WHAT I DO
The other 80% of being creative.
START HERE
Design is the work. But then there are clients, pricing, confidence, business, boundaries, ideas, deadlines, life… and the occasional what am I even doing?
That’s where I come in.
Through my emails, podcast, membership and tools, I share what 25+ years in the creative industry has taught me — so you can do the work you love without having to figure out everything around it alone.
HERE’S WHY I CAN HELP WITH THAT
I’ve lived it.
I studied Graphic Design in Cape Town, worked at Ogilvy, and started Kunshuis in 2010.
For years, Kunshuis was a design studio. I did the branding, the deadlines, the presentations, the client changes, the quoting, the late nights and all the little things that somehow never made it into design school.
And after more than 25 years in this industry, I realised:
Design is probably only 20% of being a designer.
The other 80% is learning how to run the work, handle people, trust yourself, make money, stay relevant and still have a life when you close the laptop.
Kunshuis has grown with me.
Today, I spend much more of my time sharing what I’ve learnt than designing for clients.
And I think that might be some of the most useful work I’ve ever done.
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO START?
MY EMAILS
Probably the most personal part of Kunshuis. Real thoughts, useful things, business lessons, creative wobbles and the stuff I wish someone had told me earlier.
Straight from me to your inbox.
THE PODCAST
Beyond Design is where we talk about the things that happen after you learn how to design. Clients. Pricing. Burnout. AI. Confidence. Business. Life.
The conversations design school forgot.
THE STUDIO
A membership for designers and creatives who want support with the business, thinking and human side of the work.
Learn. Ask. Grow.
Come back when you need it.
Tools for the work behind the work.
BUILT FOR REAL CREATIVE LIFE
Sometimes you don’t need another bit of advice. You need the actual thing. A way to quote properly. Plan the project. Organise the week. Work through the client process. Get the admin out of your head. Or simply make your desk feel a little more like yours. That’s why I started making tools. Not because creatives need more stuff.
Because after 25 years, I know exactly where the frustrating bits are.
SHOP THE TOOLS
THE STUDIO DESK
FREE RESOURCES
DIGITAL PLANNERS
The Studio Membership.
Designers are taught how to design. We are not necessarily taught how to price the work, lead a client, handle feedback, explain our thinking, set boundaries, build a business or keep believing in ourselves when things get hard. The Studio is where we work on that. Part learning. Part support. Part creative office full of people who actually understand what you’re talking about. Not another course to finish. Somewhere to keep growing.
BUSINESS CLARITY
CREATIVE CONFIDENCE
REAL HUMAN SUPPORT
You don’t have to figure all of this out alone.
And yes. I still design.
I haven’t stopped being a graphic designer. I’ve just become much more selective about the projects I take on. I occasionally work on branding, campaigns and creative projects when the work, people and timing feel right.
No giant design menu. No filling my calendar for the sake of filling it. Good work. Good people. When it makes sense.
SELECTED PROJECTS
BRAND + CREATIVE WORK
BY AVAILABILITY
Just not all day, every day anymore.
Kind Words
Working with Kunshuis brings about sheer happiness. Their creativity is on point and the end result … always amazing. I highly recommend their services to my clients as I appreciate their attention to detail and dedication to perfection.
— LELANIE BASSON TWAFIIKA CONSULTANTS
Kunshuis has provided excellent work and has always achieved to translate exactly what our business wants to portray through the designs. This isn’t often the case, and therefore our number one choice.
— DANENE VAN DER WESTHUYZEN –
ARU HUNTING SAFARIS NAMIBIA
It is a privilege to work with Nelett from Kunshuis. Not only due to her dedication & professionalism, but always understanding exactly what a client’s wants and providing a service & product over & above expectations.
— MONIQUE REDECKER
You’ll probably feel at home here if…
You’re good at the creative part but still figuring out the business part.
You want to make better money without becoming someone you’re not.
You care about doing good work — but you also want a life outside of it.
You’re trying to stay relevant while the creative industry changes at lightning speed.
You don’t need another guru. You’d quite like someone who has actually lived it.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND HERE
REAL EXPERIENCE
I’m not teaching a business I read about.
I’ve been inside this industry for more than 25 years. Agency. Freelance. Clients. Mistakes. Wins. Burnout. Reinvention. All of it.
PRACTICAL HELP
I love inspiration. But eventually you need something you can actually use. The template. The answer. The system. The email wording. The conversation. The next step.
HUMAN SUPPORT
You are not a content machine with a Canva subscription. You’re a person doing creative work while also living an actual life. That matters here.
REMEMBER:
Sometimes you just need a better way of doing it.
The KunsHuis Way
I get it because I’ve been there.
I’m not here to tell you how to become a six-figure designer by next Tuesday. I’m much more interested in helping you build something that actually works for your life. A creative career with better boundaries. A business that makes money. Work you’re proud of. Confidence that doesn’t disappear after one difficult client email. And enough space left over to still be a whole human. That is what Beyond Design means to me.
Because the work matters.
But the person doing it matters more.
CONNECT
elsewhere:
Navigating the wonderful world of creative business as a freelancer, in-house designer or agency team member can have moments of uncertainty. The creative career is not easily understood - but don't worry - I've got you! Here we start a two-way conversation to take you from uncertain to empowered!
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