This is the website of the work of graphic designer Karen Willey (Amsterdam).
I have been working as a freelance graphic designer for a decade. I mainly design printed matter. My clients tend to be from the cultural/social sector – both larger institutions (e.g. Bureau Europa (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/invitation-for-verhalen-verbeeld/), Transartists (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/onair/), Greenpeace (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/greenpeace-slide-show/), etc), as well as for individual artists, curators and fashion designers. I have also always worked for magazines and newspapers such as ‘Amsterdam Weekly’, ‘Knack’ (http://www NULL.knack NULL.be) and ‘Nest (http://www NULL.nest NULL.be)‘.
I work fast, but with a lot of attention to details. I believe that I don’t work for my clients, but I work in collaboration with them. Yet it is my task to keep a close eye on the deadline and the overall consistency of a design. My design work is often described as ‘clear’.
Since 2012, I have my studio at Sint Annenstraat 28A (https://www NULL.google NULL.nl/maps/place/Sint+Annenstraat+28I,+1012+HE+Amsterdam/ null@null 52 NULL.3735857,4 NULL.8972092,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x47c609b8947fef27:0x6040b6fc3d1df606), a former garage. By coincidence (or not?) this is (over time) my third garage studio in Amsterdam. This one I share with other graphic designers: Paul Gangloff (http://www NULL.writtenrecords NULL.info/), Renata Sifrar (http://renatasifrar NULL.com/) and Jakub Straka (http://www NULL.jakubstraka NULL.info/). The studio is close to Central Station, next to the Old Church at the edge of the Red Light District. Sexy neighbours include bookstore San Serriffe (http://www NULL.san-serriffe NULL.com/) and coffee place Ivy & Bros (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/ivyandbros).
A picture (found online) of Sint Annenstraat in 1926
I am originally from Belgium, but with Dutch/British nationality. I finished the European School (http://www NULL.eeb2 NULL.eu/site/) in Brussels and moved to Amsterdam in 1999 to study graphic design at Gerrit Rietveld Academy (http://www NULL.gerritrietveldacademie NULL.nl). I went on to do an MA at the Werkplaats Typografie (http://www NULL.werkplaatstypografie NULL.org/) in Arnhem where I graduated in 2006.
The thumbnails on the landing page of this website are in chronological order, with my most recent projects first. By clicking on a thumbnail, one is directed to a summary of the corresponding project, accompanied by additional images.
Experience (a selection)
1/ Office work
• Since 2008, I regularly work for the Belgian publisher Roularta Media (BMC) (http://www NULL.roularta NULL.be/nl/home/RC-1184686276805 NULL.html), for magazines such as ‘Knack (http://www NULL.knack NULL.be/nieuws/)‘, ‘Knack extra’, ‘Knack stedenspecial’, ‘Knack eindejaarsspecial’, ‘Focus (http://focus NULL.knack NULL.be/entertainment/)‘, ‘Moordzomerkrant’, ‘Het Wereldtijdschrift’, ‘Nest (http://weekend NULL.knack NULL.be/lifestyle/nest/)‘, ‘Bodytalk (http://www NULL.knack NULL.be/nieuws/gezondheid/bodytalk/article-service-570039 NULL.html)‘, ‘Plus Magazine (http://plusmagazine NULL.knack NULL.be/nl/1-plusmagazine NULL.htm)‘ and ‘Weekend Knack (http://weekend NULL.knack NULL.be/lifestyle/)‘. I also worked on the redesign of their ‘Startersgidsen’ and ‘Carrièregidsen’ (NL + FR).
• I sporadically assist the acclaimed design studio Experimental Jetset (http://www NULL.experimentaljetset NULL.nl/) (based in Amsterdam). For example, in 2007 with the design of the book ‘Architectures Typographiques / Typographic Architectures (http://www NULL.experimentaljetset NULL.nl/archive/crouwel-anatome)‘, which was published for the exhibition ‘Wim Crouwel: Architectures Typographiques: 1956–1976’, at Galerie Anatome in Paris. In 2008 I assisted them with the design of the house style for the fashion store Arnhem Coming Soon (http://www NULL.experimentaljetset NULL.nl/archive/comingsoon) (in Arnhem) and in May 2014 with the (exhibition) design of ‘International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (http://www NULL.experimentaljetset NULL.nl/archive/iabr)‘.
• Freelance graphic designer for several issues of ‘de Volkskrant Magazine’, March–December 2011.
• Freelance production artist for the monthly magazine ‘Time Out Amsterdam (http://www NULL.timeout NULL.com/amsterdam)‘, 2008–2011. In 2010 I also designed eight city guides for ‘Time Out (http://www NULL.timeout NULL.com/)‘.
• I worked part-time as a production manager for the English-language newspaper ‘Amsterdam Weekly’, 2006–2008.
• Freelancer for fashion magazines published by Hachette Media, 2004–2006. As a graphic designer I worked on several issues of ‘Red (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/RedMagazineNL)‘, after which I worked as an image editor for three issues. In addition, I worked as a graphic designer for several issues of the magazine ‘Elle (http://www NULL.elle NULL.nl/)‘. I stopped working here to start my study at Werkplaats Typografie.
• Design assistant to Gabriele Götz (Ambulant Design) (http://ambulantdesign NULL.nl/), 2002–2004, while I was studying at Rietveld Academy.
2/ Graphic design
2016
• Design templates for newsletters, deadline reminders and invitations (NL+ENG) for Dutch Culture (http://dutchculture NULL.nl/nl), Gedeeld Cultureel Erfgoed (http://dutchculture NULL.nl/nl/erfgoed/gedeeld-cultureel-erfgoed), TransArtists (http://www NULL.transartists NULL.org/), Air Platform NL (http://www NULL.transartists NULL.org/airplatformnl) and Antenna.
• Birth announcement Lina Korver.
• iAmsterdam e-flyer for Eden Frost Cummunications (http://www NULL.edenfrost NULL.com/).
2015
• Design workbook ‘Media Strategy Game’, Hogeschool van Utrecht (http://www NULL.hu NULL.nl/).
• Design Triage guide for Eden Frost Communications (http://www NULL.edenfrost NULL.com/).
• Logo for ‘On Residencies’, a website dedicated to international art residencies by curator Angela Serino (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/on-residencies/).
• Forests FSC slideshow for Greenpeace (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/greenpeace-slide-show/).
• Birth announcement Tomas Korver (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/birth-announcement-tomas-korver/).
• Assistance to Bart de Baets (http://www NULL.bartdebaets NULL.nl/) with a folder for Het Nieuwe Instituut (http://hetnieuweinstituut NULL.nl/en), Rotterdam.
2014
• Illustration for issue 100 of the Belgian Magazine ‘Nest’ (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/illustration/).
• Digital publication ‘Verhalen verbeeld’, Château Hotels, Maastricht.
• ‘The Reading Game’, cards for artist Yeb Wiersma (http://www NULL.yebwiersma NULL.com/), Jan Van Eyck Academy (http://www NULL.janvaneyck NULL.nl/home/), Maastricht.
• Design of metal privacy window screens for a Bloemendaal villa, commissioned by Hofman Dujardin Architects (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/metal-window-screens/).
• Publication for the closing of Sphinxpark, Maastricht.
• Typesetting Russian FSC brochure for Greenpeace.
2013
• Invitation ‘I want to retire’ for curator Angela Serino.
• Invitation and leader ‘Lost and Found (http://www NULL.lost NULL.nl/en)‘ (May).
• Proposal new set of Euro coins with the first portrait of King Willem-Alexander, in collaboration with Marjolein Rothman (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/coin/).
• Invitation ‘Verhalen verbeeld’, Château Hotels, Maastricht (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/invitation-for-verhalen-verbeeld/).
• House style Bodies at Work, Beijing, China.
• Book ‘DE CVRATORIBVS’, Vesna Madzoski (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/cvratoribvs/).
2012
• End report / book ‘On-AiR: Reflecting on the Mobility of Artists in Europe’ (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/onair/).
• House style, including banners, signage, posters, invitations and information brochures for Sphinxpark, Maastricht.
• Website Landscape in Perspective (http://www NULL.landscapeinperspective NULL.nl).
• Webshop Arnhem Coming Soon (http://www NULL.arnhemcomingsoon NULL.nl/).
• Love Matters redesign proposal, Radio Netherlands Worldwide. (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/love-matters-redesign-proposal/)
• The Alphabet of Accidental Actions, by Yeb Wiersma (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/the-alphabet-of-accidental-actions/).
• Birth announcement for Mira Blue (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/mira-blue/).
2011
• Website and online manual for On-AiR (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/onair/).
• Business card for writer Steve Korver (http://www NULL.stevekorver NULL.com/), Amsterdam.
• House style and webshop Freiluft for photographer Daniel Mulder, Berlin.
• ‘Falmouth’ poster for photographer Yeb Wiersma, Miami.
• House style and invitation for The Living Room, an art initiative by five curators, Amsterdam.
• ‘As If She Worked Here’ poster/map for a guided tour by Angela Serino in Van Abbemuseum, Rotterdam.
• Fanzine, bracelet and invitation for the pop-up shop by Mouchette at De Inkijk (at SKOR), Amsterdam.
• End exam publication ‘From the Start to the Beginning’ Sint Joost Academie, Breda.
• Map ‘Parcour’ for Contour, Mechelen.
• Flyers for the garage sale that Yeb Wiersma and myself organised when I moved out of my former studio (which was in a garage).
2010
• ‘Storyville Library’ publication for photographer Yeb Wiersma, Amsterdam/Almere (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/storyville-library/).
• House style for Laael, a handbag label by fashion designer Elja Lintsen, Amsterdam (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/laael/).
• House style (posters, tote bags, buttons, manual and folders) for On-AiR, an artists-in-residence programme in eighteen different countries (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/onair/).
• Madness & Arts Festival flyer for Lernert & Sander. (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/madness-arts-festival-flyer/)
• Business card for Sandra Theseus, Belgium (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/guineapigfarm/).
2009
• House style for and management of the temporary bookstore W139 Bookstore, Amsterdam, January–May (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/w139/).
• Design of ‘First Love Last Love‘, a pitch for O’Neill, by photographers Petrovsky & Ramone, Amsterdam (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/first-love-last-love/).
• ‘Exercise Books’, a self-initiated offset publication. (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/exercise-books/) Development of the website (http://www NULL.exercisebooks NULL.nl/).
2008
• House style for fashion institute Co-Lab, Amsterdam (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/co-lab-foundation/).
• House style for Elja, a fashion label by Elja Lintsen, Amsterdam (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/elja/).
• House style proposal for the fashion outlet NL = New Luxury, for Alexander van Slobbe and Francisco van Benthum, Amsterdam (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/nl-new-luxury/).
2007
• Several t-shirt designs for Toy Tokyo, Japan, 2007–2009 (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/wahooooooo/).
• Two A1 prints – ‘Pim & Palm’ and ‘Peacock’ – for Ryo Ohwada, Japan.
• Stationery for the Werkplaats Typografie, Arnhem (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/stationery-werkplaats-typografie/).
• Catalogue, advertisements, posters, and lettering for the exhibition ‘Offspring 2007’, De Ateliers, Amsterdam (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/offspring-2007/).
• Information folder and two invitations for exhibitions at Galerie Hof & Huyser, Amsterdam.
• House style for Stichting Sara Nederland, Amsterdam.
• Designcard, Veenman Drukkers, Rotterdam (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/card/).
2006
• Design of the bi-monthly art review magazine ‘Tubelight’ and of the letterhead and business cards for the ‘Tubelight’ board, 2004–2007 (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/tubelight/).
• Design of the invitations for BijlmAir, an artist-in-residency programme run by CBK Zuidoost and SMBA, Amsterdam, 2005–2008 (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/bijlmair/).
• ‘Schrift’, self-published (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/schrift/).
• ‘Full Stops’, two self-published A0 posters (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/full-stops/).
• Contribution to ‘Nicosia This Week (An Unofficial Guide to the Biennial that Never Was) (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Nicosia-This-Week-Unofficial-Biennial/dp/9086900526)‘ and two remaining projects about Nicosia called ‘Ephemera (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/ephemera/)‘ and ‘Retourism’.
2005
• Housestyle ‘Dutch Resource’ (Werkplaats Typografie’s participation to the Poster Festival in Chaumon, France), incl. font design (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/dutch-resource-house-style/).
• Chapter about Experimental Jetset in the book Dutch Resource (during the Poster Festival in Chaumont, France) (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/dutch-resource/).
• ‘One Year Parade’ poster series proposal for Pierre Huyge, in collaboration with Louis Lüthi.
• Catalogue, invitations, lettering and advertisements for the exhibition ‘Wild at Heart’, held by De Ateliers at KunstRAI/Art Amsterdam (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/wild-at-heart/).
• Booklet, flyer, and advertisement for Co-Lab, Amsterdam Fashion Week.
2004
• Shortcuts & Tips, graduation project Gerrit Rietveld Academy (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/shortcutstips/).
• Beamclub, poster series (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/beamclub/).
• Drawings for the Viktor & Rolf invitations (http://www NULL.karenwilley NULL.nl/viktor-rolf-invitations/).
This website is made possible with the support of Fonds BKVB, Amsterdam, and was built in 2010 by Steven McCarron (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/stevenmc?fref=ts&ref=br_tf).
All content belongs to Karen Willey.