Karson Giffin
Graphic Design

 

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Hi, I’m Karson Giffin, a multidisciplinary designer based in Salt Lake City, US. I hold a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Utah and an MA in Graphic Design from Leeds Arts University. I am currently working as a Freelance Graphic Designer, open to work and collaborations. My work is primarily influenced by the typographic structures of modernist design principles and the interplay between counterculture and its effects on contemporary design.


CV & PDF Portfolio Available Upon Request.
Work 

Nike Icons: Naomi Osaka

Branding Campaign 2024

Nike Icons is a branding campaign celebrating athletes who have redefined their fields through both performance and purpose. This concept centers on Naomi Osaka, not only the first Asian player to hold the world No. 1 ranking in singles and a four-time Grand Slam champion, but also a leading voice in mental health advocacy and racial justice.

The campaign explores the intersection of Osaka’s Japanese, Haitian, and American heritage, examining how her multicultural identity informs her presence both on and off the court. Through bold visual storytelling and culturally layered design elements, Nike Icons positions Osaka as more than an athlete — she is a global symbol of resilience, representation, and change.


Rocky's America/American Sabotage


Book Design Poster Design 2024

Rocky’s America is a conceptual publication inspired by A$AP Rocky’s American Sabotage fashion show. Through experimental typography, layered imagery, and disruptive layouts, the project explores political satire and the illusion of the American Dream.

Accompanied by a poster series that extends the narrative into large-scale visual statements. Using sharp juxtaposition and symbolic imagery, the series contrasts media-driven narratives of success promoted by media and government institutions with the lived realities of homelessness, incarceration, and racial and class divide. The work contrasts media-driven narratives of success with the realities of systemic inequality by reframing fashion as a platform for protest and commentary.

Features: 
2024 INTL Poster Exhibition, 2025 Shanghai Graphic Design Biennale (TopoPoster).












Typical


Type Design2025

Typical is an intentionally restrained neo-grotesk typeface that embraces the quiet humor of “typical” typography by performing exactly as expected, clear, neutral, and drama-free.

Created as a counterpoint to today’s expressive, personality-driven display fonts, Typical rejects visual excess in favor of structural precision and functional clarity. Its design focuses on balanced proportions, thoughtful spacing, and predictable rhythm, allowing content to take precedence over style.

Available in just two weights, Regular and Bold, the family reinforces its commitment to simplicity and utility. Typical is not designed to stand out; it is designed to work like a machine.

Free download available here.




U[n]MA


BrandingIdentityPackaging Design2026

U[n]MA draws inspiration from the vibrant fashion culture of Tokyo’s Harajuku district, translating its visual intensity into a non-traditional branding system.

Rather than adopting a polished or commercially refined approach, the identity embraces anti-design principles as a deliberate strategy. Cropped and bitmapped imagery, repetitive blocked typography, centralized compositions, and rule-breaking layouts reflect the layered, DIY energy associated with Harajuku street style.

The result is a design-forward packaging system that challenges conventional hierarchy and refinement, positioning imperfection and visual noise as intentional tools of expression.








Jiggy Fest


Festival BrandingIdentity2023

Jiggy Fest draws from the Pen & Pixel Album Cover Archive as its primary source material, reinterpreting the studio’s iconic visual language through a contemporary lens.

Known for their hyper-saturated colors, metallic typography, dramatic compositions, and early digital effects, Pen & Pixel defined the aesthetic of Southern hip-hop in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This project translates that maximalist approach into a modern festival identity, merging the original visual excess with refined layout systems and contemporary 3D rendering techniques.

By combining nostalgia with updated digital tools, Jiggy Fest becomes both homage and evolution, preserving the bold spectacle of the original era while recontextualizing it for a current audience.






Zilla Beatz


Logo Design2026
This typographic logo and identity system was developed for DJ Zilla Beatz, reflecting his roots in house music through a bold, fluid wordmark.

The primary mark emphasizes clarity and rhythm through smooth curves, balanced weight distribution, and simplified letterforms. Designed with flexibility in mind, the system allows for scale, movement, and playful application across digital and physical formats while maintaining strong legibility.

A secondary mark introduces custom Y2K-inspired typography, incorporating rounded forms and inflated proportions to create a nostalgic, game-like aesthetic. This alternate direction adds personality and lightness to the identity, allowing the brand to shift between modern minimalism and expressive throwback energy.

Together, the marks create a dynamic visual language that bridges contemporary house culture with early-digital nostalgia.