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I create handmade license plate art and maps under the name Design Turnpike. Thank you for visiting!
As a boy, I loved license plates. Road trips were enlivened by keeping a tally list of the many diverse plates I saw on the road along the way. Family vacations to New Mexico, South Dakota, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, New Brunswick Canada and many other destinations exposed me to the wealth of color, style and personality of each state's tag. My interest in maps, geography, travel and crafting grew to inspire the art you are viewing right now throughout this website. In fact, a blue Michigan plate that adorned my first vehicle in 1998 lives on in one of the pieces in my personal collection.
Working from Dearborn, Michigan, the birthplace of the modern automobile, I continue to brainstorm and produce various new designs along with some of the classic license plate maps shown in throughout this website. I've been selling handmade license plate art and maps online now for several years, and hundreds of sales later, it's client comments like these that keep me motivated:
"I just wanted to let you know that our license plate artwork arrived yesterday. I hadn't shown the pictures you sent me to my husband so he was really excited to unpack it. It's wonderful! Once we get it up on the wall, I'll forward you a picture. It looks fantastic and we can't wait to hang it." SK in New Jersey
"Your work is amazing! I can't believe how intricate the cuts are. This must have taken forever to make, now it will be hanging forever in our home." JS in Colorado
"Thank you for getting this piece to us in time for the big day. I love the wood you used, it has so much character and the license plates selected are so unique. We had high hopes when we bought this and you have outdone yourself. Bravo!" TP in California
If you'd like to join a growing list of satisfied customers that includes professional athletes, celebrities, automobile buffs and corporate executives, click here to get started. I'm also interested in commissioned work. If you would like to discuss a custom project or have questions about my work, please drop me a line!
What people are saying
CMColleen McCormick
For License Plate Map of Massachusetts5.0I worked with David to create a custom license plate map of Massachusetts as a gift, and am thrilled with the final product! I had the map customized with a line from the song, Dirty Water - "Boston, You're My Home" and had a star placed over Boston's location on the map. It looks fantastic, and I know it will be a conversation piece when others see it hanging on our wall. David was extremely responsive and usually responded to my messages within the hour (if not in a matter of minutes) and followed up to let me know the progress of the piece as it was created. I know he creates license plate maps of other states, as well as the entire US, and I would highly recommend working with him to have a unique and original piece created for your home.
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