Unforgettable by Design. Hello! I am Carla Schaap, a Freelance Graphic Designer with an Advanced Diploma from Fanshawe College, and someone who has been obsessed with art and creativity for as long as I can remember. My journey started with a little girl who could not stop colouring, doodling, and imagining worlds on paper. Today, that same spark drives me to create design work that communicates, inspires, and connects. I thrive on transforming ideas into visually compelling solutions, whether it involves building a brand identity, illustrating something playful or detailed, or creating a layout that simply fits together in the most satisfying way. I design with strategy, emotion, and intention, always aiming to craft visuals that leave a lasting impression. I love exploring ideas, overthinking them in the best possible way, and pushing them until they shine. Collaboration fuels me. I enjoy sharing ideas, receiving feedback, and shaping designs into their strongest versions. With the Adobe Creative Suite as my toolset and a creative brain that never rests, I turn concepts into polished outcomes that tell stories and spark emotion. My work experience includes designing signage at Signarama, producing print and digital marketing materials at GO Platinum Realty, and hands-on roles at Creek Valley Gardens and Bear’s Treasure Beehive Products. These experiences introduced me to diverse environments and audiences, and taught me how design influences everything from branding to agriculture to community storytelling. As I continue to grow as a designer, I am excited to bring my energy, curiosity, technical skills, and love of creativity to new projects. I am committed to working with purpose, passion, and a positive attitude. If you would like to see more of my work, explore my creative process, or get inspired, feel free to visit my portfolio at carlaschaap.myportfolio.com. Great design should feel like an experience. Let's create something unforgettable!…

Carla Schaap | Carla Jenny Designs

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Unforgettable by Design. Hello! I am Carla Schaap, a Freelance Graphic Designer with an Advanced Diploma from Fanshawe College, and someone who has been obsessed with art and creativity for as long as I can remember. My journey started with a little girl who could not stop colouring, doodling, and imagining worlds on paper. Today, that same spark drives me to create design work that communicates, inspires, and connects. I thrive on transforming ideas into visually compelling solutions, whether it involves building a brand identity, illustrating something playful or detailed, or creating a layout that simply fits together in the most satisfying way. I design with strategy, emotion, and intention, always aiming to craft visuals that leave a lasting impression. I love exploring ideas, overthinking them in the best possible way, and pushing them until they shine. Collaboration fuels me. I enjoy sharing ideas, receiving feedback, and shaping designs into their strongest versions. With the Adobe Creative Suite as my toolset and a creative brain that never rests, I turn concepts into polished outcomes that tell stories and spark emotion. My work experience includes designing signage at Signarama, producing print and digital marketing materials at GO Platinum Realty, and hands-on roles at Creek Valley Gardens and Bear’s Treasure Beehive Products. These experiences introduced me to diverse environments and audiences, and taught me how design influences everything from branding to agriculture to community storytelling. As I continue to grow as a designer, I am excited to bring my energy, curiosity, technical skills, and love of creativity to new projects. I am committed to working with purpose, passion, and a positive attitude. If you would like to see more of my work, explore my creative process, or get inspired, feel free to visit my portfolio at carlaschaap.myportfolio.com. Great design should feel like an experience. Let's create something unforgettable!…

Available to hire

Unforgettable by Design.

Hello! I am Carla Schaap, a Freelance Graphic Designer with an Advanced Diploma from Fanshawe College, and someone who has been obsessed with art and creativity for as long as I can remember. My journey started with a little girl who could not stop colouring, doodling, and imagining worlds on paper. Today, that same spark drives me to create design work that communicates, inspires, and connects. I thrive on transforming ideas into visually compelling solutions, whether it involves building a brand identity, illustrating something playful or detailed, or creating a layout that simply fits together in the most satisfying way. I design with strategy, emotion, and intention, always aiming to craft visuals that leave a lasting impression.

I love exploring ideas, overthinking them in the best possible way, and pushing them until they shine. Collaboration fuels me. I enjoy sharing ideas, receiving feedback, and shaping designs into their strongest versions. With the Adobe Creative Suite as my toolset and a creative brain that never rests, I turn concepts into polished outcomes that tell stories and spark emotion. My work experience includes designing signage at Signarama, producing print and digital marketing materials at GO Platinum Realty, and hands-on roles at Creek Valley Gardens and Bear’s Treasure Beehive Products. These experiences introduced me to diverse environments and audiences, and taught me how design influences everything from branding to agriculture to community storytelling.

As I continue to grow as a designer, I am excited to bring my energy, curiosity, technical skills, and love of creativity to new projects. I am committed to working with purpose, passion, and a positive attitude. If you would like to see more of my work, explore my creative process, or get inspired, feel free to visit my portfolio at carlaschaap.myportfolio.com. Great design should feel like an experience. Let’s create something unforgettable!

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Graphic Designer & Sign Maker at Signarama
September 1, 2024 - September 1, 2024
Supported the creative team in producing signage, branding, and promotional materials. In concept development, designing layout and print-ready artwork, and collaborating closely with senior designers and clients. Strengthened skills in Adobe Creative Suite and gained experience in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments.
Junior Graphic Designer at Matrix Four Limited
October 1, 2024 - October 31, 2025
Contributed to packaging, branding, and promotional materials for a diverse client base. Involved in concept development, layout design, and print-ready artwork; collaborated with senior designers and clients. Strengthened skills in Adobe Creative Suite and worked in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Print Marketing Coordinator at Go Platinum Realty Inc.
May 31, 2021 - May 31, 2021
Improved print marketing coordination by crafting property brochures, infographics, and memory books using Canva. Managed print production and data folders efficiently, delivering organized and technology-enabled workflows.

Education

Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design at Fanshawe College
September 1, 2021 - April 1, 2024

Qualifications

Dean’s Honour Roll
September 1, 2021 - April 1, 2024
Academic Excellence in Graphic Design (GPA 4.2)
September 1, 2021 - April 1, 2024

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Retail, Software & Internet
    uniE621 Design 4 Change Campaign Design
    Design 4 Change is the final showcase for Fanshawe College’s Graphic Design program, featuring student work created for the Health Sciences Oral Health and Wellness Clinic. The entire event, from planning to branding, was designed and executed by the students in the program. The challenge was to create a logo and visual identity that captured the spirit and purpose of Design 4 Change. Each student developed their own concept, and the final event branding was selected through a classwide vote, reflecting the collective vision of the graduating group. Our class then worked in teams to produce a full range of deliverables based on the chosen design, ensuring a cohesive and engaging event experience. For my contribution, I developed initial concepts for several deliverables and my own logo design. During the planning phase, I explored different stylistic approaches to the number four, aiming to create a symbolic logo that represented the growth, creativity, and innovation of graduating designers. Inspired by retro and cartoon influences and minimalist principles, I made a groovy custom typeface and integrated the number four into it. As a creative twist, I inverted the letter “i” from the word “design” and placed it within the negative space of the four, forming a playful exclamation mark. This detail added energy and excitement to the logo, symbolizing the bold journey and achievements of graphic design students. I selected green as the primary colour to represent growth, progress, and accomplishment. My logo placed in the top five during the class vote, which led to further collaboration within design teams. Together, we developed postcards, posters, banners, signage, billboards, social media graphics, a website, merchandise, and a promotional video for the event. These assets were compiled into a final presentation that showcased branding elements and included a link to an ePub containing the logo promo video. Although my design was not chosen as the final event identity, I was proud to place in the top five and genuinely valued the entire experience. Throughout the preparation process, I contributed to organizing and producing the event, assembling the Group Book, leading team meetings, and helping coordinate the class presentation. I also stepped into a creative director role, working closely with classmates to guide discussions and maintain visual consistency. This experience strengthened my leadership, collaboration skills, and overall confidence as a designer. View my portfolio at carlaschaap.myportfolio.com for my projects like this! graphicdesigner branding illustrator designer logo…
    uniE621 Baby Mine Apparel Corporate Identity Design
    Baby Mine is a fictional baby apparel brand focused on creating affordable, high-quality, and comfortable clothing for infants. Built around the idea of a “Tiny Unique Look,” the brand emphasizes sustainability, simplicity, accurate sizing, and easy-to-mix-and-match pieces for both babies and parents. The goal of this project was to design a complete corporate identity package, including a logo, submark, business card, letterhead, and envelope, that reflected the brand’s style, target audience, and core values. I chose to create a baby apparel brand because it pushed me outside my comfort zone and allowed me to explore a product category I had little experience with beyond its undeniable cuteness. The name Baby Mine was selected for its warm, personal tone and its ability to connect with the intended audience instantly. From the beginning, I wanted the brand to convey innocence, curiosity, and softness. I began by researching animals that naturally embody these qualities and quickly gravitated toward baby penguins. Their gentle expressions and tendency to look up to their parents made them the perfect symbol for the brand. I created hand drawn illustrations of a baby penguin to form the logo, using brown and black to evoke warmth and a soft, cozy feel. I also incorporated positive and negative space techniques within the emblem to add visual interest and subtle complexity. To maintain a gender neutral aesthetic, I selected a palette of muted, gentle colours. I expanded the visual identity by illustrating icebergs and two penguin expressions, which I used to create patterns for the business card, envelope, and letterhead. These patterns helped reinforce the brand story and provided visual cohesion across the entire identity system. Throughout the design process, I made sure the brand had room to grow. Every visual decision was made with scalability in mind, ensuring that Baby Mine could easily expand into additional baby products or services while maintaining a strong and recognizable identity. View my portfolio at carlaschaap.myportfolio.com to view projects like this! graphicdesigner illustrator branding designer logo…
    uniE621 Planet Bee Magazine
    Planet Bee is a fictional 12-page magazine dedicated to making information about honey bees accessible for beekeepers, beginners, and the general public. Packed with tips, tricks, product features, and educational content, the magazine also includes advertisements and feature articles that highlight the importance of bees in our environment. The goal of this project was to design and produce a condensed 12-page magazine on any chosen topic. Required components included three fictional ads, a contents page, an upfront section, a cover story, feature stories, and a columnist page. Strong photography and illustration work were essential, along with a custom wordmark and key editorial elements such as decks, pull quotes, and photo credits. A promotional video was also required to build interest in the magazine. I created Planet Bee by drawing inspiration from my beekeeper father and my childhood surrounded by apiaries. Using personal photos, videos, and knowledge about bee culture, I crafted a cover story focused on fall bee health, feature articles on our family business, Bear’s Treasure, and an exploration of how bees and flowers interact. The three fictional ads included a hair wax cream called Fuzzy, a varroa mite control product named Vack, and a hive service brand called Marigold. To reinforce the theme, I selected a colour palette inspired by the natural hues of a hive, incorporating yellows, browns, oranges, and touches of purple. The front cover features an illustrated sick baby bee, the custom Planet Bee wordmark, and teasers for the main articles. Throughout the magazine, honeycomb shapes were used as recurring layout elements to maintain visual consistency. For the promotional video, I created a calm yet cinematic piece timed to upbeat music. The video promotes the magazine’s informative content while spotlighting the sponsor, Fuzzy, bringing the entire project together in a lively and engaging way. View my portfolio at carlaschaap.myportfolio.com to see the full project! graphicdesigner illustrator designer photo logo branding…
    uniE621 Koffie Branding, Cup & Package Bag Design
    Koffie is a fictional, cozy Dutch-inspired coffee brand created for a conceptual project based in London and Stratford, Ontario. The goal of the assignment was to design a complete visual identity for a local coffee shop, including a logo, coffee cup design, chalk-textured illustration bag, a pattern, a tagline, a three-dimensional mockup, and storefront signage. The coffee cup design was limited to two Pantone colours, which required thoughtful planning to maintain warmth, personality, and visual impact using a minimal palette. Drawing on my Dutch heritage, I named the brand Koffie and used a simple wordmark that resembles a coffee cup from above. I chose a warm colour palette of dark navy, brown, orange, and yellow to evoke the inviting atmosphere of a small Dutch café. I created a repeating logo pattern in multiple tints of navy and orange to support the brand’s identity and give the packaging a cohesive look. For the coffee bag, I used a chalk texture brush in Adobe Photoshop to create a hand-drawn, illustrated style on a black background. After exploring various ideas, I decided to illustrate the coffee shop’s new Stratford location. The design features surrounding storefronts, pedestrians, and hints of daily life to establish a welcoming neighbourhood feel. I used warm and lively colours, including yellows, purples, blues, reds, and orange, and added a steamy sky effect to enhance the sense of warmth and aroma. The neighbouring buildings were toned down in muted blues to keep focus on the Koffie storefront. I also included a biker and a businessman holding coffee cups to suggest movement, community, and the shop's popularity. Throughout the project, my goal was to create a visually compelling, inviting, and culturally rooted brand. By blending warm colours, Dutch-inspired elements, and detailed illustrations, I aimed to bring Koffie to life as a charming and eye-catching coffee shop concept with a strong sense of place and identity. View my portfolio at carlaschaap.myportfolio.com graphicdesigner illustrator branding designer logo…
    uniE621 Liquid Hero Branding & Advertising
    Liquid Hero is a fictional Ontario-based craft beer brand created to embody the spirit of local pride, celebration, and bold flavour. Brewed using Canadian-grown ingredients and traditional brewing techniques, the brand is designed to deliver exciting taste experiences with a special appeal to those who admire the ocean and its powerful creatures. The goal of this project was to create a complete craft brewery concept, including the company name, logo, beer titles, flavour profiles, and a cohesive set of three labels that communicated quality, tradition, and originality. A full-page colour advertisement was also required to promote the beer line and express the brand’s visual identity. After researching craft beer companies and exploring a wide range of themes and flavour ideas, I drew inspiration from the ocean. This direction led to a strong, vibrant identity centred around a transparent shark icon shaped like a glass bottle. This logo symbolizes resilience and strength, reinforcing the idea that Liquid Hero is a beer for triumphant moments, big or small. I used deep navy throughout the brand to represent ocean depths and to ground the design in a sense of mystery and adventure. The shark theme carried through into the beer labels, which I titled Bait, Surf, and Hook. Each label reflects a different flavour and story. Bait is a Red Ale inspired by nightfall and the hunt, illustrated with a shark pursuing a seal. Surf is a Wild Ale associated with midday energy, featuring a surfer as the focal target. Hook is a Sharp Ale that suggests afternoon fishing and the thrill of the catch. Primary colours and consistent shark motifs unified the three designs while giving each its own distinct personality. For the advertisement, I chose to spotlight the Bait Red Ale. I emphasized its playful and dramatic illustration by depicting the bottle partially submerged in the ocean, surrounded by sand and encircled by shark silhouettes. The headline “Crafted from the Depths” reinforces both the oceanic theme and the brand’s adventurous character. The final result is a cohesive and imaginative craft beer brand that captures the fun, strength, and storytelling potential of the ocean. View my portfolio at carlaschaap.myportfolio.com for more projects like this! graphicdesigner illustrator branding logo designer…
    uniE621 The War Amps Direct Marketing Campaign
    The War Amps is a Canadian nonprofit organization founded in 1918 to support war amputees. Over time, it has expanded its mission to assist amputees of all ages, offering financial aid, advocacy, and specialized programs for children, adults, and veterans. To help fund these services, the charity provides Key Tag and Address Label programs that operate through voluntary donor contributions. For this project, I was tasked with designing a persuasive direct marketing campaign that used both direct mail and social media advertising to raise awareness and encourage donations. These components needed to work together with a compelling offer and a clear call to action that would resonate with the target audience. I chose The War Amps because it is often overlooked despite its essential role in helping amputees access prosthetics and financial support. To communicate the urgency of the cause, I created a gatefold brochure featuring a powerful photograph of a man in a wheelchair who has lost multiple limbs. The cover displays the headline “Many Suffer,” paired with an X-ray-inspired blue overlay that hints at hidden pain and unmet needs. I illustrated white line drawings over the image to represent the prosthetics he could receive through donor support, creating a direct visual link between donations and life-changing outcomes. Inside the brochure, I designed a strong call to action featuring a prosthetic hand pointing toward the word “donate.” I included clear instructions on how to contribute, along with an incentive: a coupon for fifty percent off their next clothing purchase when they donate. A QR code provided instant access to the donation page and coupon download. On the back panel, I returned to the original, unobstructed photograph of the man, this time paired with the message “thank you.” This closing moment is meant to give viewers a sense of hope and pride, showing how their contribution can help him move toward a brighter future with proper prosthetic support. This campaign was designed to evoke empathy, present a compelling story, and convert compassion into meaningful action for a charity that makes a profound difference in the lives of amputees across Canada. View my portfolio at carlaschaap.myportfolio.com for more! graphicdesigner designer…
    uniE621 The Village Restaurant ReBranding & Promo Video
    The Village Restaurant is a long-standing western village-themed clubhouse located in Norwich, Ontario, complete with an outdoor patio and a menu filled with comfort food classics such as soups, burgers, sandwiches, steaks, ribs, chicken, pasta, pizza, and a selection of specialty Dutch dishes that cater to its strong Dutch community. For this project, I rebranded the restaurant by creating a comprehensive corporate identity package that included a new logo, submark, business cards, letterhead, envelopes, and an extensive set of branded materials. Additional deliverables included a food truck design, menu board, staff uniforms, and exterior signage, all brought together in a unified brand style guide. To support seasonal marketing and increase customer engagement, I also developed a mascot for an animated holiday promotional video. The rebrand addressed the restaurant’s outdated visual identity and took inspiration from Norwich’s village history. I designed a clean and simple logo featuring a western-style building that represents both heritage and growth. I used a one-line illustration style throughout the identity system, applying it to the logo, food truck, menu board, and other branded elements to maintain a minimal and modern aesthetic. Warm colours such as yellow, orange, burgundy, and soft purple were chosen to create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere while still reflecting the western theme. For added visual interest, I created a pattern using the triangular roofline of the logo, repeating it to form a brick-like design that symbolizes buildings and reinforces the sense of quality and craftsmanship. Once the food truck, signage, uniforms, and menu board were fully developed, they were compiled into a cohesive brand style guide that showcased the refreshed identity. To enhance the brand’s personality, I designed a mascot named Squeaky the Squirrel, inspired by a well-known local animal in Norwich. I brought Squeaky to life through an animated holiday video created in Adobe After Effects, giving the restaurant a friendly character and an engaging promotional piece for seasonal campaigns. View my portfolio at carlaschaap.myportfolio.com to view more projects like this! graphicdesigner branding illustrator logo designer…
    uniE621 Ant Card Deck Design
    This ant themed card deck was designed to be anything but ordinary. From the beginning, my goal was to create a playful and memorable set of cards filled with clever humour and charming illustrations that would stand out from traditional decks. The project required designing nine playing cards, including the numbers seven through ten, the Jack, Queen, King, Ace, the Joker, along with the full back design. Each card needed to use only two spot colours, maintain perfect symmetry for the face cards, incorporate a historical design influence, and communicate a unified theme through strong use of positive and negative space. Inspired by the personality and structure of classic poker cards, I developed a cute and comical world populated entirely by black ants. I selected red and black as my two spot colours, which created a bold and cohesive visual rhythm while also giving the deck a subtle Victorian character. I explored a wide range of ant sketches before finalizing each concept. The Joker quickly became my favourite. I illustrated it juggling a ball, a timbrel, and a hula hoop to capture a lively, theatrical spirit that instantly communicates fun. This set the tone for the rest of the deck. I brought every illustration into Adobe Illustrator to translate the sketches into precise vector artwork. For the royalty cards, I added personality through small but meaningful details. The Queen received soft eyelashes to give her a gentle and expressive look. The King was drawn with a serious expression and a staff to reinforce his commanding presence. The Jack was intentionally made smaller and more youthful, holding a spear and scroll to suggest duty and learning. For the Ace, I created a distinctive letter form paired with worker ants that emphasized the industrious nature of the theme. To enhance the historical aspect and tie the deck together, I incorporated a Victorian inspired leaf motif into the corners of the cards. This ornamentation complemented the natural world of ants while giving the cards a touch of elegance. The back design features a lively pattern of black and red ants moving across the surface, creating a sense of motion and community that speaks to the spirit of the deck. Throughout the design process, my focus was on creating a balance between minimalism, boldness, and charm. I used clean lines and strong shapes to make the deck visually striking, while keeping the illustrations simple enough to feel cohesive and intentional. The result is a card deck that is humorous, whimsical, and artistically unified. It celebrates the quirky personality of ants while maintaining the clarity and structure expected from a functional deck of cards. View my portfolio at carlaschaap.myportfolio.com for more projects like this! graphicdesigner illustrator designer…
    uniE621 Oceanonus Gift Bag Design
    For this project, I was responsible for fully conceptualizing a fictional retail store. This involved determining the store’s type, purpose, name, atmosphere, product selection, target age group, and competitors in the market. The project also required creating a pattern and a swatch book that visually supported the brand. The main design challenge was to create a pattern using the first letter of my name that matched the store’s personality, mission, and visual mood. I created Oceanonus, a sustainability-focused retail shop that promotes ocean health and sells products made from recycled ocean plastic waste. After researching environmentally conscious brands, potential products, and customer expectations, I began developing four pattern concepts based on the letter 'C'. I also selected a font that paired well with the store name and overall theme. Each pattern explored different ocean-inspired elements, including whale flukes, seal flippers, fish shapes, jellyfish movements, seashell curves, fishing net textures, sea kelp forms, and other abstract marine shapes. The sea kelp concept became the strongest direction because it naturally suggested many ocean elements at once, such as fins, waves, tentacles, and flowing underwater motion. It captured the store’s purpose in a visually expressive and versatile way. I then created twelve handmade swatches to experiment with texture, colour, and depth for the final retail bag design. • Swatch 1 used blended teal and turquoise to represent the transition from shallow to deep water. • Swatch 2 featured a white foamy pattern to mimic the look of breaking waves. • Swatch 7 used a darker turquoise background with shimmering bubble effects rising upward. • Swatch 12 combined multiple materials to create the appearance of sparkling light reflections on water. After evaluating all twelve swatches, I selected the three strongest options that best represented the store’s brand values and aesthetic direction. These final colour choices needed to support Oceanonus, its products, and its mission to celebrate ocean health. I then combined the best qualities of the chosen swatches into one unified pattern and applied it to the final retail bag design. This project brought together branding, pattern design, colour exploration, and environmental storytelling, resulting in a cohesive identity for Oceanonus that reflects its purpose and commitment to protecting the ocean. Hope you enjoyed! Visit my portfolio at carlaschaap.myportfolio.com for more projects. graphicdesigner illustrator designer logo pattern…