(photo by Jac de Villiers)

Hello!

I’m a Cape Town-based illustrator and graphic designer. If you’d like to chat to me about a project, please contact me on carla.kreuser@gmail.com.

I graduated from the University of Pretoria with an Honours in Information Design (2000), and worked for almost 10 years at several design agencies before taking a study sabbatical to complete a Master’s in Illustration at Stellenbosch University (2014, cum laude). My solo graduate exhibition ‘Conversations in Room 1008’ featured two hand-drawn, hand-bound illustrated books: ‘The boy with a fire in his boot’ and ‘The Somnambulists’. And I was selected to present my graduate project at the Design Indaba Pecha Kucha session (2015). On finishing my studies, I rejoined The Jupiter Drawing Room (Cape Town) as a Creative Director, where I worked until recently going freelance.

During my creative career I’ve worked on logos, visual identities (for brands big and small), rebranding projects, identity manuals, packaging projects, event branding, brochures, campaigns, digital projects and art directed photoshoots. I’ve won an assortment of local and international awards - winning the coveted Grand Prix Loerie for the Design Indaba 10 campaign (2007) with Jupiter was a fun highlight - and been on the jury for local design awards.

I’ve been part of several group shows - including 'First Editions' at Salon91 (2011) and ‘Summer’s End’ at The Drawing Room (2015) - and a solo show ‘Pink Moon’ at Salon91 (2016). I’ve also published three illustrated books – ‘300 things I hope’ (written by Iain S. Thomas), ‘The baby brother curse’ / ‘Die Bababoetie-gedoente’ (written by Michelle Sacks, translated by Lize Kreuser) and ‘As jy met vuur speel’ (written by the Rossouw family).

My design and illustration work often overlap as I continue to explore the playful dance between words and pictures, be it in a logo or a presentation or an illustrated book.

Because if you think about it, where do words really end and images begin?

Clients have included (mainly through working with/at agencies): Design Indaba, Kirsten Goss, Mediclinic, Milpark Education, Modjaji Books, Sanlam, Summit Financial Partners, V&A Waterfront, Virgin, Willards.

Carla Kreuser

design, illustration & creative direction