The Design Den

06.

The Design Den

Self-portrait of Merel van Ooijen holding a digital camera.

What it is

The Design Den is a special corner of my portfolio website where I showcase my passion projects and hobbies as a designer. It's an opportunity for you to get a more personal look at my creative world, beyond just my professional work. This is where I let my imagination run wild and explore new ideas, techniques, and styles.

Whether you're trying to get to know me better, or simply interested in what I enjoy doing outside of work, The Design Den provides a unique perspective on my creativity. I invite you to take a look and see what I've been working on in my spare time.

My interests

• Digital and analogue photography

• Illustration and doodling

• Laser cutting and embroidery experimentation

• Watching movies (classics like Lord of the Rings and blockbusters like Avatar)

• Pixel art

• Trying out new software (currently playing around with Spline)

• Reading manga

• Playing video games

• Drinking delicious coffee

• Cats (my love for cats knows no bounds)

Overall view

• Embroidery

• Designs for Home brewery ‘De Mazzel’

• Digital photography

Embroidery

Embroidery is one of my favourite hobbies, which allows me to bring my digital designs into the physical world. By experimenting with the embroidery machine available at my school, I'm able to explore the intersection between traditional crafts and modern technology. With embroidery, I can combine my passion for design with the satisfaction of creating something tangible, and I find it a great way to relax and unwind after a long day.

Creating a lemon design by using the embroidery machine.

De Mazzel

During the Corona lockdown, my sister started brewing beer and wanted branding for her new home brewery. As she was still unsure about how to represent her brand, I decided to take a more organic approach and doodled some fruit, considering the tastes she was planning to create in the future. The resulting brand identity was well received by both my sister and her friends. It was exciting to see how my design work could contribute to her success in the brewing world. If you're interested, feel free to get in touch and maybe we can share a taste of her home brews!

Mock-up showing beer can and bottle branding of ‘de Mazzel’ lemon and limes flavoured beers.

Photography

While spending time with a friend, I discovered my hidden passion for photography when she showed me her collection of vintage analogue cameras passed down from her grandpa. Intrigued, I purchased a few used analogue cameras online and started to capture my own photos. Now, I have expanded my horizons by delving into both analogue and digital photography. I love exploring the art of photography, experimenting with various settings, and framing objects in unique ways. This playful exploration has allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and discover new creative opportunities.

Image showing a collection of digital photographs of manmade and natural patterns. The images are about exploring the world by capturing the somewhat unusual.

Digital photography of manmade and natural patterns. Exploring the world by capturing the somewhat unusual.

What did I learn?

Engaging in hobbies has taught me the importance of taking breaks from work and finding fulfillment in activities outside of my usual routine. By pursuing interests like embroidery and photography, I have learned that stepping away from digital design can actually be a great source of inspiration. Exploring these other creative avenues has allowed me to see new possibilities and approach my work from a fresh perspective. I believe that finding balance between work and leisure is key to maintaining creativity and achieving success in any field.