Before I knew what design was, I already had opinions about it. Growing up surrounded by making things, art, and textiles in South Africa will do that. That hands-on instinct, knowing immediately what's working and what isn't, became the foundation of everything I do professionally. And probably why I can't walk past a badly kerned sign without wincing.
I spent my graphic design years learning that decoration is the least interesting thing design can do. Good design is the thing that makes someone stop, read, trust, or buy. Which I know, because I am personally responsible for quite a number of bad purchases based entirely on nice packaging. Surface design deepened that instinct further: when something has to work at 10cm and 10 metres, in a showroom and on a screen, you stop seeing the surface and start seeing the bones underneath. Genuinely useful skill. Slightly annoying personality trait.
Then we moved to the Netherlands, which does something funny to your sense of self. Suddenly I'm navigating a new country, a new language, and the very uncomfortable question of what I actually want to be doing with my life. I already loved solving visual problems. I wanted to go deeper into the logic behind why things work, not just how they look. That's what led me to UX/UI design. Not as a pivot away from graphic design, but as the missing piece I didn't know I was looking for.
Graphic design taught me how to draw people in. UX/UI design taught me how to guide them.
One gets you the click. The other makes sure they don't immediately regret it.
Right now I'm working at the intersection of UX,/UI design, and AI-assisted building. Sounds fancy. Basically means I spend a lot of time asking AI to do exactly what I mean. The AI is actually easier than some clients I've had. Turns out years of extracting a coherent brief from someone who "knows what they want but can't describe it" is surprisingly good preparation for prompt engineering.
Graphic design. Brand design. Surface design. User Experience design. AI-assisted building. The tools keep changing, the job titles keep getting longer, but the thing underneath stays the same: make things that are clear, considered, and worth someone's attention. Clarity, experience, and impact. With room for fun, obviously.
Oooo, nice to see you here!
I'm a designer and builder, so heads up! I will absolutely judge your font choices.
My latest certifications
UX/UI DESIGN
Using AI in the Design Process
Learn how to use generative AI to assist in product discovery and ideation, such as analyzing user data, creating personas, storyboarding, idea generation, and more.
LinkedIn Learning - April 2025
UX/UI DESIGN
Professional Diploma in UX Design
A 6-month Professional Diploma in UX Design from the Glasgow Caledonian University covers UX principles, user research, analysis frameworks, interaction design, prototyping, and wireframing.
Glasgow Caledonian University - Dec 2023
BRAND DESIGN
Brand Design & Management
Het HBO-programma Brand design & management gaat in op het ontwikkel-, ontwerp- en versterkproces van een merk.
LOI Hogeschool - May 2024
WEB DESIGN
Complete Web Design: From Figma to Webflow to Freelancing
Deep dive into key messaging and aligning landing pages to sales funnels. Advanced prototyping in Figma, to building the actual website in Webflow.
Udemy - Dec 2023
PHOTOGRAPHY
Advanced DSLR photography course
Advanced camera settings, manual mode mastery, composition techniques, creative lighting, product photography and post-processing skills.
Desiree Hartslief - April 2021