Interview with Veerle Pieters
Originally published 2009. Updated March 2026.
If you have been in the design world for more than five minutes, you have probably encountered Veerle Pieters’ work. Her tutorials — meticulous walkthroughs of Illustrator and Photoshop techniques — have been shared, bookmarked, and referenced by designers around the world for over a decade.
Based in Belgium, Veerle studied graphic design and print before moving into web design. She runs her studio, Duoh!, with partner Geert Leyseele, and her clients include Google, the Library of Congress, Netvibes, and Coca-Cola.
What distinguishes Veerle is not just the quality of her work — it is her generosity in sharing it. Her openness about process has made her a genuine resource for students and working designers alike. We were glad she took the time to talk to us.
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a graphic and web designer living in Belgium. I went to school in Mariakerke, Gent.
I began my career in 1992 as a freelance graphic designer under the name “Duoh!”
As a child I always loved drawing — I considered it a hobby. I always thought it would not be possible to make this my day job, so I studied tourism until I discovered that you could actually study graphic design. That may sound strange now, but in 1987 it was not widely known that you could study it professionally. I had always thought about it from an artistic point of view and believed there was no future in it.
Studying graphic design changed that. From that point on, my hobby became my passion and my income.
You have been listed among the most influential design bloggers. What value do you place on that kind of recognition?
It is nice to see your name on a list, and it draws attention. But in all honesty, this does not bring food to the table. The biggest catalyst for your career is your work. Your portfolio is what should do the talking — these lists are only short term.
A strong body of work outlasts any ranking.
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How much time does maintaining your blog take each day?
An hour to two hours when I am just working through my list — checking things and answering comments and emails. Most of my weekend time goes into researching tutorials and creating them.
What was your goal when you started blogging?
I did not have one. I started to learn CSS and HTML — my first blog was a test case after reading about blogging tools in a magazine. It was entirely practical.
Did you expect the success that followed?
No. I had no expectations at all.
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What was the most memorable lesson from your time studying design?
Honestly, I have no clear memory — it was a long time ago. The one thing I do vaguely remember is a bookbinding lesson where we had to craft a book from scratch: headband, bookmark, everything.
How did that shape your work?
An eye for detail. That has stayed with me in everything I do.
Describe your style in a few words. What advice would you give students who want to develop a similar approach?
Illustrative, with a strong preference for colour.
The best advice: be passionate about what you do, and keep trying after failure. Failure is not a signal to stop — it is the process working.
Learn how to create a circle spirograph in this tutorial.
Why did you and your partner Geert Leyseele decide to open your own studio rather than join a larger firm?
We have had a few opportunities over the years to sell the business and become part of a larger group. We are both not interested in becoming managers and directing other people. That would break the creative part that we love so much.
Running your own studio means protecting the thing that made you want to design in the first place.
Do you use hand-drawn techniques in your design process?
Yes — I still use pencil and paper from time to time, depending on the project. Most sketching is for icons, logos, and wireframing for websites. Being able to draw your thoughts is definitely a bonus.
Learn how to create a line spirograph in this tutorial.
Do you keep an ideas journal?
Yes — and you can see some of it in the art section of my blog.
Learn how to create a cubic pattern in this tutorial.
Do you have a special approach to brainstorming?
Not really. I tend to let the work evolve rather than forcing a formal method.
You are very open about sharing your design process. Why is that important to you?
Because we believe it shows valuable information to students. We do not believe in keeping what we know to ourselves.
Design education improves when practitioners share honestly — not just the polished results, but the thinking behind them.
What are your favourite websites at the moment?
welovetypography.com — still one of the best typography resources around.
Who are your five all-time favourite graphic designers?
Scott Hansen — iso50.com
James White — blog.signalnoise.com
Jacob Souva — twofishillustration.com
Robert Lindström — cargocollective.com/designchapel
What do you find most rewarding about your work?
To see a client happy with something we created. That moment of recognition — when the work does what it was meant to do — never gets old.
A moment to brag — who are your most prestigious clients?
Netvibes, Google, the Library of Congress, Ernst & Young, Coca-Cola.
Where do you see your career in five years?
I am where I want to be — earning a good living and loving what I do. That is the goal.
What advice would you give to graphic design students about building a portfolio?
Let your work have the spotlight.
The portfolio is not the place for clever framing or extended explanation. The work speaks, or it does not. Your job is to get out of the way.
For practical guidance on shaping your portfolio, see our post on putting together an effective portfolio.
How do you feel when you are designing?
On cloud nine. Not in this real world.
Veerle Pieters
Find more about Veerle
The Graphic Design School has been teaching graphic design online since 2008. Veerle’s instinct — that sharing knowledge makes the industry better — is something we share. Our Certificate IV in Graphic Design is self-paced, fully accredited, and backed by our Support Angels who are available seven days a week.
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