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I am a South African-born Design Director with 11+ years of experience across Cape Town, Amsterdam and Dubai.

My work covers the full life of a brand, from positioning and identity to campaigns, content and everything in between, with a soft spot for packaging and print.

Guided by a simple philosophy: creating meaningful and responsible work, beautifully.

Portrait of Kirsten Collins

How I work

I start with the foundations.

Working closely with strategists to shape the brand’s role, who it’s for and what it stands for, I ensure the strategy gives the creative work a clear direction to build from.

I translate the strategy into identity.

To bring the brand foundation to life, I look closely at how the brand looks and sounds today. Often there’s a gap between where the business wants to go and how it currently shows up. Closing that gap is where the identity work begins.

I make the brand real everywhere.

I direct how the brand comes to life across every touchpoint, so it sends the same clear signals wherever people meet it.

Throughout, I lead the teams, partners and clients involved, keeping strategy and execution connected from first idea to final delivery.

Strategy & Concept

  • Positioning
  • Naming
  • Creative Platforms

Identity & Packaging

  • Identity Systems
  • Pack Design
  • Range Architecture
  • Print Production

Art Direction

  • Photography
  • Campaign
  • Retail & OOH

Leadership

  • Team Building
  • Mentoring
  • Creative Reviews
  • Client Partnership
See Work

Experience

  • Similar, Dubai Design Director 2025 to present
  • Marks, Amsterdam Design Director 2024 to 2025
  • Aruliden, Amsterdam Senior Brand Designer 2019 to 2023
  • TBWA\Neboko, Amsterdam Designer 2018 to 2019
  • M&C Saatchi Abel, Cape Town Art Director and Designer 2016 to 2018
  • Red & Yellow School, Cape Town Graphic Design & Art Direction 2012 to 2015, cum laude
Download CV

Off the clock

Outside the studio I make things by hand and on screen: whatever the medium, I’ll try it. Digital illustration, lino printing, embroidery, ink drawing and paper collage. The rest of the time I’m under a barbell or with my family.

  • Ink line drawing of a seated figure
  • Kirsten holding a toddler at a playground
  • Digital illustration of a picnic spread with cheese, jam, wine and tomatoes
  • Carving a lino block at the kitchen table
  • Lino print of three red tomatoes
  • Embroidered line portrait of a face in a hoop
  • Lifting a barbell in the gym
  • Lino print of a fish
  • Digital illustration of a child reading in bed
  • Paper collage of a mouth

Let’s talk