ATELIER~MIJNHART - FAMILY~LOGO
MIJNHART
My name is Karen Mijnhart, founder and creator of Family~Logo.
Born into a musical and enterprising family as twins and the youngest of a total of three daughters. My family journey began with a desire to understand my own place and legacy in the world better by researching my own ancestry.
It is a fact that my roots are both French and Dutch. Old family stories and years of traditions that my ancestors and parents thought where important to pass on, piled up into a book about contrasts in life. About joy and sorrow; winning and losing; giving and taking; rich and poor; defending and protecting; next and opposite to each other.
Discovering these general themes was one thing, but noticing how our family ties where functioning was another. I discovered how we carry these stories and how we encounter these themes as a family. How it connects us even when we are apart. I began to admire and cherish my turbulent family past.
I put the discoveries about the values of my family ties into the research of my own identity, where my surname Mijnhart (MyHeart) was given a special place. The fact that this name refers to 'my own heart' was an important inspiration.
The moment I designed the first Family~Logo ever coincided with the knowledge that I would never have children of my own. I was able to fulfill the urge to leave my family and the world something to remain by creating my Family~Logo.
This legacy connects the past to the present. Every day again. It gives me peace at all stages of life and reinforces my connection to something greater than "Me". My family.
Every family has their pain.
Pain of loss, betrayal, violation or lack of (self-)love.
It can take a lot of effort to discover them.
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The intention is to recognize where you as a family are the most vulnerable.
Consciously as unconsciously. This is where the strength of family ties will arise.
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To immortalize these strenghts in a
Family~Logo changes pain into breakthroughs.
Breakthroughs of victory, loyalty, respect and (self-)love.
ROMANCE
My love for family history is rooted in the festive moments I've experienced with my family in France. My great-grandmother was the home for long family diners with wine. Not once, but twice a day she would be at the head of the table, often wavering with her fly swatter to calm the noise and chaos or heated discussions. Our family history is a mix of romance and drama. But the mentality of Joie de vivre sails right through all the setbacks.
PASSION
I share my passion for design as a professor of Graphic Design at ArtEZ University of the Arts. I once obtained my bachelor's degree at the same university with a project about Design Processes. My fascination with Identity Design can be found in my background as an autonomous graphic designer with a specialization in identities.
I have been able to help many like-minded entrepreneurs in their search for professional identity as an extension of themselves. To do so requires human knowledge. By studying psychology and combining it with design, I could developed design methods and processes throughout the years. They will always uncover "the true story".
HAPPINESS
Because of the value I have experienced through my family journey to Family~Logo, I also grant this happy feeling of connection to other families. With heritage that connects to eternity. Because where life is ending, Family~Logo lives on for ever.
Thank you for taking time to read about my family journey. I look forward to meeting more families and discovering how their essence can be reflected and carried in a Family~Logo.
