About

Hi, I’m Left!

I'm a creative based in Amsterdam, founded in 2010 on the simple principle of doing things differently: by just not being right. I'm not interested in being big; I'm interested in making things I like and love. I love working with people who get it, or those who fell for the sales pitch. I like keeping things real and not making them bigger than necessary.

But to make it a bit bigger: in 2019 I teamed up with Paulus to create Studio Onward. Besides being a genuinely nice guy, he's an amazing strategist. Together we broadened our scope with Strategic Positioning, Campaigns, and Brand Activations.

Twenty-five years of work distilled into a timeline. Grids, typography, brand systems, and a fair amount of sweat. From print-era gaming magazines to LinkedIn on the Croisette. You name it, I’ve done it. What, where, and when? Right here.

Selected work

Focus

  • Brand identity and rebrands
  • Design systems: typography, colour, grid
  • Editorial and print

Tools

Figma, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Keynote, Google Slides

Languages

Dutch (native), English (fluent)

Experience

LEFT Graphic Design & Studio Onward

Art Director / Creative Designer (2010 – Present)
Co-founder Studio Onward (2019 – Present)

  • Visual direction and full identity design for enterprise accounts (LinkedIn at Cannes Lions) alongside fast-growing brands like TommyTomato, Ditto Care and Juvoly.
  • Built brand systems that hold up across websites, conference stands and printed programmes, without a designer needing to check every use.
  • Editorial art direction: Deep print and digital publication craft for titles like FHM, 1900 Ajax Magazine and iPad Magazine.
  • Identity and art direction for a run of biotech and pharma companies: ViceBio, Aboleris, Artax, Istesso, Obulytix and Qurin.
  • Partnered directly with strategists, copywriters and developers. Hands-on throughout: typography, colour systems and grids, from the first concept to the final file.

IDG Communications

Art Director / Editorial Designer, 2004 – 2010

  • Visual direction across tech and gaming titles: PC Zone, GameZ.nl, Tips & Trucs, Digital Life, Computer!Totaal, Zoom.nl and PCM.

Earlier

PromoTime, Art Director, 2002 – 2004.
GameQuest, NetGeneration and CTW Benelux.

3rd Elevation / KPN Games, UI - Designer, 2001 – 2002.
MPlayer-Europe, online-gaming platform.

Lost Boys Games, UI - Designer, 2000 – 2001.

Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with great brands and companies, including LinkedIn, Ajax, Ditto.Care, Juvoly, Interstellar, Royal Merba, Van der Valk, TommyTomato, FHM, Sialia Yachts, Gemeente Amsterdam and many more.

Download my CV (pdf) →