Brian Paul Nelson – Branding / Design / Illustration">Brian Paul Nelson

Just finished up some custom type, illustration work and merchandise pieces for the band Wild Nothing. View the entire project under my portfolio and stay tuned for more work for these guys as time goes on. Also, be sure to check out their latest album Nocturne, it’s definitely of the enjoyable variety. I posted a few of my favorite tracks below.

Wild Nothing — Shadow

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Wild Nothing — Nocturne

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Wild Nothing — Disappear Always

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Wild Nothing — Paradise

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Wild Nothing Portfolio

I have always had a deep respect and appreciation for true letterers and their craft, especially those designing type before computers existed. That regard is even greater now after creating my first official typeface, Recollection. I have dabbled in designing type before and have used hand written type in some of my projects, but I have yet to create a full face until now. The type was inspired by thickset letters from old signage and posters that were created before modern day printing and technology existed…you know, “The Glory Days.” To show off Recollection I also created a few posters that further encompass the inspiration behind its design. View the Recollection project under my portfolio.

• Career Characters

• Meridian Watches

• Phorm Motor Oil

• Suites

Some new work is posted under my portfolio where you will find a couple different projects I’ve got going on right now.

First up is my Career Characters set which is an on-going project of different careers that I would think would be cool to experience for a day or so. The Lumberjack has been up for a little while, but I just finished with the Pirate. More to come in the future.

I have also been developing the brand for Meridian Watches, an up-and-coming U.S. based watch company. A new identity as well as different collateral pieces are underway. I’m also working on packaging and a few other elements so expect to see that and more pretty soon.

Finally, there are some other new brands in the works that are in the very early stages of development. I have however posted the logos for them under my Logo Archive section. Phorm Motor Oil (pronounced “form”) and Suites which will be a seafood market based in Charleston, SC. Look out for more on both those projects later this year as well.

As always, thanks for taking the time to look through my work.

Simplicity is a prominent aspect of my life and my work. Some however think the word “simple” or the term “simplicity” means easy or unchallenging. While I’m not one to completely disagree with them, especially when the use of the word could be accounted for in that way, simplicity to me and within myself and what I do, is more about uncomplicating and genuinely understanding the world around you. Looking at something, someone or some occurrence in your life and understanding the true, undeniable meaning of it. Getting to the bare bones, unraveling and interpreting what or whom is presented in front of you and taking a step back and thinking before and after your actions and the actions of others. And that, in a lot of ways, is not always as easy or as effortless as you would hope.

The reason I’m explaining this above is because I reached a point in my career that my old Atlas identity wasn’t speaking volumes enough with who I really am and what I love to do with the art and design I produce. When I branded myself as Atlas it was because I wanted something unique, unabridged and my own. Their were other artists and designers out their with my name (Brian Nelson) and I didn’t want to be lost in that crowd. In some ways, when I look back on it now it was selfish of me to think that way. Atlas was crowned with profuse meaning and will always be special to me because it was me and it was my personal brand that I created at the start of my career. It has lasted for a few, unforgettable years that have been crucial in my development not only as a designer, but also as a man just trying to make his mark on the world. I wore that brand with pride and that pride will always be a part of me, but it was time for a change. It was time to simplify.

What could be more honest and uncomplicated than me, my name, my identity? I am who I am and I love what I love and there is no changing that. Learning to embrace who you truly are takes courage and that courage leads to a passion-filed life. Design is just one passion of mine, but it’s a substantial one that reverberates throughout my everyday life. It’s a part of me, it’s a part of my brand as a designer and as a human being and it’s something I can’t change and don’t want to. This is where I have landed within my thoughts, my career and my life. It’s all umbrellaed under who I am, Brian Paul Nelson.

brianpaulnelson.com
A bunch of new work is coming over the course of this year…stay tuned.