I help brands with creative direction and design, project development, and strategic visual storytelling
I see brands as living things—growing, shifting, and finding their voice. My role is to bring them to life visually and strategically through creative direction and management, intuitive design, and storytelling. I work with an agile mindset, trusting that the best brands evolve like people do—organically, through learning and connection, without fear of not having all the answers upfront.
Years of experience
Collaborations
WHAT DO I BRING TO THE TABLE, YOU ASK?
Interested to see more? Scroll down and explore selected projects:
Kubem Studio
full-scale brand creation & growth
Playful corner of whimsical illustrations
Contrado
creative design
Design partner of independent artists worldwide
Includder
brand development and management
Connecting international students with mentors.
Rise Little Earthling
Pattern and collection design
Organic fashion collection for kids
Kubem Studio
Kubem Studio specializes in creating playful illustrations for lighthearted brands. In addition to custom services, my growth strategy involved creating a signature print collection, Kubem toys, and other merchandise. Brand development aligns with Kubem's playful aesthetic and values, combining whimsy and functionality in delightful compositions. I've produced illustrations for diverse products, brand materials, stationery, interior decor, and unique pieces. As part of growing Kubem Studio, I've taken on various roles like product and content creation, customer service, website design with a shop section, Etsy shop launch and expansion, marketing, and overall brand building.
Tasks
* Brand development
* Project management
* Visual identity
* Website and shop design
* Print collection design
* Illustration services
* Marketing & growth strategy
* Customer service
Tools
* Adobe Illustrator
* Adobe Photoshop
* Adobe InDesign
* Procreate
* WordPress
* Notion and Slack
* Figma
Kubem Studio
I have managed multiple custom projects for clients, outsourcing designers, overseeing licensing partnerships, and leading content creation. The growth strategy included organic marketing, strategic partnerships, and the expansion of the Etsy shop. During this time, Kubem's digital wall art has been sold in over 40 countries, and its illustrations have been featured in the franchise World Market. My collaborations have included brand illustration, book illustration, print and pattern licensing, and other personalized services.
The toy design roadmap
My journey of toy design involved every facet, from pattern design and fabric combinations to the selection of the color palette and the artistry of sewing. My mission was to breathe life into 2D characters, ensuring they resonate seamlessly with the tone of voice and visuals that define the Kubem brand.
Colour palette
To start with the design, I love creating a moodboard with colour palette and different textured fabrics for the body, clothes, and details.
Pattern making
After establishing the character design to fit Kubem's story and creatures, the next phase involves creating patterns and deciding on size, accessories, and details.
Sewing
My favourite part! Once I stitch the toy's body, it's all set for adding clothes and additional details.
Adding details
Every extra piece is carefully made to flawlessly match the character.
That's it!
Our new friend is all set to join the crowd!
Contrado
The new visual identity is centred around unique qualities, sustainability, the brand’s mission, and the target audience. Contrado helps creatives to make, source and sell art across a vast range of quality and exclusive products made to last. I worked closely with an art director and team to redefine the brand’s key visual messages, create artist's collections and develop campaigns. The photography direction is inclusive and celebrates artist collections.
Tasks
* Brand guidelines
* Brand illustration
* Visual design
* Campaign development
* Collection development
* Platform improvement
Tools
* Figma
* Adobe Photoshop
* Adobe AfterEffects
* Adobe Illustrator
* Procreate
* Miro & Notion
Contrado
I worked closely with the marketing team to understand their goals and objectives and create engaging visuals that support the company's marketing campaign efforts. The tasks included the design of email newsletters, social media posts, advertisements, and campaign preparations.
Tools
Active Campaign *
Mailchimp *
Figma *
Adobe Photoshop *
Adobe InDesign *
Campaign concept design
In my role as a creative designer at Contrado, developing campaigns and creating collections with artists was a key responsibility. I curated artwork collections and designed product lines to showcase each artist's unique style and values. Here's an example of a collaboration with the illustrator CatCoq.
Forming a concept
This campaign celebrates the 60s, titled "Golden Hour." I aimed to showcase the artist's vibrant work and the premium look of Contrado's products by curating a collection that highlights her designs. The process began with a moodboard for inspiration.
Product design
The next step is designing a product range, including clothes, accessories, and stationery. I focused on combining patterns, determining sizes, and using prints thoughtfully.
Photoshoot
Preparing for a photoshoot involves sketching compositions, getting props ready, and carefully incorporating design products.
Promoting the collection
After getting everything ready to roll, it's time to spread the joy and share the collection with everyone!
Rise Little Earthling
Rise Little Earthling brings organic and responsibly sourced products to caring parents. Inspired by Scandinavian design, their style reflects simplicity. As a print and pattern designer for their clothing collections, I developed concepts, crafted characters, and created numerous compositions while adhering to client guidelines and the color palette.
Tasks
* Trend research
* Concept design
* Digital illustration
* Pattern design
Skills
* Adobe Illustrator
* Procreate
Pattern design process
Trend research
To set the initial approach, each pattern in the collection undergoes trend research and aligns with theme requirements.
Character design
Moving forward, I delve into sketches, character design, and the addition of playful elements such as lines, dots, leaves, and more. This is a phase where creativity comes to life!
Pattern design
Once I have gathered enough elements and characters, I arrange them in a repeating composition using Adobe Illustrator, making it ready for fabric printing.
Includder
The Includder Project was developed to support students in launching international careers by providing them with mentorship, resources, and structured events. The project involved end-to-end development and execution, from conceptualization to the first phase of on-the-ground implementation. My role was to establish the digital presence and brand voice, promote the upcoming platform, oversee event logistics, and lead outreach efforts to engage students and potential mentors.
Tasks
* Project ideation & research
* Branding & content strategy
* Website design
* Ad creative development
* Event planning & execution
* Student & mentor outreach
Tools
* WordPress
* Adobe Photoshop
* Procreate
* Eventbrite & Meetup
* Facebook Ads Manager
* Notion
Project timeline & phases
I played a dual role as brand designer and project manager, leading the development of the project’s visual identity, brand voice, and marketing/ outreach strategy.
Laying the foundation
The tasks included defining project goals, conducting research, creating a cohesive brand voice and digital presence, and developing the website.
Event organization & promotion
The next phase focused on structuring the event format, managing logistics, securing a speaker, setting up registration, and launching a marketing campaign.
Student & mentor outreach
After engaging student communities, the process continued with direct outreach, mentor onboarding, and interviews.
TESTIMONIALS
" She was exceptionally enthusiastic about the project, using a fresh approach when delivering visual solutions, and it was something that I was looking for. She can think out of the box, and it was very helpful for the different points of view I needed. "
"Working with Milica was great! She undertook to learn what I was seeking in a brand new project and translated those ideas and suggestions into wonderful designs. Her attention to the details of how these designs would work really helped turn the project into a lovely success. The turnaround was prompt and efficient so we had the whole project wrapped up quickly too."
" Milica has been wonderful to work with! Superfast response time when creating a custom order for me. I highly recommend her shop! The decor will look so cute in my son's nursery. "
Design process of visuals for brand development:
1.
Understanding the brand's personality and conducting research on the brand's values, mission, tone of voice, and style.
2.
Determining the target audience to define visuals that resonate with them and their needs.
3.
Developing a design concept that is consistent with the overall marketing strategy.
4.
Testing the design with the target audience. Is it inviting, inclusive, educational and easy to understand?
5.
Selecting the best design strategy and refining it into a final design.
6.
Applying the design across various platforms.
Let's work together
