About Me
My journey as a creative.
From a young age, I was naturally curious about building all kinds of things. I constructed with Lego, designed houses in The Sims, created theme parks and rollercoasters in RollerCoaster Tycoon, and much more.
As I grew older, I began creating more complex projects. I made batch programs that were interactive choose-your-own-adventure stories, built small websites with various colors and interactions, and even developed simple games for my classmates. That was when I discovered my passion for creating digital products.
I carried that passion for building things with me to the Grafisch Lyceum in Rotterdam, where I studied media technology. There, I learned to build web applications using HTML and CSS, make them interactive with JavaScript, and connect the frontend with the backend using PHP and MySQL. I also learned to create mobile applications with Android Studio and Xcode, and finally, I learned to develop games using the Unity engine and C#.
Afterwards, I began an exciting front-end developer internship at a creative digital agency in Rotterdam called DotControl. The experience taught me a great deal. I learned to build fast, responsive, and SEO-friendly websites using a variety of web technologies, including:
ButNot only that, I also learned how to collaborate with clients, designers, other developers, and growth hackers. It was an incredible experience, and I was thrilled to sign my first full-time work contract at the end of my internship.
After spending some time at DotControl, I decided I wanted to return to school. I explored different programs and schools, looking for the one that best matched my creative ambitions.
After a long search, I discovered the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, also known as Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. I was particularly interested in the four-year Bachelor of Science program in Communication and Multimedia Design. This program covers a wide range of topics, including visual design, digital interaction, UI, UX, front-end development, and more. I also gained experience working with tools such as Figma, InVision, and Adobe programs like Premiere and Illustrator.
At the end of my first year, I earned all 60 ECTS, which awarded me my propedeuse. My final grade was 8.1, meaning I received my propedeuse Cum Laude.
In my second year, I began an internship at a digital product design agency called Hike One as a visual designer. Hike One focuses primarily on design, including visual design, user experience design, product management, UX research, and more.
During my internship, I learned a great deal about visual exploration, collaborating with other designers and clients, working with design tools such as Figma and Protopie, and many other skills I wanted to develop as a beginning designer. I had an amazing experience at Hike One, and at the end of my internship, I was offered a contract to work part-time while continuing my studies.
In my third year, I completed an exchange semester at Toronto Metropolitan University in Canada. I attended the Creative School, an ambitious faculty within the university that focuses on a wide range of creative studies. The exchange semester greatly improved my collaboration and work skills in an international environment while also giving me the chance to make new international friends.
After the Toronto exchange, I applied for and started an internship as a visual designer at DEPT®, a large agency with thousands of employees worldwide. I worked on ambitious, high-profile projects and learned a tremendous amount in a short period. My knowledge of design systems, variables, large-scale projects, and pixel-perfect design grew significantly.
And now, after four years, I have finally graduated from the CMD program at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. Who knows what the future will bring?
As I grew older, I began creating more complex projects. I made batch programs that were interactive choose-your-own-adventure stories, built small websites with various colors and interactions, and even developed simple games for my classmates. That was when I discovered my passion for creating digital products.
I carried that passion for building things with me to the Grafisch Lyceum in Rotterdam, where I studied media technology. There, I learned to build web applications using HTML and CSS, make them interactive with JavaScript, and connect the frontend with the backend using PHP and MySQL. I also learned to create mobile applications with Android Studio and Xcode, and finally, I learned to develop games using the Unity engine and C#.
Afterwards, I began an exciting front-end developer internship at a creative digital agency in Rotterdam called DotControl. The experience taught me a great deal. I learned to build fast, responsive, and SEO-friendly websites using a variety of web technologies, including:
- JavaScript(ES6)
- Typescript
- Sass
- Webpack
- and many more.
ButNot only that, I also learned how to collaborate with clients, designers, other developers, and growth hackers. It was an incredible experience, and I was thrilled to sign my first full-time work contract at the end of my internship.
After spending some time at DotControl, I decided I wanted to return to school. I explored different programs and schools, looking for the one that best matched my creative ambitions.
After a long search, I discovered the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, also known as Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. I was particularly interested in the four-year Bachelor of Science program in Communication and Multimedia Design. This program covers a wide range of topics, including visual design, digital interaction, UI, UX, front-end development, and more. I also gained experience working with tools such as Figma, InVision, and Adobe programs like Premiere and Illustrator.
At the end of my first year, I earned all 60 ECTS, which awarded me my propedeuse. My final grade was 8.1, meaning I received my propedeuse Cum Laude.
In my second year, I began an internship at a digital product design agency called Hike One as a visual designer. Hike One focuses primarily on design, including visual design, user experience design, product management, UX research, and more.
During my internship, I learned a great deal about visual exploration, collaborating with other designers and clients, working with design tools such as Figma and Protopie, and many other skills I wanted to develop as a beginning designer. I had an amazing experience at Hike One, and at the end of my internship, I was offered a contract to work part-time while continuing my studies.
In my third year, I completed an exchange semester at Toronto Metropolitan University in Canada. I attended the Creative School, an ambitious faculty within the university that focuses on a wide range of creative studies. The exchange semester greatly improved my collaboration and work skills in an international environment while also giving me the chance to make new international friends.
After the Toronto exchange, I applied for and started an internship as a visual designer at DEPT®, a large agency with thousands of employees worldwide. I worked on ambitious, high-profile projects and learned a tremendous amount in a short period. My knowledge of design systems, variables, large-scale projects, and pixel-perfect design grew significantly.
And now, after four years, I have finally graduated from the CMD program at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. Who knows what the future will bring?