Mark Grambau Illustration & Design

Personal project
Date: November - December 2011

My fiancée and I recently had our friend Maggie and her four-year-old son Darwin over for dinner. The boy has an insatiable love of superheroes that rivals my own. He loved playing with my Spider-Man thumb drive (a fun personal project from 2009) and quickly wanted one to take home. I promised him a handmade superhero toy for his upcoming birthday, and after much debate, he decided on Captain America for the subject (runner up: Green Batman).

The Captain's body is made from simple wood pieces, joined by a nut and a long bolt. The shield is built on a coat button, finished with cork, and tethered to the body by linen thread. I embedded powerful neodymium magnets into the body and the back of the shield, enabling the Captain to hold his iconic buckler close by. Everything was glued, painted, & varnished with non-toxic products to keep the Captain's young ally safe while playing.

When it came time to design and assemble the packaging, I chose to employ a vintage feel (given the handmade construction and classic materials). The yellow-green palette stands in contrast to the bright, patriotic costume, instead grounding the toy in its military theme. Still, I aimed to keep it playful, with ridiculous copy like "President Roosevelt has been captured behind enemy lines!"

Darwin took to his handmade action figure immediately. He and Captain America immediately battled tennis balls, Christmas trees, and other threats to America's interests (conveniently located within his apartment).

I must say – making and giving a handmade toy was extraordinarily rewarding. I hope that when the next birthday on your calendar comes around, be it for your octogenarian father, middle aged colleague, or bright eyed niece, you consider making or buying a handmade gift.

Client: CloudKid, www.cloudkid.com
Date: January - August 2011

CloudKid is an outstanding interactive studio based out of Boston, MA. Their web-series for PBS Kids, Fizzy's Lunch Lab, was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in New Approaches in Children's Programming in both 2010 and 2011. The characters of the Lunch Lab teach children the value of healthy eating through animated webisodes, tasty recipes, and truly fun music.

I joined CloudKid as a graphic designer during the second season, when the studio was in the midst of producing a slew of new games for the Lunch Lab site. The majority of my work was on Escape from Greasy World, the company's largest, most ambitious interactive experience to date. My tasks varied widely from day to day, and included conceptual sketching, iconography, logo and identity development, interface design, and illustration. The work you see here is a selection of my best work done for the Lunch Lab, including the title screens from four games and countless interface elements.

While some pieces were largely my own from start to finish (I take special pride in my pixelated illustrations for Escape), many were bolstered by the immense talent in the studio. CloudKid's culture espouses iterative & cooperative development, and it was common for a piece to bounce actively between three of four different artists until perfection was found.

I encourage you to explore the wealth of fantastic content at Fizzy's Lunch Lab. It's a great resource for parents and teachers alike, and kids love it.

Personal project
Date: September 2011 & ongoing

I love drawing faces. In fact, I probably love drawing faces more than I love drawing superheroes, and that's saying something. I can't resist the look of a sizable underbite, a bulbous nose, a furrowed brow, a couple of high cheekbones, or a wry, thin-lipped smile. The face is in a constant state of active communication – sometimes controlled, often involuntary.

In this ongoing series, I am aiming not for caricature, nor for the toothy grin of a posed photograph. I am interested in sincerity, be it sincere love, concern, or fury. The illustrations capture moments of unguarded truth, amplified by telling quotations from or about each subject. Every portrait is inspired by a passionate, unabashed opinion, be it glowing admiration or damning contempt. The subjects are living politicians, artists, and other cultural figures.

My hope is to explore the multifaceted nature of communication – the original intent of our chosen words, how our faces reinforce or betray that intent, and how, in the end, our intent is received and interpreted by our audience.

To learn more about each portrait, be sure to read my blog.

Client: Mike Moody, www.tvdeathray.com
Date: July 2010

Mike Moody is a full-time, self-professed "nerd blogger." He writes for Aol’s TV Squad, SciFi Squad and Moviefone, and is the founder of TV DeathRay.

Mike approached me to design the official logo and header banner for his new television blogging venture. TV DeathRay focuses on, as Mike puts it, "the best in cult and genre TV." The logo had to capture the nature of the content covered as well as the blogging team's unique style.

To design the perfect death ray, I studied a variety of top notch sources, including the dramatic, threatening laser from 1964's "Goldfinger." I wanted something that looked futuristic and powerful, yet fun and dynamic. The final gun design is a little bit hair dryer, a bit space-age toy, and properly illustrates the motion and enthusiasm of the blog. The black and white outlined type in the banner evokes an X-ray, as though the beam could electrify its target's radically glowing bones.

Personal project
Date: February & March 2009

I’ve been known to have an unhealthy obsession with superheroes. What began as childhood enthusiasm evolved into a love of sequential art, an appreciation for the branding and symbology of these characters, and an understanding of their function as modern mythology. In this personal project, I sought to bridge my passions for illustration and design, capturing the essence of each character through bold shapes and colors.

The poster series celebrates the form, dynamism, and unique aesthetics of superheroes. Each character is represented with their iconic color palette, silhouette, and catchphrase or slogan. The series has been featured on the major comics industry blog, Comics Alliance, as well as the front page of Digg.

Client: Melissa Chao, www.ToBoldlyFold.com
Date: 2010 & ongoing

Mel Chao is the artist behind To Boldly Fold, a new small business that celebrates the art of paper. Mel creates unique, handmade blank books for artists and writers. She uses incredibly high-quality materials and maintains high standards in her work.

As a brand new business owner, Mel needed a complete identity package: logo, type treatment, website, advertising, product packaging, the works. I've collaborated with her since day one to ensure that her public brand matches her personal, business, and artistic philosophies. Communicating a connection with nature, a passion for quality, and a desire to encourage and spread creativity in others were paramount. Lastly, Mel wanted her work to stand out from the crowd, ensuring success at even the smallest craft show.

The logo, type treatment, and palette developed for To Boldly Fold combine reverence of nature with precision and simplicity. The website is anchored by the use of the deckled edge, which evokes the texture and tactility of her products. Finally, the elegant and informative book packaging add a touch of consummate professionalism.

By approaching the project with a focus on brand and identity, I've enabled Mel to elevate her entire business model. Instead of competing against small-town craft vendors, Mel is empowered to challenge major blank book manufacturers such as Moleskine.

Client: ArtsBoston, www.artsboston.org
Date: December 2010

ArtsBoston describes itself as your "one stop shop for arts and entertainment in Boston." The organization is responsible for BosTix, the best place in Boston to buy half-price tickets to countless dance performances, theatrical events, concerts, exhibitions, and more. They make the arts affordable and accessible for the Greater Boston community, as well as for visitors to the city.

In a continued effort to support their community, ArtsBoston sought out a local artist to create their official holiday card for 2010. I was selected to produce an illustration that would be sent to their broad base of supporters. The card had to speak to the broad range of art forms to which ArtsBoston is dedicated. The final piece invites you to celebrate the new year with opera, visual art, dance, and theater.

Personal Project
Date: 2007-2008

When it comes to creating characters, I believe in thorough exploration of their motivations and how those elements affect their exterior. What does "short and plump" communicate about one's being vs. "tall and lanky?" For my thesis project at MICA, I indulged my love of character development by creating a pitch for a cartoon companion to The Colbert Report. I conceptualized of a cast of characters, borrowing from reality, history, and mythology to properly flesh out the story and its key players.

The pages of my Stephen Colbert: Time Warrior proposal outlined seven cast members. Stephen, the plucky protagonist, was pit against the diminutive and scheming President Dennis Kucinich. The wise ghost of Captain America guided Stephen through time and space to gather allies in his battle against the super-liberal future. In a nutshell, my story was a hybrid of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and Pokémon, presented as modern political satire.

Upon completion of the project, I sent my pitch packet to the producers of The Colbert Report, including Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. Within hours of receiving the work, I received a personal phone call from Mr. Colbert thanking me for the work. While Comedy Central did not pursue Stephen Colbert: Time Warrior for production, the personal praise I received from Mr. Colbert serves as professional motivation to this day.

Client: Ruth Becker
Date: May 2010

Ruth Becker is 94 years old and has been a Mac user for more than a decade. She primarily uses her computer for email, web surfing, and ordering groceries. Ruth is an artist, and has been known to produce artwork using a Wacom tablet.

With her MacBook ready to retire, Ruth needed a new computer. Because of the mobility, connectivity, and form factor, a 3G enabled iPad was the best choice. With only a single day available to help teach Ruth about the iPad, I felt a printed user guide would ensure a smooth transition to using this new device.

The language and design of the guide assume no prior knowledge of touch computing. To best accommodate her vision, the guide is set in 18pt type. The copy is accompianied by clean diagramatic illustrations explaining common interactions and scenarios. The guide has provided Ruth with the confidence she needs to explore the iPad comfortably.

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