(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. Or click here to subscribe to my occasional newsletter.

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). I was selected to present my Master’s graduate project at the Design Indaba Pecha Kucha session (2015), where I talked about one of my hand-drawn, hand-bound illustrated books: ‘The boy with a fire in his boot’. On finishing my studies, I rejoined The Jupiter Drawing Room (Cape Town) as a Creative Director, where I worked until going back to freelancing.

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, illustrated book covers 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 highlight - and been on the jury for various local design awards.

I’ve taken part in several group shows - including 'First Editions' at Salon91 (2011) and ‘Summer’s End’ at The Drawing Room (2015) - and exhibited my first solo show ‘Pink Moon’ at Field Office, in association with Salon91 (2016). I’m also the happy illustrator of three published 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 powerpoint 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.

(photo by Rudi de Wet )