Surface Pattern Designer & Educator - CHRISTEL BOON

DOLL: Surface Pattern Designer & Educator, Christel Boon

DOLLHOUSE: Online, Virtual, Remote, Home Studio

Instagram

Availability:

• Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Nationality: Netherlands
• Fluent Languages: English, Dutch

Open to customers worldwide.

About

I remember my childhood filled with creative explorations all the time. Whether it was drawing, creating scenes in play-dough, making stick men from acorns and chestnuts or baking cookies and spending hours decorating them. Both my parents were creative people in a way. My mum loved sewing, knitting, embroidery and other crafts. My dad was a DIY-er and was handy around the house with all kinds of big projects. I also had my own little place in the garden I tended myself and grew a.o. sweet peas because they’re beautiful and smell so nice! I was taught to be independent and to believe in me, to stand up for myself and that I am worthy. These traits have gotten me a long way in earning my design degrees and building my surface design business. I want you to feel empowered too. To feel strong and able to take on the Surface Design world with the tools you need. Many creatives find their passion later in life and do not necessarily have a supportive environment that understands their passion. I can help you get perspective on where you stand in your career.

I am a curious and inquisitive person who is always researching and asking questions to learn and grow. I am interested in people and their motives. I like to help out and support others. I have always enjoyed sharing my knowledge with interns, junior staff or peers who are looking for a specific kind of knowledge. I love to fight for the good cause and I think creatives deserve more than they sometimes get in this world. Our art is meaningful and it earns the companies we work for a lot of money. Without our art, the world would be a dull place to live! I want to help you find your way in the Surface Pattern Design world that is full of promises and often make-believe. What is true and what is not? I can break down the myths and offer you a realistic perspective to make your dream come true on your terms.

Career

After earning a degree in Graphic Design and thereafter Interaction Design I worked as a creative designer and (art) director and in other creative roles in the online design industry. I have been collaborating with A-list national and international brands to build their online brand and help them achieve their financial growth through conversion optimisation and omnichannel management. I am used to creating mood boards and design strategies, thinking about the (end) customer, target groups, brand, brand goals, user experience and of course, design. I earned several awards as a Conversion Optimisation manager and Manager Omnichannel Development.

At the start of 2020, I decided I wanted to get back to the core of what I really loved and that is living the creative life. I started my Surface Design company ‘House of Haricot’ in a fulltime capacity. I got off to a flying start when I was chosen as a finalist for Brand Licensing Europe in 2021, getting on the shortlist two times for ‘Gift of the Year’ in 2022 and being named ‘Rising Star’ in the same year by Brands Untapped, celebrating the 100 top designers, product developers and creatives in the brand licensing industry. I have several licenses to my name with wallpaper companies, fashion and fabrics. I have worked with several well-known surface designers and creative brands in their support teams to help other creatives on their path.

I love being independent and deciding about my own time, and what I want to do when. If I feel like it, I take the day off to visit an exhibit and work in the evening or during the weekend. I only work with clients to value my art and therefore our collaborations are always an enrichment in my life. I feel strong and secure in my art to make negotiations and turn down companies if I feel their offering is not a reflection of the value of my work. I feel that a lot of Surface Designers are less secure of themselves than they need to be and there is a lot of marketing out there that uses ‘FOMO’ to find new students for their courses. Chances are you have done enough courses and you are ready to start licensing your work like a pro! Start early and fail early, which only makes you become a better designer faster. 

Virtual Career Tours

Time slots: 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes

Information Session:  I will give you a detailed breakdown of what I do, including job responsibilities, ways to start, required skills, educational pathways, industry insights, experiences, etc. and answer any questions that you have about my career. If applicable, I can show you the physical environment(s) in which I work. For those who want to know more about my career / field / role.

Coaching Session: I will provide foundational support for building your business, including skill development, internal processes setup, software / tools guidance, tips, goal-setting, accountability coaching, etc. Please note that I cannot give legal, tax, financial, or medical advice. For those who want actionable advice and career planning help.

Process

1. You purchase my service (please only purchase one service at a time).
2. Once I get your order, I reach out to you over email (the one you used to purchase this order) within 14 days to set a time and date for our virtual meeting.
3. We conduct our virtual meeting over Zoom within 30 days of your purchase (We can meet after 30 days, though the option for a refund will not be available to you from Doll & Dollhouse, so please use your discretion).

If you don't see my email in your inbox, try searching your spam folder. Feel free to use the contact form above to message me with any questions. Looking forward to meeting you!

*Please remember that you have 14 days to request a cancellation refund from Doll & Dollhouse. After 14 days since your purchase, cancellations are not allowed. You will also have 30 days to request a Seller no-show refund if we do not conduct our session within 30 days of your purchase.*

By purchasing this product/service, you agree to abide by all Terms, Policies, and Guidelines set forth by Doll & Dollhouse. Please note that Doll & Dollhouse shall not be held liable for any interactions or events occurring outside the platform.