Eric Karnes is a graphic designer, teacher, and despite countless hours of practice, a mediocre golfer.
The son of a painter and a special-education teacher, Eric grew up on the edge of Baltimore, Maryland. During his formative years, he honed his skills by repeatedly drawing whatever struck his fancy, from the cover of Rubber Soul to ‘Kitt’ from Knight Rider (which he could accurately render from multiple angles). He studied graphic design at Maryland Institute College of Art and subsequently punched the clock at a number of well-known design and advertising firms (Pentagram, the Martin Agency, etc.), where he managed projects for a wide range of corporate and institutional clients. Since 2012, he has run his own studio, where he balances a steady flow of commercial work with various self-directed and pro-bono projects. As a counterpoint to his professional work, Eric has taught design and typography since 2007.
Eric’s work has been recognized by organizations and publications such as the American Institute of Graphic Arts, Art Directors Club, Type Directors Club, Society of Publication Designers, German Society for Book Arts, American Advertising Federation, Communication Arts, and Print Magazine. In addition, his drawing of a puffin won the coveted blue ribbon at the 1995 Dumbarton Middle School art fair. Go DMS Lions!
MA in Typeface Design, University of Reading (UK)
Certificate in Typeface Design, The Cooper Union
MFA in Graphic Design, Virginia Commonwealth University
BFA in Graphic Design, Maryland Institute College of Art
Graphis Design
Silver and Gold Awards | 2017
Graphis Photography
Gold Award | 2017
Print Magazine
‘The World is Not Flat: Seven Captivating Posters by Karnes Poster Company’ | 2016
Print Magazine
Regional Design Annual | 2016
Graphis Poster
Gold Award | 2016
HOW Magazine
Philadelphia: City of Designerly Love | 2016
Graphis Design
Platinum Award | 2015
Communication Arts
Design Annual | 2015
Graphis Poster
Gold Award | 2015
Type Directors Club
Typography Annual No. 36 | 2015
Print Magazine
Regional Design Annual | 2014
Graphis Poster
Silver Award | 2014
Type Directors Club
Typography Annual No. 35 | 2014
Design Observer
Geologic Typography | October 2014
Communication Arts
Typography Annual | 2013
Graphis Poster
Gold Award | 2013
Communication Arts
Design Annual | 2012
In addition to his studio work, Eric is an (amateur) type historian. His most recent research has revolved around French roman type cut during the first half of the sixteenth-century. This has manifested in a paper exploring the functional uses of the first wide range of roman (and italic) type sizes created in Paris between 1520 and 1550; and an ongoing¬ revival typeface based on the first typographic roman display alphabets.
Selected Creative Work:
Tree Scout
Poster (Detail)
Dimensions: 24 x 36 inches
Yeager Design + Fabrication
Poster (Detail)
Dimensions: 26 x 38 inches
Meg Roberts
Poster (Detail)
Dimensions: 24 x 36 inches
Polosko
Poster (Detail)
Dimensions: 24 x 36 inches
Virginia Tech Lecture
Poster (Detail)
Dimensions: 24 x 36 inches