Brilliant and hypnotic! That’s how we’d best describe the fabulous works of graphic designer Hansje van Halem. She gathered recognition with her distinctive typography and geometric, almost psychedelic illustrations built on complex patterns. Her methods are diverse and she doesn’t shy away from digitally scratching, drawing or weaving her letters and designs stamps, posters and illustrations.
Van Halem’s design-experiments sometimes lead to commissioned applications for public space, including a border fence at the Dutch Schiphol Airport. Her work is in the collection of museum, amongst others Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam (NL) and Museum für Gestaltung Zürich (CH). Since 2017 Hansje is the head designer of music festival Lowlands.
Passionate about typography, book design and print in all its forms, Hansje van Halem has run her own studio in Amsterdam since 2003. She works digitally, creating intricate typographic experiments that explore the tension between a systematic approach, legibility and irregularity. Fascinated by the interplay between pattern, texture and typography, Hansje van Halem had developed a distinctive style that bridges the gap between digital and print to suit her needs – she’s as comfortable generating striking visuals as she is experimenting with screen print and riso.
Hansje told us more about her works and process at Blend 2019 during a talk organized in collaboration with the lovely peeps of Graphic Matters!
image Lowlands: Motion design: Jurriaan Hos / Design assistent: Marjolein Rinckes / Programming: Just van Rossum