Finding the ‘Platonic Ideal’ With Young Jerks

Published

Filed under

If you remember reading the satirical MAD magazine, it’s hard to imagine that the folks behind it weren’t having a grand ol’ time making it. Sure, you figured there was a large amount of passion for pre-pubescent humor, and the craft is obvious, but there was something about the magazine that exuded not just fun, but that those artists, writers, and editors were like friends goofing around with each other, too.

Looking at the brand and packaging studio Young Jerk’s output, it’s easy to get the same sense of cheeriness while working. Founded by Dan Cassaro and Dan Christofferson, that joy comes through across various projects and completely disparate categories. From cannabis and spirits to canned fish and even ball bearings, everything Young Jerks touches has an element of playfulness paired with craft.

The Dans both had private freelance practices as designers, with Christofferson focused on illustration and graphic design work while Cassaro developed typography and lettering.