Red wine, rabid birds and Will Ferrell.
Hi, I’m Arik Nordby — a designer from Minnesota who loves parody, a well-kerned headline, and making people laugh.
Since 2007, I’ve had the privilege of working with Will and his charity, Cancer for College. Over the years, I’ve designed sunscreen packaging, event shirts, posters, and even the logo and merchandise for the legendary “Chad Smith vs. Will Ferrell Drum-Off” on The Tonight Show, as well as the 2024 Ultimate DJ House Party in Chicago.
A few years ago, I decided to create a unique auction piece for Will—something that could only exist in his world. The concept: a fictional, wine-fueled bird attack on a California golf course. It was exactly as absurd as it sounds, and I had a blast bringing it to life. (Scroll through the photos above to meet this rare and aggressive bird.)
To pull it off, I had Will sign a shirt, staged photos with a friend who shared his build, and blended those with stills from Step Brothers, one of the greatest comedies ever made. The finished piece—a 24” x 30” shadowbox of pure ridiculousness—was auctioned off at his Classy Golf Tournament in Coronado, California.
That project sparked an obsession: imagining historical figures in strange, implausible scenarios. Since then, I’ve spent countless evenings experimenting with ways to create and age photos and documents to bring those imagined histories to life.
Hope you enjoy!
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Will's charity: www.cancerforcollege.org
Fake stuff I make: www.pranko.com
Real stuff I make: www.andinc.com
