Patricia de Koning: Graphic Designer at Studio Duel
Graphic Designer
by Elizabeth Lavis
|03 Oct 2025
The best advice that Patricia de Koning, Graphic Designer at Studio Duel, has for aspiring designers is to experiment with different design styles and put ample time and effort into their portfolio. “When starting out, it’s tempting to take on boring, low-paying projects just for exposure or experience,” she says. “Instead, I would recommend focusing on your projects and portfolio, so that you can show what you love to do. You’ll learn more, have more fun, and hopefully attract more interesting clients.”
She also notes that it’s essential to take experimental breaks, even when you’ve got a few clients under your belt. “You need to continue to learn and reinvent,” de Koning says. “At Studio Duel, we’ve created the Duel Lab where we can encourage each other to use gaps between projects for experimenting and trying out new things.”
She applies this philosophy to her design journey. “I love experimenting and trying out new tools, or mixing creative disciplines,” de Koning says. “Our field is constantly evolving, and that’s what keeps it exciting for me.”
As a child, de Koning was fascinated by marine life and wanted to be a dolphin trainer. “I realized that this was not a realistic career option, and today I would even say that it’s unethical,” de Koning says. “I’m glad I ended up as a graphic designer, and working at a studio in Scheveningen just minutes from the North Sea is a big plus for me.”
"Code V Accelerates female entrepreneurship", Studio Duel
For de Koning, the most critical aspect of a design is striking the right combination between telling a story and making it look good. “If my work doesn’t communicate something meaningful, it’s just decoration,” she says.
Striking a balance between strategy and creativity is key, too. “I think you can balance them by trusting your creative instincts but also making sure that the strategy is based on research,” de Koning says. “As a designer, I tend to make decisions based on ‘gut feeling’, so I have to stay sharp by always questioning my choices. The more you understand who you are designing for, the better you can tell the right story.”
She also stays inspired by exploring big cities. “Last year we went to a design festival in Berlin with the team,” de Koning says. “The city itself, with all the street art and the incredible mix of architecture, was just as inspiring as the festival.” Staying creative under pressure through collaborating and getting feedback from colleagues is another way that de Koning stays sharp and focused, especially when deadlines are looming.
Balancing different projects without getting burned out is a challenge for most designers, and de Koning handles it by spreading out deadlines and asking for help when she needs it. “At Studio Duel, we believe it’s important to balance work and relaxation, so we share the workload as much as possible and sometimes lay down the Wacom pen for a quick surf break. That’s one of the perks of having an office next to the beach!”
Submit your work for Indigo Design Award competition
