Illustrator and designer Dan Christofferson has come to be recognized for his modern take on symbols, icons, and emblems. Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah and currently based in Brooklyn, he’s part of a two-dan team at Young Jerks and runs an online shop that when operating is filled with oddly vibe-y pennants, patches, pins, and flags.
According to Christofferson, he’s interested in making stuff that stands out from the expected rectangle of screen printed posters. “Stuff that doesn’t necessarily need a frame,” he writes on his website. “Something with a unique outline- a silhouette that feels vaguely nostalgic, and reminds you of that time when Gramps brought out his box of old stuff from the war and got all twinkly-eyed with his stories.”
“My interest in the use and creation of symbols definitely started off as a way to tell religious stories,” he further explained in an interview with Juxtapoz. “They’re a great way to explore something abstract or unknown while giving the viewer space for their own interpretation.” As such, he draws his inspiration from the past: combing through old museum catalogs, sneaking into old churches, and smelling the spines of old books.
“My ancestors come from an exiled religious group that settled in the Salt Lake Valley,” he recalled. “These early Mormons used a mix of old biblical symbols, icons from freemasonry, and a sprinkling of their own arcane iconography to exchange sacred ideas within their community. It allowed them to talk openly about their beliefs, even proselytize to strangers, while keeping them personal, private, and bestowing the reverence they felt they deserved.” His modern take on iconography is a nod to the past in a world that moves too fast for Christofferson’s liking.
Scroll down to see some of his work.
