Natalie

Graphic Design and Instructional Design @ design gourmets

Germany Berlin (UTC+1) 18+ yrs in design

About

I trained as a graphic designer in Germany and have been working in the field since 2007 – first in-house and at agencies, and since 2012 with my own small studio. Most of my work is print, branding and illustration for companies and agencies, and over the years I’ve also moved into e-learning and instructional design. I’ve learned a lot along the way, often the hard way: pricing, client communication, staying organized, keeping things running as a freelancer. So you don’t have to make all the same mistakes I did 😊 I’m pretty relaxed and direct. I’d rather give you an honest answer than a polished one. I simply enjoy sharing what I know, whether you’re stuck on a project, unsure how to price your work, or thinking about going freelance. One thing to know: my experience is with the German market, so that’s where I can help you most. When I’m not designing, I’m usually in my beautiful home office with my steam deck, at the drawing desk, or negotiating with one of my many cats about who gets the office chair 🐈

How I can help

I help designers find their footing as freelancers in Germany and Europe: portfolio feedback, pricing, client communication and print production. 18+ years in graphic design, running my own studio since 2012 with long-term B2B clients.

Ask me about

Freelance to full-time

Not the right mentor for: Social media design, content creation and growing your audience online.

Expertise

Experience

Founder & graphic designer · Own design studio
2012 to present
Print, branding, illustration, 3D visuals and e-learning for companies and agencies.
Graphic designer · In-house & agency
2007 to 2011
Print and marketing materials, email marketing and seminar organisation.

Selected work

Corporate design for a restaurant

Brand merchandise for a software product

Old courtyard – digital painting

Product brochure for a window & door manufacturer

Magazine & editorial design

Instrument illustration series

Responsive e-learning course (Articulate Storyline)

Illustrated process graphic – e-learning

Also here to learn

Natalie mentors on Hop and is growing too. A bit about their own path right now.

Working on

18 years in and still learning something new every week.. I'd love to swap stories with designers outside my German bubble. Just connecting, networking and having good conversations.

Growing toward

Land a clients outside Germany, grow my e-learning work next to print and branding, and keep having fun with it. Bonus points for more time by the sea and fewer revision rounds 🌊

Could use a hand with

Craft to strategy, Negotiating comp, International clients, AI workflows

Sessions

Just say hi – designer chat ☕Free
20 min
No agenda, no pressure. Grab a coffee and let's chat about whatever's on your mind: projects, clients, tools, that one font you can't stop using, or why every client wants the logo bigger. Designers talking to designers – you'll leave with a new contact and hopefully a smile.
Questions about going freelance in GermanyFree
20 min
Thinking about going freelance in Germany and have a bunch of questions? Bring them along. I’ll share what I’ve learned since 2012 – how I got started, what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d do differently today. No big promises, just honest answers from someone who’s been there.
Portfolio review for print & brandingFree
20 min
Send me your portfolio and we’ll go through it together. I’ll tell you honestly what works, what I’d cut, and what’s missing if you want to land clients or agency jobs in Germany. You’ll leave with a short list of concrete changes.
What should I charge? Pricing & quotesFree
20 min
Bring a real project or an offer you’re unsure about. We’ll look at how to calculate your price, what to put in a quote and how to talk about money with clients without feeling awkward.

English, German

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