{"id":276739,"date":"2026-02-10T10:35:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T10:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/276739\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T10:35:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T10:35:16","slug":"how-karmijn-simons-used-illustration-to-create-a-visual-language-for-mbo-digitaal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/276739\/","title":{"rendered":"How Karmijn Simons used illustration to create a visual language for MBO Digitaal"},"content":{"rendered":"

MBO Digitaal is a Dutch organisation that helps schools and educators implement digital systems to support vocational learning. However, the aim isn\u2019t to introduce digital tools for the sake of it \u2013 the tech needs to be effective for both educational facilities and students, otherwise it\u2019s a waste of money. To this end, MBO Digitaal wanted to create a suite of materials to break everything down for all the stakeholders, engage them with the processes and highlight the benefits.<\/p>\n

To do so, the company turned to Karmijn Simons, a digital illustrator whose passion is to use imagery to support and strengthen written content \u2013 and not just decorate it. First, she was given a single project to work on, but this ballooned into creating a cohesive illustrative style to use across MBO Digitaal\u2019s entire suite of materials.<\/p>\n

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\"Simple<\/p>\n

Simple objects make complex themes relatable<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe brief was to create a recognisable visual language that could be applied across guides, workshop materials, event communication, covers, and a printed card set for team conversations,\u201d explains Karmijn. \u201cRather than producing individual illustrations, I developed a consistent visual approach using diverse characters, clear compositions, and graphic elements that help structure information.\u201d<\/p>\n

Translating abstract educational frameworks into visuals is challenging enough. Add in the goal of getting people talking, organising their systems and implementing the technology in real-life settings and you\u2019ve got a challenging brief. But it was one Karmijn enjoyed tackling and collaboration with the client was key to achieving artworks to fit seamlessly with the comms.<\/p>\n

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\"Outdoor<\/p>\n

Outdoor and printed guide applications<\/p>\n

Karmijn continues: \u201cEarly feedback focused on keeping the visuals accessible, structured, and easy to use during conversations and workshops. We gradually shaped a system using strong graphic compositions, different characters, and symbolic scenes or settings that help translate abstract educational themes into something tangible and recognisable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Characters appear throughout the material, interacting in everyday situations and depicting various roles and concepts such as collaboration, professional growth and digital development in education. As well as the figures themselves, Karmijn has kept the imagery human and relatable by using faces, hands and objects easily associated with training scenarios.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor several posters, I used an isometric style to visualise layered learning processes and digital transformation,\u201d she says. \u201cThis approach allowed me to show multiple steps, themes, roles, and responsibilities within one composition, helping viewers understand how different elements relate to each other. It also allowed me to build small narrative moments within one image, which I always enjoy doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Colour coding was used to categorise information visually and as a navigation tool through the material. Karmijn has used the colour palette, which isn\u2019t linked to MBO Digtaal\u2019s branding, to create a feel that is open, optimistic and approachable, so the viewer finds the information-dense material more appealing.<\/p>\n

But perhaps the biggest win is in how Karmijn\u2019s visual language is starting conversations. One element of the project is an illustrated deck of cards used in workshops to open out all sorts of practices and ideas when it comes to digital platforms in vocational education. <\/p>\n

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Karmijn explains: \u201cThe idea emerged from the need to move discussions away from purely written frameworks and towards something people could work with together. Each card represents a theme, competency, or conversation prompt and combines a clear illustration with short supporting text. During workshops or team sessions, participants use the cards to structure discussions, reflect on their own practice, and prioritise development themes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Because Karmijn\u2019s imagery is working so well, her collaboration with MBO Digitaal continues. In parallel, she\u2019s taking on other illustration commissions in comms and editorial. She\u2019s also collaborating with a ceramic artist, translating her work into physical forms that will be hand painted \u2013 a refreshing step away from vector graphics and isometric platforms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MBO Digitaal is a Dutch organisation that helps schools and educators implement digital systems to support vocational learning.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":276740,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[442,498,499,500,501,156,111,139,69],"class_list":{"0":"post-276739","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-design","8":"tag-arts","9":"tag-arts-and-design","10":"tag-artsanddesign","11":"tag-artsdesign","12":"tag-design","13":"tag-entertainment","14":"tag-new-zealand","15":"tag-newzealand","16":"tag-nz"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/276739","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=276739"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/276739\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/276740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=276739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=276739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=276739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}