Graphic Design - Its not just about layout! Its about good design solutions to everyday issues. Creative & effective design is what your company needs, thats where I come in.


I previously worked in the corporate world but my passion was graphic design. After years of doing graphic design “unofficially” for word of mouth clients, I decided to go back to school to get a formal BA (Hons) degree in Graphic Design.


I see things differently, I have lived on three different continents, Africa, Europe and am currently residing in the USA, these opportunities have given me a different perspective. I don’t see things with a stereotypical cultural eye, I base my creations and designs on the life experiences I have had all over the world. As well as living on three continents I have travelled to over 28 different countries, the most exciting, to me being Hungary and the Czech Republic. With my experience and world travels I will assure you a great effective design! Design has the power to always be different - Never repetitive!


My name is Colette Koetsier and I am a Graphic Designer...

Thursday, 18 April 2013

Fortnum & Mason Packaging Design Brief - Final Major Project

The design was for Fortnum & Mason, an upscale British retailer in London. The design brief requested packaging for three kinds of foods as well as a drink, picnic hamper and a point of sale board. The theme was of Explorer of which I chose David Livingstone. This is because he was a British citizen that explored Africa, due to my ties with both of these countries I found him to be the most obvious choice.








Self Promotion Campaign

This was designed to be a self promo module. Creating a logo and the collateral that goes along with it.

I created the CK logo, a front and back business card, CD portfolio a well as one on a flash drive, and an app for a smart phone that links to my website and online portfolio. The gives the client a choice of ways to access my portfolio.




Competition Brief for BME (British Music Experience)

Showcasing all the BME has to offer, this museum is a hands on interactive music experience, that spans the decades of music. The idea in these designs was to take famous lyrics and create a type of guessing game on a style of posters, this would create a buzz and be a conversation starters amongst music fans trying to guess the lyrics and what song or artist they are from.



Texting and Driving Campaign

This brief was aimed at teens 13 - 19 to warn them against the dangers 
of texting and driving.








Wednesday, 17 April 2013

Recipe Book Digital Illustration

This module required illustration for a recipe book. My chosen country was Italy. We had to signify travel as well as a recipe from that country. This was to be in a travelers cookbook.


Logo & Identity

This was a module for a Logo & Identity. The name we were given was "Helium" the fictitious company does title and movie credits. My interpretation of it was that of trying to produce "rolling credits" into the logo design aspect, to connote to the word helium.





Editorial Imagery


Dreams Editorial Module, this module was to interpret the word dreams and create a design to go into a newspaper article. My interpretation was that when we dream we are merely puppets to those dreams, we are not in control, its like sitting in a theatre watching a play on stage, being immersed in that play but unable to change any aspects of it.



Tuesday, 16 April 2013

Article for National Geographic


Monogram Workshop Poster.


Book Jacket Design

Here I was required to design a cohesive set of book jackets. The books were classics and to be part of a series. They needed to look and feel similar and although the books were entirely different genres, the similarities in designs needed to be reflected. Both of the images on the front of the books are of my daughters, with filters added.






Negotiated Projects


The main aim of my brief was a singers fall into a scandal, and her rehabilitation back into the world of her fans. My concept is to show her launch a new tour called, “Into the Light” and to design marketing pieces relating to this. I have designed a billboard poster, baseball cap, T-shirt, CD Cover and insert as well as a Ticket Stub.
Using research methods into other celebrities who have experience similar scandals was helpful in contributing to the design style.
The main focus was on the into the light aspect. This was shown by using rays of light splashed over the overall design, with a darker side to the design, moving to the lighter rays. I then incorporated silhouettes to represent the singer and used three overall to signify her jumping out of the dark, into the light which symbolises her recovery. She was once in the dark and now is in the light. This aspect works well and I think, one can immediately identify with what I am trying to portray at first glance. I then added in an image of a butterfly, as to me a butterfly has connotations of new life and regeneration, this would mean she was once in the darkness of a cocoon and has emerged to a beautiful butterfly, spreading her wings and flying once again, from the dark world that was once her enemy, into the light which is now her hope. Her fans I am sure will identify with this overall theme.