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.

Riot Games Iconography System

Michael played a key role in developing a strategic and refined iconography library for Riot Games. His leadership and guidance across both Monotype and Riot Games ensured seamless collaboration, aligning visual identity with brand goals through a thoughtful and systematic approach. His ability to solve complex design challenges while maintaining a keen attention to detail made a significant impact on the project’s success. Reliable, communicative, and always exceeding expectations.

Robert Ignasiak
Product & Interaction Lead, Riot Games

Client Project
February 2025

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Riot Games Iconography System
I recently completed this 6 month iconography system project for Riot Games in collaboration with Monotype, who brought me on as a co-lead and specialist in visual icon systems. My role centered on guiding, developing, and establishing standards that shaped a comprehensive toolkit of pixel-perfect icons, capturing the bold and playful spirit of Riot Games while supporting their expanding product ecosystem.

Our goal was to create an iconography system of 350+ icons that seamlessly scaled across three sizes—16, 24, and 32 pixels—while staying true to Riot Games' brand identity. With “Player Experience First” as Riot’s core message, it was crucial to create a custom, scalable, and unified iconography system that not only enhanced the user experience and strengthened their brand’s visual language but also ensured consistency across all Riot products.

This iconography system serves as a sustainable and sound foundation for developing future icons that align with Riot’s brand.

  • + Iconography Design System

  • + Co-leadership
    + Creative Direction
    + Iconography System Rules
    + Research
    + Sketching & Ideation
    + Illustration

  • This project was a collaborative effort, bringing together expert partners from Monotype, Riot Games, and MKN Design to lead the creative direction and co-develop the iconography design alongside Monotype.

    Core Team:
    Robert Ignasiak – Riot Games
    Sascha Leifer King – Riot Games
    Junho Kim – Riot Games
    Terrance Weinzierl – Monotype
    Jorden Bell – Monotype
    Michael Nÿkamp - MKN Design
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    Thank you to the entire team for their dedication and effort in bringing this extensive set to life and helping create a remarkable icon system.
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    Note: All images used in this post are licensed through Riot Games.

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.

Action Surge!

Creative Musing + Product
December 2024

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Action Surge!
I’m not done yet! Not familiar with this term? Well, let me enlighten you. It’s a D&D reference where a fighter pushes themselves beyond their limits to do twice as much in one turn… because clearly, we needed even more ways to drag out combat ; )

Action Surge typeface is Kaneda Gothic designed by Ryoichi Tsunekawa from Dharma Type.

  • Action Surge graphic tee is available for purchase on Cotton Bureau. Check out more graphic tees on my Cotton Bureau profile page.

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    Note: All Cotton Bureau apparel comes in a variety of clothing types, styles, fits, sizes, materials, and colors.Description text goes here

Googly Eyed Philosophers

Creative Musing + Product
December 2024

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Googly Eyed Philosophers
Some design fun with old lithographs, goggly eyes, and 3 philosophers.


Quotes from Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates.
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” – Aristotle
“When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them.” – Plato
“All I Know Is That I Know Nothing.” – Socrates

  • Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates graphic tees are available for purchase on Cotton Bureau. Check out more graphic tees on my Cotton Bureau profile page.

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    Note:     All Cotton Bureau apparel comes in a variety of clothing types, styles, fits, sizes, materials, and colors.

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 designed by Neil Summerour from Positype.

 

January Series, Brand Strategy Messaging

Client Project
January 2024

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January Series, Brand Strategy Messaging
For nearly 40 years, the January Series has inspired and informed audiences from diverse backgrounds. This free, 10-day event features a lineup of brilliant speakers, captivating topics, and thought-provoking discussions. Prominent academics, educators, artists, activists, and other experts deliver engaging lectures on a range of timely issues. Attendees can participate in person at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, or access the series online from anywhere in the world, both live and on-demand throughout the year.

Together with freelance copywriter Adam Barr, I guided the January Series in aligning their vision with cohesive brand messaging. Through in-depth stakeholder interviews, we distilled key insights to establish a solid foundation, shaping the brand’s tone and defining its voice. As we progressed, we posed additional thoughtful questions and refined messaging through an iterative approach, resulting in comprehensive guidelines. These guidelines will support the brand in navigating, cultivating, and communicating a unified voice across all touchpoints, fostering a coherent connection with audiences, communities, and potential attendees.

  • + Brand Strategy
    + Copywriting
    + Tone of Voice

  • + Team Leadership
    + Creative Direction
    + Qualitative & Research
    + Project Management
    + User Interviews
    + Copywriting
    + Brand Messaging

  • This project was a joint endeavor with Adam Barr, freelance copywriter.

Flagship

Creative Musing
December 2023

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

 

Holiday Stroll

Creative Musing + Product
October 2023

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

  • Holiday Stroll is currently unavailable for purchase. Please check back after Thanksgiving 2024. Check out more graphic tees on my Cotton Bureau profile page.

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    Note:     All Cotton Bureau apparel comes in a variety of clothing types, styles, fits, sizes, materials, and colors.

Amazon, After Hour Hero

Article + 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 + Product
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.

  • Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain a license from Crayola to sell these vibrant illustrative posters.

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.

  • Skull & Bones (top right tee) is the only available tee in this series to purchase (check back in early October 2024 to purchase the others). Peruse more graphic tees on my Cotton Bureau profile page.

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    Note:     All Cotton Bureau apparel comes in a variety of clothing types, styles, fits, sizes, materials, and colors.

Notcha Tacos

Creative Musing + Product
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.

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.
 

  • Sum is available for purchase. Email me for licensing and cost.

MKN Design Reel

Article + Product
February 2023

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MKN Design Reel
Do you like what you see? Well, I’d like to work with you. If you're looking for an experienced independent (freelance) Art Director, Designer, and Illustrator, or if you know of any companies seeking short or long-term project contracts or retainers, feel free to contact me via email.

  • The design and illustrative projects within this reel are a combination of strategic branding, environmental design, iconography, illustration, graphic design, and packaging.

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.

 

Carbon Cycle

Client Project
February 2023

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Carbon Cycle
Creating and illustrating a carbon cycle infographic for a major producer of sustainable lumber, pulp, and paper. Our task was to clearly communicate the client's approach to combating climate change while showcasing their strong commitment to environmental sustainability.

The goal was to streamline a complex sustainability concept, making it visually captivating and ensuring the audience was able to comprehend the initiative. The final infographic was simple and friendly, conveying the client’s message of responsible environmental stewardship and dedication to a greener, more sustainable future.

  • + Infographic

  • + Research
    + Concept Development
    + Sketching & Ideation
    + Illustration
    + Design & Layout

  • This project was a collaborative effort, with Peopledesign providing Art Direction.

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.

  • 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).