As a young teenager I was really into drawing and graffiti. At one point I made it into the local newspaper by writing S!C at a traffic sign (those triangles with an exclamation mark). The journalist writing about it explained the latin use and meaning of Sic!, and complimented my work as ‘clever graffiti’. It made me realize the deeper meaning visual language can have and from that point I wanted to be a graphic designer.

That really depends on the type of project. For visual identities it lies in the deeper meaning of the brand and what kind of world it draws you into. For infographics it lies in the data and story it contains. For my more artistic project Outlined I find it mostly in the details of typography such as contrast and balance, white-space and abstractions of curves and shapes.

Here you go 🙂

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I don’t really believe in a creative block. I read the following quote initially in some sort of article about creativity (not knowing it originates from Thomas Edison): “creative work is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration”. I think this also applies to a creative block. I think there is no real block. If you’re stuck for a bit, take a step back to pause and reflect and then you just need to put in the work and push through that 99%. I consider it part of the process.

For me work is something that is almost always on my mind. But in a good way. I think about possible new projects and ideas after the regular working day. Also I really like to snowboard, that may be one of the only moments I am really not thinking about something besides the snow and the view and it gives me great energy.

1. Nieuwe Amstelbrug in Amsterdam – part of my daily commute and I love the view

2. Museum Voorlinden

3. Botanical gardens in Amsterdam – because it is an oasis of green & quiet in the middle of the city

1. @melovemealot – this is a nice and really weird account

2. @yoshinori_mizutani – his geometric photos of Tokyo are really great

3. @therodina – superb work and their insta feed has some nice humor in it

Last year I started a new project, outlined.cc, in which I explored making more autonomous graphic work. The outcome of this are limited edition graphic art prints. For clients I usually work on a lot of digital / web orientated projects so it is amazing to have an artistic project on the side which allows me to work on physical products as well. I like the balance between digital and physical, on- and offline and artistic and applied or commercial. Outlined has all these aspects in one project.

In Museum Voorlinden I saw a really big work hanging by artist Imi Knoebel and I was very impressed by its simplicity from afar and the tactility, level of detail and subtle layers when you look very closely. The bright colors and simple shapes where perfectly in balance and the huge size of the work made it even more impressive.

Never stop learning and once you think you know something change it all up so you continue to push yourself into the unknown.