Ooh hello
I’m Aniek Bartels, an illustrator and maker of things who loves to design daily lifestyle products in the broadest sense of the word. Clothes, stationery, gift wrapping, tableware, packaging; everything we use on a daily basis could use a splash of colour and a touch of positivity. My multifaceted designs are meant for both kids and the forever young, those of us with a mortgage who still like living in a colourful world where anything is possible.
I enjoy working on assignments I can really dig into, from concept to design and anything in between, always able to tweak my approach to the client’s needs and going beyond the original assignment to make something awesome we both love. Because I’ve been working in this industry for a while, I know what’s up and can develop commercially-focussed designs that work.
Where play meets practical
There’s play, and then there’s practical, and I like to work in the happy middle ground where these two meet. My designs are made with a purpose, come with a message, but still remain playful and uplifting. An average day will find me using watercolours, pencils, markers, all kinds of paper, or clay-whatever it takes to hit the right emotions. Sometimes subtle jokes and tongue-in-cheek references find their way into my designs, because why take life too seriously? Even the heaviest subjects can benefit from a playful approach.
Doing good . going green
Did you notice a lot of animals in my work? That’s because I love them, and nature, and our gorgeous planet earth. In my own daily life, I try to live as consciously as possible, and enjoy working with brands that share my green goals. This could mean developing eco-friendly products, but also products and projects that raise awareness and make a difference.