Who am I?
Hello, my name is Ingeborg Vrij, and I work under the name Daisy Design & Art. I live and work from home in Heerhugowaard, located in the northern part of North Holland, the Netherlands. Daisy Design & Art has been around for a few years, but I have made some changes to the type of work I do. When I started Daisy Design & Art, I worked not only as an illustrator but also as a graphic designer and web designer. Nowadays, I work solely as an illustrator, and at the beginning of this year, I also started as a Surface Pattern Illustrator. It’s fantastic to see that you can create such lovely things in a very small format.
Education
During my secondary school years, I had drawing and art history as one of my subjects every year. The teachers were always very complimentary about my work. They found me very talented, which later gave me the extra push to pursue drawing more seriously.
After secondary school, I completed the VIA (Design and Interaction of Design) programme at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. During this course, I also took lessons in multimedia, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
In 2023, I obtained the Diploma in Illustration and the Diploma in Illustrative Drawing from the NHA.
As you can see, I am not specifically trained for creative work, but I am not self-taught either.
[ I created the linocut of the elephants during my school years ]
Entrepreneurship
Daisy Design & Art is not my only business. In addition to my creative company, I am a co-partner at Bert Kok Optiek, an optician’s shop in Rotterdam. This also includes the webshop, www.lens4me.nl. Through this experience, I am familiar with all aspects of running a business, particularly in the small and medium-sized enterprise sector.
[ I created the etching of a horse during my school years ]
Daisy & Faye
I share my home, and thus my workspace, with two lovely assistants. Daisy & Faye!!! They love helping me with my illustrations.
Daisy is fond of alcohol markers and coloured pencils, and she loves to take them away while I’m working with them. Sometimes, she even colours with them, occasionally even on her nose.
Faye enjoys playing with everything, but especially loves finger painting with gouache. On several occasions, she has stepped into it with her feet.
They also have their own Instagram channel where you can learn more about their lives, and sometimes you’ll see me there too.
The Name Daisy Design & Art
After the previous paragraph, you might think that my business is named after Daisy. However, that is purely coincidental. The name of my business actually comes from a daisy, which is a flower.
The original version of my logo featured a digitally drawn daisy. However, I have since updated my logo. Currently, my website only displays my business name, Daisy Design & Art, as the logo. For those wondering about the font used, it is not a pre-existing typeface; I have hand-written it myself. So, there is still a touch of artistry in the new logo.
Did You Know…
- I have been creative from a young age, engaging in activities such as drawing, painting, working with Fimo clay, making bracelets, and embroidery—just to name a few. The collage beside this text is meant to represent me.
- I love nature and enjoy gardening.
- I am fond of animals, not just pets. Have you ever petted a reindeer? They are incredibly soft. Or have you ever stood just 10 centimetres away from the face of a giraffe?
- I hold the title of engineer, but I rarely use it or mention it, so you are now part of a select group who knows.
- I am an introvert, which means I’m not very talkative.
- I created the website for American actor Dwight Schultz. You can read more about this project on the special page I’ve dedicated to it.
- I am a real girly girl; I almost always wear a dress and my nails are usually painted in a cheerful shade of pink.
- I have been practising yoga daily for years.
- I am eager to learn, not just in one area, but I have a wide range of interests.
- I have dyslexia, which actually makes me more creative. So if you spot any spelling errors, sorry about that—now you know the reason.
Still Curious?
You can always send an email to info@daisy-design.nl with your question.