Darlee Urbiztondo, also known as Happylee, is a multi-disciplinary Filipino creative based in Belgium. She holds a Master’s Degree in Cultural Studies from KU Leuven, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, specializing in visual analysis, creative labor, and culture. Her creative practice spans digital illustration, children’s book illustration, graphic design, painting, calligraphy, and traditional art, with a deep passion for bringing stories to life. With a background as a Senior Graphic Designer in a corporate setting, Darlee combines artistic vision with project management, client communication, and brand consistency, ensuring that every project is both beautiful and strategically aligned. Darlee is also the Visual Design & Website Coordinator of SCBWI Benelux and a featured artist in the region. In this role, she oversees the overall visual identity, website visuals, and newsletter design, creating cohesive and engaging materials that support the children’s book community. In publishing, she has partnered with self-published authors not only as an illustrator, but also as a technical and design collaborator—preparing print-ready files for Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, designing layouts, typesetting, and refining typography to make books production-ready. Her work bridges storytelling, design, and print technicalities, making her a versatile partner from concept to final files. Grounded in her Cultural Studies training, Darlee approaches each project with a strong research-driven and culturally aware lens. She is especially interested in how images shape identity, culture, and the way we see the world. Through magical and whimsical visuals, she aims to share joy while inviting viewers to look beyond borders and into the heart of culture and humanity. An old soul at heart, Darlee finds inspiration in coffee, books, films, anime, music, and everyday moments, always drawing from the simple pleasures of life to fuel her next story.…

happylee

Darlee Urbiztondo, also known as Happylee, is a multi-disciplinary Filipino creative based in Belgium. She holds a Master’s Degree in Cultural Studies from KU Leuven, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, specializing in visual analysis, creative labor, and culture. Her creative practice spans digital illustration, children’s book illustration, graphic design, painting, calligraphy, and traditional art, with a deep passion for bringing stories to life. With a background as a Senior Graphic Designer in a corporate setting, Darlee combines artistic vision with project management, client communication, and brand consistency, ensuring that every project is both beautiful and strategically aligned. Darlee is also the Visual Design & Website Coordinator of SCBWI Benelux and a featured artist in the region. In this role, she oversees the overall visual identity, website visuals, and newsletter design, creating cohesive and engaging materials that support the children’s book community. In publishing, she has partnered with self-published authors not only as an illustrator, but also as a technical and design collaborator—preparing print-ready files for Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, designing layouts, typesetting, and refining typography to make books production-ready. Her work bridges storytelling, design, and print technicalities, making her a versatile partner from concept to final files. Grounded in her Cultural Studies training, Darlee approaches each project with a strong research-driven and culturally aware lens. She is especially interested in how images shape identity, culture, and the way we see the world. Through magical and whimsical visuals, she aims to share joy while inviting viewers to look beyond borders and into the heart of culture and humanity. An old soul at heart, Darlee finds inspiration in coffee, books, films, anime, music, and everyday moments, always drawing from the simple pleasures of life to fuel her next story.…

Available to hire

Darlee Urbiztondo, also known as Happylee, is a multi-disciplinary Filipino creative based in Belgium. She holds a Master’s Degree in Cultural Studies from KU Leuven, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, specializing in visual analysis, creative labor, and culture.

Her creative practice spans digital illustration, children’s book illustration, graphic design, painting, calligraphy, and traditional art, with a deep passion for bringing stories to life. With a background as a Senior Graphic Designer in a corporate setting, Darlee combines artistic vision with project management, client communication, and brand consistency, ensuring that every project is both beautiful and strategically aligned.

Darlee is also the Visual Design & Website Coordinator of SCBWI Benelux and a featured artist in the region. In this role, she oversees the overall visual identity, website visuals, and newsletter design, creating cohesive and engaging materials that support the children’s book community.

In publishing, she has partnered with self-published authors not only as an illustrator, but also as a technical and design collaborator—preparing print-ready files for Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, designing layouts, typesetting, and refining typography to make books production-ready. Her work bridges storytelling, design, and print technicalities, making her a versatile partner from concept to final files.

Grounded in her Cultural Studies training, Darlee approaches each project with a strong research-driven and culturally aware lens. She is especially interested in how images shape identity, culture, and the way we see the world. Through magical and whimsical visuals, she aims to share joy while inviting viewers to look beyond borders and into the heart of culture and humanity.

An old soul at heart, Darlee finds inspiration in coffee, books, films, anime, music, and everyday moments, always drawing from the simple pleasures of life to fuel her next story.

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Language

English
Fluent
Tagalog
Fluent

Work Experience

Graphic Designer & Office Manager at Dinodrops & Paperfavour
December 31, 2019 - December 31, 2019
Built editable design templates and a clear document management system; shortened custom work cycles and improved order accuracy and handoffs. Ran day-to-day operations from order intake to dispatch; managed Magento backend (product setup, pricing updates, SKUs) and customer communications.
Creative Project Trainer & Senior Designer at Global Vision Training & Educational Consultancy
December 31, 2023 - December 31, 2023
Led the creative work stream for government skills programs (World Skills / Asia Skills) and a national AI/robotics event; owned design system, training collateral, and cross-functional coordination. Won the AIR 2020 government tender; built a reusable design system and delivery process; authored modular training manuals, session decks, and progress reports; coordinated online and in-person delivery with IT engineers, architects, accounting, and product vendors; supported CEO & COO on bids and client proposals; established documentation and handover standards (checklists, versioning, naming).
Graphic Designer & Office Manager at DinoDrops & PaperFavour
December 31, 2019 - December 31, 2019
Led brand refresh; produced visuals for web, social, and print; designed graphics, layouts, and marketing materials; maintained brand guidelines; managed vendor coordination and client relations.
Assistant Manager at Gallery Ward, Dubai Design District
October 31, 2017 - October 31, 2017
Contemporary gallery operations, exhibition production, vendor logistics, client relations, records, and marketing support.
Instructor at Joji Ilagan Career Center Foundation
June 30, 2016 - June 30, 2016
Taught tourism/hospitality and arts; prepared grade sheets; served as assessor/trainer for public speaking and visual arts; supported course coordination; drafted syllabi and rubrics; assisted with external certifications and work-skills programs.
Customer Service Agent at AT&T (Teleperformance) & Best Buy Accounts (Wipro)
December 31, 2014 - December 31, 2014
Inbound support for billing, orders, and technical issues; documented cases in CRM with high accuracy; focused on SAT, AHT, and FCR; identified recurring issues and suggested script improvements; mentored peers on escalation and call flow.
Executive Secretary to the Business Director at Iran Insurance
December 31, 2017 - December 31, 2017
Executive support, reporting, document control, vendor & marketing coordination; maintained audit-ready records and ensured compliance with sensitive data; prepared monthly production reports and the Annual Operations Report; consolidated KPIs; created filing standards; supported CEO & COO on bids and proposals.
Instructor at Joji Ila GAN Career Center Foundation
June 30, 2016 - June 30, 2016
Taught tourism and hospitality topics; prepared grade sheets and briefing notes; served as Assessor/Trainer for American Hospitality Academy and Work Skills Australia certifications; coached students through public speaking and visual arts competitions.

Education

Master's degree in Cultural Studies at KU Leuven
January 11, 2030 - November 16, 2025
Bachelor's degree in International Relations at Mindanao State University
January 11, 2030 - April 12, 2012
Bachelor of International Relations at Mindanao State University
January 11, 2030 - April 12, 2012

Qualifications

Master of Cultural Studies
January 11, 2030 - November 16, 2025
American Hospitality Academy Certification
January 11, 2030 - November 16, 2025
Skills Australia Certification
January 11, 2030 - November 16, 2025

Industry Experience

Education, Media & Entertainment, Other, Professional Services, Government, Software & Internet, Non-Profit Organization
    paper Kanto Uno Café – Brand Style & Social Media Launch

    Kanto Uno Café is a cozy front-yard café in the Philippines. I supported the owner in shaping the brand style, visual identity, and social media strategy, helping the café grow from a small neighborhood spot into a locally recognized start-up.

    My Role
    Developed the style guide and visual direction for the brand
    Designed key visual assets for online and offline use
    Planned and coordinated the social media strategy across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
    Collaborated with the owner on concepts, campaigns, and content ideas

    Process

    Brand & Visual Direction
    I helped define the overall look and feel of Kanto Uno Café, warm, inviting, and community-centered. This included a simple style guide covering logo usage, colors, typography, and imagery, so every touchpoint felt cohesive.

    Content & Social Media Strategy
    I created a content approach focused on:
    Showcasing the café’s atmosphere and personality
    Highlighting menu items and promos
    Sharing behind-the-scenes moments to build a sense of community
    We used a mix of photos, short-form videos, and simple graphic posts tailored for Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

    Coordination & Implementation
    I worked closely with the owner to turn ideas into content—aligning on themes, scheduling posts, and making sure every piece matched the café’s identity and story.

    Outcome
    With a consistent visual identity and an active, story-driven presence on social media, Kanto Uno Café gained attention online and within the local community, eventually being featured as one of the notable start-up businesses in the area.

    This project highlights my ability to:
    Build a brand look and feel from the ground up
    Manage and execute social media strategy and content
    Coordinate ideas between owner, visuals, and messaging to create a unified, memorable brand presence.

    uniE621 The Acne Clinic – Brand Identity & Social Media Design
    Client: The Acne Clinic Role: Brand Designer & Social Media Designer The Acne Clinic approached me to build a complete visual foundation for their brand, from logo and brand guidelines to social media templates. The owner’s vision was clear: a chic, minimal, Korean-inspired aesthetic that would feel fresh and aspirational, while still professional and trustworthy in the dermatology space. _______________________________________________________________ Process Vision Alignment I collaborated closely with the clinic owner to understand his story, values, and visual preferences, narrowing down a palette and style direction that reflected his personality and the experience he wanted patients to have. Market & Competitor Research I studied skincare and dermatology brands—both locally and internationally—to position The Acne Clinic as credible yet distinctive, avoiding overused medical clichés while still feeling expert and reliable. Visual Identity Design I designed a clean, modern logo and supporting brand elements (color palette, typography, and graphic accents) that echo Korean skincare aesthetics: light, airy, and refined. These were documented in a brand guideline to ensure consistency as the clinic grows. Social Media System I created adaptable social media templates for educational posts, testimonials, promotions, and announcements, making it easy for the team to create on-brand content without needing a designer for every post. _______________________________________________________________ Outcome The final identity reflects the owner’s taste while positioning The Acne Clinic as a professional, authentic, and modern dermatology brand. The new visuals: Help the clinic stand out in a crowded skincare market Build trust through a clean, consistent aesthetic across platforms Give the team ready-to-use templates that keep their feed polished, cohesive, and aligned with their brand values graphicdesigner illustrator branding webdesigner designer logo…
    uniE621 Mommy Grow Down – Children’s Book Illustration for Amazon
    Overview Mommy Grow Down is the debut children’s picture book by author Chazelle Ahearn, now available for purchase on Amazon. As a children’s book illustrator and designer, I supported her from the first visual ideas all the way to a ready-to-publish file, making sure her first book looked professional and felt true to her story. ________________________________________________________ My Role & Creative Process To bring the story to life and guide a first-time author through the process, I handled: Moodboard & visual direction: I created a collaborative moodboard to define the style, emotions, and color palette based on what Chazelle loved and how she envisioned the story. Sketches & visual storytelling: I developed page-by-page sketches to map the pacing, character acting, and key story moments, ensuring each spread supported the emotional journey. Color blocking & final rendering: Once sketches were approved, I moved into color blocking and final, fully rendered illustrations that reflected the warm, heartfelt tone of the text. Interior design & typography: I suggested the interior layout, spread pacing, and typography so the text, images, and white space worked together in a clear, child-friendly reading experience. Book compilation & Amazon KDP preparation: Compiled the full book (cover and interior) into a print-ready file Formatted the pages to meet Amazon KDP’s technical requirements (bleed, trim size, margins, color profile, etc.) Uploaded the book to Amazon KDP, ensuring it met the platform’s standards so the client only needed to handle details like pricing and category selection Throughout the project, I made sure to respect the author’s creative ideas while offering professional guidance on design, readability, and the overall reader experience. ________________________________________________________ Results & Reader Feedback Mommy Grow Down has received multiple 5-star reviews on Amazon, with readers consistently praising both the story and the illustrations: “Beautifully written and illustrated!” “10/10 recommend this for any parent!” “A must read for children.” The project successfully combined a heartfelt, relatable story with polished illustration, thoughtful layout, and a smooth self-publishing process on Amazon. ________________________________________________________ childrensbookillustration childrensbookillustrator picturebookdesign AmazonKDPformatting KDPuploadsupport illustrator designer booklayoutandtypography characterdesign kidlitillustrator…
    paper YA Book Illustration - Alistair Doolittle
    Proud to share the cover I created for debut indie author Scott Werth; I also did the interior chapter illustrations. I started this project last year while doing my master’s, and I’m really grateful Scott trusted the process and timeline so we could get every detail right, from thumbnails and composition studies to color tests that support the story’s mood and pacing. Swipe the carousel to see my workflow (moodboard → sketch → color block → render → layout iteration). I’m sharing it to help fellow illustrators and self-publishing authors build smoother collaborations and cut revisions. Save this if you’re planning your first cover or illustrated book. If you’re into twisty, late-night reads, this is a perfect pick for November. I’m always excited to collaborate with authors and publishers who want thoughtful visual storytelling, covers that sell the premise, and interiors that guide the read. illustrator graphicdesigner illustration digitalart childrensbookillustration picturebookillustration…
    paper A visual letter from autumn in Wallonia.

    This project captures the quiet beauty, warmth, and nostalgia of the city through a combination of photography, typography, and modernist composition.
    Using a postage stamp–inspired layout, I transformed everyday moments into collectible visuals, a homage to travel, memory, and design as a form of storytelling.

    Design Concept

    The concept began as an emotional response to the city.
    Namur in autumn felt both chilly and comforting; its muted colors, friendly people, and fortress view left a lasting impression.

    I wanted to express that feeling of calm discovery through warm tones, layered textures, and editorial structure.

    The stamp motif symbolizes the act of sending memories, sealing moments in paper and type.

    Each photograph functions as a visual keepsake, connected through a rhythmic grid and unified color harmony.

    Visual Direction

    Color Palette: Deep burgundy and gold evoke vintage warmth and timeless elegance.
    Typography: A refined serif paired with handwritten accents conveys both romance and personal voice.

    Layout: Inspired by Swiss modernism and editorial design systems, ensuring balance between geometry and emotion.

    Texture: A soft film-grain overlay adds tactility, reinforcing the nostalgic tone of analog travel memories.