I am excited to announce that Nathan Kirkman has joined the Oxide team as a full-time designer. Nathan is a self-described book nerd who’s spent an inordinate amount of his life in libraries (and interning at McGraw-Hill Education). He’s a graduate of Iowa State University, with a BFA in graphic design and a minor in art history. Nathan couldn’t be a more perfect fit for Oxide.

Nathan Kirkman, June 2012

Nathan is originally from Wilton, IA, and now lives in Avoca, IA. He’s fascinated with paper samples, book cloth, publication design, and good fantasy novels. He also understands the nuances of typography in a way that makes it evident that he eats, sleeps, and breathes type. Asked to describe himself, Nathan writes this:

In addition to my design thinking (and wicked InDesign) skills, I have experience in customer service (thanks Applebee’s!), design research, working with Editors and Art Directors, and — thanks to all those years at the library — awesome organizational skills. Due to my small town roots and, possibly, my family’s interest in woodworking & quilting, I have an immense interest in issues of craft and construction. To me, paper choice, binding method, and format are as relevant to the success of a project as the design of the piece.

Infographics from a book explaining the history, function and collection of the Library of Congress 

Collateral and logo for EXPLORE, an annual event at Iowa State’s College of Design that lets design students interactive with and learn from industry professionals

A proposed poster series for the ISU Graphic Design Program’s Senior Portfolio Night focusing on the idea of our graduates being “fresh” and full of new ideas

A series of double-sided posters to promote unique geographical features in Iowa

A series of double-sided posters to promote unique geographical features in Iowa

Spread from a large format book about Cipe Pineles — the book places samples of her work within the context of the achievements she made for women in graphic design

A series of book covers that re-packages Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising Sequence for an older audience

We’re looking forward to putting Nathan’s design mind and detail-oriented craftsmanship to work to solve problems, realize meaningful change, help people, and make sense of the world.