BEYOND Design: The Business & Mindset Podcast for Designers & Creatives

Send us Fan Mail I've been in design for more than twenty years, and for most of them I genuinely believed the chaos was just the job. The 4pm "can you quickly change this," the laptop that came on holiday "just in case," the edits I once did on the side of a road while my family waited in the car. It felt normal. Until Covid stopped the world and my body finally exhaled — and I had to ask why it took a global crisis to give me permission to breathe. This episode is the honest version of why ...

Send us Fan Mail Nobody talks about the real loneliness of freelancing. Not the Pinterest version — laptop, coffee, living the dream. The real version. Where you read the same client email five times and wonder if you're being difficult, or if you should just drop your price because shame, you need the work. In this episode, I want to talk about something most designers carry quietly: the weight of doing everything alone. The pricing decisions, the client conversations, the small wins nobody ...

Send us Fan Mail AI is everywhere right now — in design, branding, content, websites, logos and almost every creative conversation. And here is my honest take: I love AI. It helps me think, organise, clean up admin and move faster where faster helps. But AI is not my replacement. In this episode of BEYOND Design, I talk about AI in graphic design, human-centric creativity, and why designers still matter in an AI-saturated market. Because when everyone can make something look good, the designe...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of BEYOND Design, I’m talking about the part of freelancing we often avoid in the beginning — setting up the basic foundation of your freelance design business. Not the fancy website. Not the perfect brand. Not seventeen apps and a dramatic business plan. Just the simple things that make you feel more legit, more organised, and less all over the place when a client finally asks, “Can you send me a quote?” We’ll talk about the four basics every freelance design...

Send us Fan Mail The 80/20 Truth: Design talent might get you hired once… but it’s the other 80% that keeps you booked. In this episode we talk about the part of freelancing nobody posts about: boundaries, client communication, systems, confidence — and even that thing I call “email apnea” (when your inbox makes you hold your breath like it’s about to ruin your day). You’ll leave with one practical takeaway: five non-negotiables for how you work, so clients don’t run your life. Full show note...

Send us Fan Mail This is the most requested episode I get: how I started Kunshuis. I’m taking you back to 2009/2010 — the spare-bedroom days, after-hours work, the awkward phone calls, the “Eish… I hope this works” moments… and the simple things I did that still matter today. In this episode, I share what I did first to get clients, why I didn’t niche (and why I don’t regret it), the small habits that made me feel like a proper professional, and how human connection became the lifeline of my ...

Send us Fan Mail Working from home sounds like the dream… until it’s week two and you’re sitting in the same spot again, feeling flat, distracted, and a bit alone. In this episode, I share the real story of how KunsHuis started (dining-room desk, pay-as-you-go internet, all of it) — and what actually helped me climb out of that early working-from-home slump. We’re talking dedicated space, routine, boundaries, staying connected, and the small things that make freelancing sustainable. → Show no...

Send us Fan Mail Somewhere between the school bags, the “quick” client emails that are never quick, and making supper… a lot of creatives are quietly waiting for work to just… arrive. And babe, I get it. I’ve done it too. In this episode, I’m sharing a very unglamorous but very effective truth: Before you go looking for new clients… check your inbox. Because the clients you’re praying for aren’t always strangers. Sometimes they’re already sitting in old emails… warm leads… past clients… the “...

Send us Fan Mail Somewhere between the school bags, the client emails, the dog walk, and making supper… a lot of creatives are quietly burning out. In this episode, I’m sharing the simple rhythm that’s helping me hold client work and build what’s next — without losing myself halfway through the week. We’ll talk about why the problem usually isn’t time… it’s transitions. How to protect your mornings like a studio. And how to use weekly themes + monthly batching so your podcast/course/products ...

Send us Fan Mail If you're in that weird space between wanting to rest and still wanting to feel inspired — this one's for you. In this episode, we’re talking about how to stay creative during the holidays without forcing it. Because let’s be honest — your brain might be fried, your to-do list is a bit of a joke, and inspiration doesn’t exactly strike between school concerts and shopping lists. I’m sharing what I’ve learned about letting creativity play (instead of pushing it), what that actu...

Send us Fan Mail If December is the only time you finally breathe, this episode is for you. I’m talking about the moment I realised the life I was designing — the one I thought looked “successful” — was actually exhausting me by the end of every year. This one’s not about productivity hacks or how to squeeze more into your day. It’s about learning to pause on purpose. Daily. Not just during the holidays. Let’s talk about why rest is not a reward. Why slowing down doesn't mean falling behind. ...

Send us Fan Mail Let’s be honest — running a freelance design business can feel like a mess. And no, it’s usually not the design work that’s the problem… it’s everything around it. The emails, the timelines, the feedback loops, the invoices, the “wait, where did I save that thing?” moments. In this episode, I’m walking you through the real reason I created the Designers’ Playbook Desk — not as another Notion template, but as the system I needed to survive and actually enjoy running my busines...

Send us Fan Mail Clients don’t come with a manual — and neither do we. So when a project goes sideways, it’s usually not about the design… it’s about the gap between what we know and what our clients think happens behind the scenes. In this episode, we dive into one of the most overlooked parts of our job as designers: educating our clients. Not blaming them. Not rolling our eyes behind the scenes. But guiding them with clarity, simple language, realistic timelines, and boundaries th...

Send us Fan Mail Let’s be honest — being a “top-rated” creative isn’t just about having talent or pretty work on your feed. It’s about how you run your freelance business. How you communicate. How you lead a project. How you carry yourself when no one’s watching. In this first episode of the Playbook Series, I’m sharing what actually makes a designer truly trusted — the stuff that turns one-off clients into long-term ones, and stress into structure. We’re diving into the business side of the ...

Send us Fan Mail Feeling creatively drained… but also kinda excited for what next year could be? In this episode, I’m talking about that strange end-of-year feeling we creatives know too well — tired, worn out, low on ideas… but still catching little sparks of inspiration for the year ahead. From what I wrote in VISI Magazine to the real-talk reset I’m doing in my own studio, this is a soft, honest conversation about creativity, burnout, faith, and what it means to finish the year gently — no...

Send us Fan Mail Ever been ghosted by a client? You send the concept, the quote, the carefully worded email… and then—nothing. No reply. No feedback. Just silence. In this episode, I’m sharing what to do when a client disappears—without disappearing into yourself. We’ll talk about why ghosting happens, how to gently follow up (with copy-paste scripts!), and how to protect your peace, your pricing, and your confidence. It’s real, human, and full of soft boundaries to help you design a freelanc...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever been told to “just do what the client wants”? 🙃 Yeah... same. In this episode of BEYOND Design, I’m sharing why asking smart, strategic questions isn’t “too much” — it’s exactly what makes you a powerful, professional designer. We’re diving into: • What questions actually build trust (and better results) • The difference between a designer and a button pusher • Why “make it pop” isn’t a brief — and how to translate it • One question that cost me a client (but ga...

Send us Fan Mail What do your business habits say about you? In this light-hearted (but sneakily powerful) episode, I’m blending two of my great loves—Sex and the City and helping creatives build businesses that actually fit them. Whether you’re a Carrie chasing ideas, a Miranda with airtight boundaries, a Charlotte with a big heart, or a Samantha running the show—you’ll love this playful take on creative personalities and how they show up in freelancing. Expect laughs, real talk, and maybe a...

Send us Fan Mail Behind every design file is a thinking, feeling, human—and sometimes, our biggest creative battles happen in the quiet spaces no one sees. In honour of World Mental Health Day (10 October), this episode goes beyond the deadlines and deep into the heart of what we carry as creatives. From prayer and the Bible App to tapping, the Emotion Code, Dr. Caroline Leaf’s thought rewiring, and Joe Dispenza’s meditations—I’m sharing the gentle tools that help me stay grounded, clear, and...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 A quiet crisis in the creative world... let’s talk about it. Are you actually creating… or just managing chaos? This episode goes straight into the heart of something many of us are silently dealing with: graphic designer burnout. Not the dramatic kind. The kind that sneaks in through late-night emails, endless admin, and blurred boundaries. We’re unpacking the real reason behind creative fatigue—and what to do when you feel like you’re running a business, answering WhatsAp...

Send us Fan Mail Ever feel like your clients are secretly running your business? Like your inbox has become your boss and “quick edits” turn into all-nighters? You’re not alone. In this episode of BEYOND Design, I share the raw truth of what happens when we let clients set the pace—and how to flip the script so you become the Creative Director of your own freelance life. We’ll talk boundaries, client leadership, and the small shifts that helped me rebuild my studio (after nearly losing it to ...

Send us Fan Mail Twenty years of deadlines taught me something no design degree ever could: you can’t create your best work when your body, mind, and spirit are running on empty. In this episode of BEYOND Design, I’m opening up about how deadlines shaped my life—and how I finally learned to reclaim peace, set boundaries, and design without burning out. I’ll share seven simple but powerful shifts that helped me move from urgency to clarity, and maybe they’ll help you too. 🖤 Want to dive deeper...

Send us Fan Mail Because your price isn’t just a number—it’s a mirror of your confidence. Let’s talk about the part of freelancing no one prepped us for: pricing. If you’ve ever stared at a quote, second-guessing yourself… wondering if you’re asking too much—or way too little—you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m getting real about how I went from R300 logos to building a pricing system that feels aligned, confident, and sustainable. We’ll walk through hourly rates, project fees, retainers, ...

Send us Fan Mail Ever whispered “I’m just a graphic designer” and felt that pang in your chest? In this episode, I’m talking straight from the heart—about why so many of us shrink when asked what we do, and how the only way the world will ever truly respect design… is if we start first. From awkward dinner-party moments to the real power of design that lives in everything from your coffee cup to your shampoo bottle—we’re unpacking why design isn’t “just” anything. It’s communication. Connecti...

Send us Fan Mail This one’s for the creatives who feel like business is the part they’re “not good at.” In this episode, I’m sharing what finally clicked for me after years of thinking I had to be more “corporate” to be taken seriously. Spoiler: I was wrong. Business isn’t about becoming someone else—it’s about learning how to stay you, consistently. From boundaries and money rhythms to better client questions and less chaos—I’ll walk you through 10 tiny moves that can lead to big results. Th...

Send us Fan Mail This podcast has lived in my heart (and notebooks) for years. BEYOND Design is finally here—and in this first episode, I’m taking you back to where it all began. From the agency days in Cape Town to flipping through a phone book in Windhoek looking for my first freelance clients… this is the story behind the story. We talk about why design is only 20% of what we do—and how the other 80% is life, boundaries, burnout, faith, and figuring it out as we go. This space is for the c...

Send us Fan Mail This is not your average design podcast. This is the part after the brief. The part behind the beautiful logo. This is the real, raw, voice-note-style space for creatives, freelancers, and especially women in design who are building a life—not just a portfolio. Hosted by Nelett—graphic designer turned creative life mentor with over 25 years in the industry—BEYOND Design gently peels back the curtain on what really goes on behind the work: The self-doubt. The burnout. The tiny...