I'm Catherine van Rees, a versatile Graphic Designer, Web Developer, and Digital Marketer based in Cape Town. I have valuable international experience, having worked in both South Africa and the Netherlands, primarily serving the fashion, beauty, and sports nutrition industries. My high creativity is my core strength, and it thrives on a foundation of professional trust and creative autonomy. I perform at my absolute best when my employer grants me the freedom to shape the process (within reason), knowing I will deliver exceptional, high-quality work. I am happiest working remotely, creating on my laptop, in my own comfortable space, and playing my favorite music out loud, as this ideal environment is what allows me to tap into my deepest creative flow.…

Catherine Van Rees

I'm Catherine van Rees, a versatile Graphic Designer, Web Developer, and Digital Marketer based in Cape Town. I have valuable international experience, having worked in both South Africa and the Netherlands, primarily serving the fashion, beauty, and sports nutrition industries. My high creativity is my core strength, and it thrives on a foundation of professional trust and creative autonomy. I perform at my absolute best when my employer grants me the freedom to shape the process (within reason), knowing I will deliver exceptional, high-quality work. I am happiest working remotely, creating on my laptop, in my own comfortable space, and playing my favorite music out loud, as this ideal environment is what allows me to tap into my deepest creative flow.…

Available to hire

I’m Catherine van Rees, a versatile Graphic Designer, Web Developer, and Digital Marketer based in Cape Town. I have valuable international experience, having worked in both South Africa and the Netherlands, primarily serving the fashion, beauty, and sports nutrition industries.

My high creativity is my core strength, and it thrives on a foundation of professional trust and creative autonomy. I perform at my absolute best when my employer grants me the freedom to shape the process (within reason), knowing I will deliver exceptional, high-quality work. I am happiest working remotely, creating on my laptop, in my own comfortable space, and playing my favorite music out loud, as this ideal environment is what allows me to tap into my deepest creative flow.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Web Development, CRO & Email Marketing at Freelance
January 1, 2025 - Present
Since returning to South Africa, I have been freelancing as a web developer, email marketing specialist, and CRO expert. I manage multiple projects simultaneously, demonstrating strong adaptability and focus by tailoring my efforts to each client's unique brand and product. I have provided services across various industries, including health and wellness, beauty, fashion, and services. Additionally, I manage social media accounts and create original content to enhance brand presence and engagement.
Web Development, CRO & Email Marketing at Freelance
January 1, 2025 - Present
Since returning to South Africa, I have been freelancing as a web developer, email marketing specialist, and CRO expert. I manage multiple projects simultaneously, demonstrating strong adaptability and focus by tailoring my efforts to each client's unique brand and product. I have provided services across various industries, including health and wellness, beauty, fashion, and services. Additionally, during this freelancing period, I have been managing social media accounts and creating original content to enhance brand presence and engagement.
Social Media Manager & Content Creator at Amacx Sports Nutrition, Netherlands
December 31, 2024 - December 31, 2024
Drove significant growth in social media performance, increasing Instagram views from 315K to 3.5 million in 90 days; planned, created, and posted content; managed content calendar; produced photography and videography for campaigns; optimized cross-platform reach and engagement; collaborated with teams to align with brand brief and editorial direction.
Social Media Manager & Content Creative at Amacx Sports Nutrition
December 31, 2024 - July 21, 2025
I managed the full social media process, including planning content calendars, scheduling and posting content, overseeing community management across multiple platforms, and analyzing data to optimize performance. I drove significant growth in social media performance, increasing Instagram views from 315K to 3.5 million in 90 days. I handled all content creation, including photography and videography for campaigns, graphic design for web banners, email flows, and social media posts, as well as front-end web development and copywriting.
Social Media Manager & Content Creative at Amacx Sports Nutrition
December 31, 2024 - July 21, 2025
Managed the full social media process, including planning content calendars, scheduling and posting content, overseeing community management across multiple platforms, and analyzing data to optimize performance. Drove significant growth in social media performance, increasing Instagram views from 315K to 3.5 million in 90 days. Handled all content creation, including photography and videography for campaigns, graphic design for web banners, email flows, and social media posts, as well as front-end web development and copywriting.
Assistant Editor, Content Creator at Modern Magazine
December 31, 2023 - July 21, 2025
Started as an intern and was offered full-time employment based on performance. Responsibilities included contributing creative ideas for feature articles, assisting in research and interviewing, planning and executing photo shoots, editing and photographing articles, and managing editorial deadlines and priorities. Played a key role in shaping content aligned with the magazine's editorial direction.
Assistant Editor / Content Creator at Modern Magazine (South Africa)
December 31, 2023 - July 21, 2025
Began career as an intern and then full-time employee, involved in magazine article creation from ideation to completion, contributed creative ideas, assisted in research and interviewing, planned and executed photo shoots, worked closely with teams to produce visuals complementing content, assisted in editing and photographing articles, and managed editorial deadlines ensuring smooth production workflow.
Assistant Editor / Content Creator at Modern Magazine (South Africa)
December 1, 2023 - December 1, 2023
Contributed to magazine content from ideation to completion; coordinated shoots, developed content ideas for social media; implemented data-driven strategies to optimize engagement; analyzed engagement analytics to refine content and improve performance; managed daily operations across the brand's social media channels; produced content creation for magazine features; led ideation of a summer campaign in Cape Town.
Freelance Content Creator & Social Media Manager at Modern Magazine (South Africa)
January 1, 2019 - November 6, 2025
Freelanced across social media channels, creating content and coordinating shoots; built and executed content strategies, produced photography and videography for campaigns; analyzed engagement metrics to refine content approaches and improve performance; managed daily operations across brand social channels; supported various campaigns including a notable summer campaign in Cape Town.

Education

BA Visual Communications at Red & Yellow Creative School of Business
January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2022
BA Visual Communications at Red & Yellow Creative School of Business
January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2022
BA Visual Communications - Digital Design & Marketing at Red & Yellow Creative School of Business
January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2022

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Consumer Goods, Retail, Travel & Hospitality, Professional Services
    Comprehensive Website Design and Content Creation to Boost Engagement and Brand Presence
    Project Background Twisties is an innovative, patented nail product from the Netherlands that approached me with an exciting vision. As a new market entrant, they needed a complete brand identity, including a name, website, and engaging content—tasks I was tasked with from scratch, as they had never had an online presence before. The main challenge was to conceptualize and create an entirely new website identity for Twisties. Working closely with founder Donna and graphic designer Cedric, we developed the visual identity, which I then translated into a vibrant, user-friendly website designed to embody the brand’s playful and innovative spirit. Using Instant, I designed and built a custom e-commerce platform where users can seamlessly browse and buy each product directly from its dedicated page. Additionally, I had the honor of leading Twisties’ inaugural photoshoot, creating authentic visual content that captures the playful and fresh essence of the brand. Users & Context Twisties caters to two distinct audiences: Nail professionals seeking to purchase products efficiently Consumers eager to shop directly through their D2C channel The website needed to serve both groups effectively. This required a clear, welcoming structure that also prioritized speed and practicality. While we didn’t have extensive user research, I relied on client insights and early discussions to understand the core needs and pain points, ensuring the site would meet the expectations of both audiences. Stratergy & Direction: After our kickoff, I discussed the core brand values with founder Donna, which highlighted the importance of creating a brand that feels fun, approachable, and easy to navigate. To bring this to life, we built upon the existing brand colors and incorporated the vibrant, playful visuals from our studio photoshoots. Throughout the website, I introduced subtle interactive animations to enhance the user experience without overwhelming it, emphasizing ease and engagement. I utilized clear icons and concise text to illustrate how simple and quick the Twisties application process is—highlighting its user-friendly nature. The overall design aimed to reflect the brand’s fresh, dynamic personality while providing a seamless shopping journey for both professionals and consumers. Building the Site: I designed and developed custom pages to enhance the user experience and showcase the brand effectively, including: Homepage Product Page Collection Page About Page FAQ Contact Page The design was implemented with a responsive approach to ensure seamless functionality and visual consistency across all devices, providing an engaging and accessible shopping experience for users everywhere. Collaboration & Handoff: Throughout the project, I collaborated closely with the founder and graphic designer, maintaining agile feedback loops that kept the process efficient and focused.…
    Custom Website Development for De Pindakaas Club
    Project Background: De Pindakaas Club is an exciting new brand specializing in unique, high-quality peanut butters with a wide range of flavors. The brand approached me with the goal of establishing a strong online presence from scratch. Since De Pindakaas Club was a new entrant in the market, the focus was on creating an engaging, memorable website that effectively introduced the brand and encouraged first sales. The challenge was to design and develop a fully custom website that captures the playful and irresistible nature of the peanut butter flavors, even though the client initially lacked a clear vision. The primary objective was to create a compelling overview of the brand, showcase the product variety, and facilitate a seamless shopping experience. Users & Context: De Pindakaas Club targets a diverse audience: Peanut butter enthusiasts eager to explore new flavors First-time buyers interested in trying the brand Returning customers looking for easy reordering Given that the brand was new, the website needed to introduce the flavors attractively while guiding users to make a purchase. Since there was no extensive user research, I collaborated closely with Joost, the founder, to understand the core needs and to develop a site that feels fun, approachable, and engaging. The website also aimed to highlight the variety of flavors through an inviting presentation, encouraging users to try the sample pack as a versatile entry point into the brand. Strategy & Direction: From the start, I worked closely with Joost to shape the website’s tone and personality. Although he didn’t have a concrete initial idea, our conversations centered around showcasing the unique peanut butter offerings in a playful, quirky manner. We decided to feature a standout sample pack as the introduction to De Pindakaas Club, offering a discounted range of flavors to entice first purchases. To reflect the vibrant, fun nature of the brand, I integrated lively animations and interactive elements throughout the site, making the shopping experience engaging and memorable. The visual design utilized bold, colorful imagery and playful typography, reinforcing the brand’s unique personality and flavor diversity. The overall strategy focused on creating a seamless, enjoyable journey that guides users from brand introduction to purchase effortlessly. Building the Site: I designed and developed custom pages to showcase the brand effectively, including: Homepage Product Page (with all flavors accessible on each product page) Collection Page Blog & Recipe Page Help & Contact Page About Us The website was built with a responsive approach to ensure excellent functionality and visual appeal across all devices, providing an accessible and engaging shopping experience everywhere. I worked very closely with Joost throughout the process, holding weekly meetings to ensure transparency and incorporate his feedback at every stage.…
    Custom Shopify Development
    Summary I help Shopify brands boost conversions through smart, custom-built features that elevate the customer journey. From advanced product customizers to “build-your-box” flows and filter systems. I develop high-impact, conversion-driven components tailored to your store and audience. Whether you're looking to improve UX, increase AOV, or simply make your site more interactive, I turn complex ideas into seamless, high-performing Shopify experiences. Process Discovery & Briefing We start with a collaborative call or written brief to understand your goals, users, and business challenges. Whether you already have an idea or need help defining it, I’ll help shape it into something technically feasible and commercially smart. Scoping & Planning Based on the brief, I define the scope of work, key features, integrations, and expected timeline. You’ll receive a clear outline of deliverables and milestones. No surprises later on. UX & Wireframing (optional) If needed, I create simple wireframes to map out the structure and flow of the feature or component. This helps align on logic and user journey before visual design begins. Visual Design & Prototyping Next, I design the feature/component in Figma, fully aligned with your brand. You’ll review and approve the design before development starts. For interactive experiences (like customizers), I can also build a working prototype. Development & Integration I bring the design to life in your existing Shopify theme using clean Liquid, JS, and CSS. Everything is mobile-responsive, fast, and built with performance and scalability in mind. I also handle app/API integrations if required. Testing & QA Before going live, I test the implementation across devices and browsers to ensure smooth UX, clean performance, and bug-free functionality. You’ll have a chance to review and sign off. Launch & Support Once approved, I push the feature live (or hand over if you prefer to launch yourself). I offer post-launch support to make sure everything continues to work as intended and to make adjustments if needed.…
    Luxury Shopify Website Development for Amara Bespoke
    For Amara Bespoke, I built a luxurious Shopify website that elevates their brand with refined visuals and an intuitive user experience. The site highlights their bespoke offerings with elegant detailing, creating a memorable shopping journey that combines style and functionality to boost engagement and conversions. Project Background: Amara Bespoke approached us with an existing website that was not converting effectively. The goal was to refresh and elevate the site’s visual appeal and user experience, aligning it more closely with the brand’s luxury aesthetic. The focus was on creating a website that exudes elegance, showcases the handcrafted quality of the products, and encourages more conversions. The challenge was to redesign the site to feel more premium and user-friendly, while maintaining the integrity of the existing content and allowing the client full creative input throughout the process. The primary objective was to craft a simple yet sophisticated platform that resonates with the target audience and reflects the brand’s ethos. Amara Bespoke’s target audience includes: Customers seeking high-end, bespoke products Visitors looking for an elegant, easy-to-navigate online experience Since the website was the main online touchpoint, it needed to be visually refined and seamless to navigate, encouraging visitors to engage with the products and convert. Working closely with the client, the goal was to produce a visually appealing and functional site that celebrates craftsmanship and style across all devices. Strategy & Direction: The project involved subtle yet impactful design enhancements to create a more luxurious feel. The logo was refined by removing the line below ‘Amara’ and the word ‘Bespoke’ underneath, making it cleaner and more balanced. All images were enlarged to full screen, adding a classy, elegant touch. Lots of hover animations were incorporated to highlight the beautiful content received from the client, enhancing interactivity and engagement. Videos provided by the client were edited into sleek visual elements to bring the site to life. The chosen font was truly clean and elegant, reinforcing the premium vibe. The overall strategy focused on creating a simple, beautiful, and easy-to-use website that resonates with the brand’s luxury identity. The website was built to include: Homepage with impactful visuals and easy navigation Product pages showcasing each item clearly and attractively Collection pages to explore different categories About Us page highlighting the brand story and craftsmanship Contact page for inquiries and support The entire site was designed to be fully responsive, ensuring a consistent, elegant experience across all devices. With full creative direction from the client, the final result was a refined, clean, and user-friendly website that she loved and that significantly improved user engagement and conversions.…