Chronicles is a repository of articles, client projects, creative musings and products.

 

All content is copyrighted by MKN Design. Reproduction without express written consent is prohibited. To license a specific illustration or design, please contact me via email.

Visser Automotive

Creative Musing
January 2024

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Visser Automotive
This logo development was an design exercise for my brother-in-laws automotive repair shop in Waterford, Ontario, Canada. I paired the mark with the typeface Sneaker Pro designed by Neil Summerour from Positype.

 

Flagship

Creative Musing
December 2023

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Flagship
Wordmark for Flagship. The typeface I used is Good Headline Pro designed by Łukasz Dziedzic from FontFont.

 

Holiday Stroll

Creative Musing
October 2023

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Holiday Stroll
Happy Holidays! Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season.

Buy this Tee
Holiday Stroll is currently unavailable for purchase. Please check back after Thanksgiving 2024 or pursue my entire collection of graphic tees on Cotton Bureau.

Amazon, After Hour Hero

Creative Musing
October 2023

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Amazon, After Hour Hero
A conceptual advertisement concept I created for Amazon spotlighting their dedicated drivers and their commitment to after-hour deliveries. The visual emphasis is the delivery truck’s distinctive look and warm glow from its front lights, serving as a friendly delivery beacon. The copy establishes a personal connection with the reader, emphasizing Amazon's dedication to timely and reliable service, even if it’s after hours.

 

Crayola Crayons

Creative Musing
September 2023

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Crayola Crayons
During my childhood, one of the highlights preparing for the first day of school was going school shopping and selecting a brand new box of crayons. I recall carefully unwrapping the box, ensuring not to tear the packaging and being greeted by its unique waxy scent. These illustrated posters are a tribute to this moment and to all who remember the scent and the joy of creating coloring masterpieces. The left poster is a 24 pack of Crayola Crayons with a Walmart price tag and the right poster is the unboxed pack of Crayola Crayons.

 

Skull & Bones

Creative Musing + Product
September 2023

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Skull & Bones
For a limited time some of the icons I created for Halloween will be available on graphic tees at Cotton Bureau. I’ve paired the icons with the typeface Metalista designed by Tomáš Brousil from Suitcase Type Foundry.

Buy these Tees
Skull & Bones (top right) is the only available tee in this series. Purchase it on Cotton Bureau or check back in early October 2024 to purchase other tees in this series.

Notcha Tacos

Creative Musing
June 2023

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Notcha Tacos
Pronounced, Not-Cha-Tacos. Utilizing some past work I illustrated this fun tacos restaurant logo. The mark is paired with the typeface, CC Sign Language designed by John Roshell and Richard Starkings from Comicraft.

Buy this Tee
Notcha Tacos graphic tee is available for purchase on Cotton Bureau.

Sum

Creative Musing + Product
February 2023

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Sum
While I am not a professional type designer, I have a passion for creating custom typefaces. I just finished this display numerical typeface, called Sum. This font comprises six sizes: Light, Regular, Semibold, Bold, Black, and Heavy. Engaging in studies like this is beneficial for graphic designers., as it enables them to comprehend the intricacies of typeface formation. This knowledge is particularly valuable when crafting a bespoke typeface for a brand.
 

Buy this Display Typeface
Sum is available for purchase, email me for licensing and cost.

GEM

Creative Musing
February 2023

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GEM
A simplification of a sapphire gem paired with the variable typeface, New York designed by Apple. New York is a serif companion to Apple’s San Franciso-type series, it features six weights and features variable optical sizes. The 'G' in the wordmark was adjusted to mirror the shape of the gem, enhancing balance and symmetry of the combination mark.

 

Jazz

Creative Musing
December 2022

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Jazz
An design exercise updating the Jazz Journal wordmark (a magazine produced from 1946–2019). The revised wordmark took from its past and present characteristics to envision a new wordmark with a modern flare.

Note
Photo of Louis Armstrong, 1953. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

Chronicles of Narnia

Creative Musing
November 2022

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Chronicles of Narnia
This emblem is based on my favorite book series as a kid, Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. The crest illustrates Cair Paravel Rampart (top), Aslan (center), and Archenland Coat of Arms (bottom).

 

Dowel Plant Stand

Creative Musing
November 2022

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Dowel Plant Stand
During my downtime, not only do I like to illustrate, but I like to design and build small woodworking projects, like this Dowel Plant Stand. Made from Poplar and constructed only using wood and glue.

Buy Plant Stand Plans
These plans are available to purchase, email me for cost.

Spooky Cat

Creative Musing
September 2022

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Spooky Cat
Getting into the Halloween spirit by creating illustrations of two spooky black cats. Which one do you prefer, three-eyed cat or the ordinary one?

 

The Midwest Coast

Creative Musing + Product
August 2022

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The Midwest Coast
A badge-inspired design from my home state of Michigan and its pristine coastline. The inspiration came from our family trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes, National Park—it’s just one of the many places to experience Michigan’s wonderful coast.

Buy this Tee
The Midwest Coast is currently not available. Check back in early June 2024. View additional graphic tee’s on my Cotton Bureau profile page. 

Lady of Guadalupe

Creative Musing + Product
August 2022

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Lady of Guadalupe
A modern Illustrative take on the Our Lady of Guadalupe painting found in Tepeyac Hill, Mexico City.

Buy this Tee
This tee is available for purchase on Cotton Bureau. 

Alfred & Mickey Mashup

Creative Musing
June 2022

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Alfred & Mickey Mashup
A mad mashup of Mickey Mouse & Alfred E. Neuman from Mad Magazine flashing a peace sign and waving the stars and stripes. Even Mad Magazine saw it and ❤️ it.

 

Graphis, Designers for Peace

Creative Musing + Product
June 2022

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Graphis, Designers for Peace
I submitted a "Designers for Peace" poster series (A.K.A. Ukraine War Series) for the Graphis poster competition. It received an Honorable Mention. This series began as a personal project sparked by Russia's unprovoked war on Ukraine. My aim with this project was to capture a powerful, somber, and raw portrayal of the global emotional response to the conflict.

Buy these Purchase
These posters are available for purchase in my shop.

Accolade from Graphis
Congratulations! Your excellent poster design has been chosen as an Honorable Mention in our international Designers for Peace competition.

— B. Martin Pedersen, Creative Director & Publisher