Hey, I'm Michiel Bartelen, a 27-year-old graphic designer with a knack for typography and a love for exploring subcultures. Born in 1996 and raised in Roosendaal, my design journey started pretty early. I began by tweaking online avatars, and as a teenager, I was out on the streets tagging graffiti, searching for my own identity and creating different personas.

I honed my design skills at the Sint Lucas Eindhoven and Grafisch Lyceum in Rotterdam, where I built a solid foundation. Under the guidance of Ton Homburg and Marty Schouten, as well as Rosie Stapel, where I learned what real design was.

Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with Rosie Stapel. Collaborating with her has been transformative, blending my passion for researching subcultures with a keen eye for storytelling.

A lot of my inspiration comes from my love for typography. I enjoy exploring the intricacies of different typefaces and how they can convey diverse messages. It’s this fascination with letterforms that makes working as a graphic designer so interesting.

In my free time, I have an ever-growing collection of prints and books. My archive is a bit eclectic right now—anything that catches my eye ends up in there.

Being straightforward and true to my word is super important to me. While I sometimes see things in black and white, I’m always searching for those grey areas in between. This perspective shapes not just who I am but also how I approach my design work, ensuring I deliver honest and thoughtful creations every time.