Hello.
My name is Karien van Niekerk, but friends call me Kay. Either or, I am mostly known as the lady in die dark that photoshops images. I have spent over 17 years mastering my craft in the crazy world of advertising. Learning and working alongside some of the industry’s best.
Starting my career at 18, I was bound to become a product of the advertising industry. Shortly after completing my fine art and design course, I joined FCB South Africa in 2004 as an intern, instantly falling in love with High End Retouching and all its magical potential. Passion driven and ambitious, I took on multiple tasks to set myself apart from my peers. Despite my passion for retouching, I grew into a creative hybrid. Before I knew it, I was retouching, designing, creating and dtp’ing for an award winning agency.
Retouching stayed my 'thing' and I evolved my craft from technical to creative to blowing the minds of many photoshop lovers. My attention to detail and colour is my power. I am very particular over perfection and exceeding industry standards.
My hunger grew for creativity and I launched my own design studio in 2010, Qpix. My love project slowly grew on the side as I continued my full time career at FCB. Ten years passed at FCB South Africa and I needed to spread my wings wider and larger than before. I joined DDB South Africa in July 2014 as High End Creative Retoucher and Digital Artist. It didn’t take long before I was involved with all sorts of projects like Illustration, Design, 3D Product Creations and CI Design and development.
Late 2018, I relaunched my studio as Qpix Evolution and started parting my ways with DDB South Africa to pursue new adventures and to feed my passion full-time. The evolution was a full 360˚ change - personally and professionally. Bright eyed and bushy tailed, I said farewell to DDB middle 2019 and hello Qpix EVOLUTION.
I am proud of my work and the level of quality I can provide my clients and fellow creatives. I stand tall knowing I can make crazy ideas happen and push my boundries. I find balance in my chaotic creative life. Bopping to my own beat, I stays a student of the game regardless of my experience.
I am a positive go getter that never shy’s away from a good challenge and teaming up with a great network of incredible people.
AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
Commission for Gender Equality - Mankind's greatest breakthroughs
(Robots, Nanobots, 3D Food, Mars)
• 2019 Cannes Award - Nomination
• 2019 Loeries Awards - Bronze
Illustrator: Karien van Niekerk
Commission for Gender Equality - HeShe Campaign
(Eric, Steve, Frasier, Ethan)
• 2018 Cannes Award - Silver + 6 Nominations
• 2018 One Show Awards - 1 Merit
• 2017 Loerie Awards Campaign Gold
• 2017 Creative Circle Ad of the Month Winner - Print
• 2017 Ad of the year
• 2017 D&AD Award - Wood Pencil
Retouching: Karien v Niekerk
Wrigley's Orbit Gum - Symbiosis Campaign
(Plover, Cleaner Shrimp, Wrasse)
• 2016 African Crystal Award - Bronze
Retouching: Karien v Niekerk
Flat Mailing : Eviction Notices
• 2007 Cannes Award - Gold Lion
Illustrator: Karien van Niekerk.
Onestep - Cat
• 2005 Loerie Award - Bronze Print/Magazine
Illustrator: Karien van Niekerk.
Behance
• Main Feature Blue Ribbons: 3
• Fashion features: 4
Brands I worked on
FASHION
Skye - Converse, Dickies, Mille, Samson, Brentwood, Lyle & Scott, Cut-rite, De Beers, Okavango Diamond Company, Miss South Africa, AFI (Africa Fashion International), Godox SA
FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS
FNB, Momentum, Old Mutual, African Bank, Eskom, Unisa, Miway, Edcon Financial Services, BeztForex, Liberty, BeztForex, Coronation
AUTOMOTIVE & TRAVEL
Nissan, Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Emirates, Nissan, Hyundai, Datsun, DS Automobiles
MEDICAL
SANBS, Adcock Ingrams - Panado, Bioplus, Compral, LCC, Medi-keel, Telement, Dillict, Myprodol, Eulactol, Duofilm, Mobic, Zyprexa Velotab, Telement Duofilm, Mobic, Teejel
FOOD & BEVERAGES
Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Energade, Wimpy, Mc Donalds, Debonaires, Pizza Hut, Tiger Brands - Koo, Roses Cordial. Unilever - Gino Ginelli, Knorr, Knorrox, Ola, Robertson’s, Royco, Lipton. Cape Hurb & Spice. Nigerian Breweries - Amstel Malta, Fayrouz, Maltina, Hi-Malt. Diageo, 5 Lamps Beer, Orijin
COMMUNICATION
Huawei, Vodacom, Telkom, OpenServe, Cell C, SABC, MTN
RETAIL
Edcon - Edgars, Edgars Active, Edgars Cellular, Jet, CNA. Plascon, Medal Paint, Chesterfield
BEAUTY
Nivia, Eucerin, Elizabeth Annes, Miss South Africa
PRODUCTS
Wrigleys - Juicy Fruit, Orbit, Skittles. SCJ - Raid, Mr Muscle, Glade, Toilet Duck, Oust. One Step, Reparil Gel, Beechies, Carat, Cobra, Plascon