program design and photography by two kind and talented humans, Bree and Ross Tanner from Studio_Us.
Camp Pine
Independent Work
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Camp Pine
A square, retro mid-century logo with repetitive modern aesthetics. The typeface was custom designed to fit a campy feel.
House Books
Client Work
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House Books – Brand Identity
I collaborated with Goodprint on numerous projects, including the production of a diverse range of notebooks tailored for different audiences, such as Enré and Nelos Sketch Books. Notably, one of their flagship products is Vela, a specialized lab notebook designed for researchers within the scientific industry, marketed under the brand name Vela Sciences®.
I paired the mark with the typeface URW Bodoni designed by Giambattista Bodoni from URW Type Foundry. To amplify its impact, the selected typeface letters where adjusted to align and suit the upper and lower words of House Books to augment its visibility and presence.
House Books was an endevor focused on notebooks tailored for writers. My involvement included the development of its logo. Leveraging its literal name, I employed simple line resembling a roof to aptly symbolize House Books.
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Goodprint
Printing Services -
+ Brand Advisor
+ Concept Development
+ Creative Assets
+ Design Direction
+ Qualitative Research
+ Visual Identity -
MKN Design Team:
+ Michael Nÿkamp, Design DirectorGoodprint Stakeholder:
+ Tyler Richardson, Founder