How Karmijn Simons used illustration to create a visual language for MBO Digitaal

MBO Digitaal is a Dutch organisation that helps schools and educators implement digital systems to support vocational learning. However, the aim isn’t to introduce digital tools for the sake of it – the tech needs to be effective for both educational facilities and students, otherwise it’s a waste of money. To this end, MBO Digitaal wanted to create a suite of materials to break everything down for all the stakeholders, engage them with the processes and highlight the benefits.

To do so, the company turned to Karmijn Simons, a digital illustrator whose passion is to use imagery to support and strengthen written content – and not just decorate it. First, she was given a single project to work on, but this ballooned into creating a cohesive illustrative style to use across MBO Digitaal’s entire suite of materials.

“The brief was to create a recognisable visual language that could be applied across guides, workshop materials, event communication, covers, and a printed card set for team conversations,” explains Karmijn. “Rather than producing individual illustrations, I developed a consistent visual approach using diverse characters, clear compositions, and graphic elements that help structure information.”

Translating abstract educational frameworks into visuals is challenging enough. Add in the goal of getting people talking, organising their systems and implementing the technology in real-life settings and you’ve got a challenging brief. But it was one Karmijn enjoyed tackling and collaboration with the client was key to achieving artworks to fit seamlessly with the comms.

Karmijn continues: “Early feedback focused on keeping the visuals accessible, structured, and easy to use during conversations and workshops. We gradually shaped a system using strong graphic compositions, different characters, and symbolic scenes or settings that help translate abstract educational themes into something tangible and recognisable.”

Characters appear throughout the material, interacting in everyday situations and depicting various roles and concepts such as collaboration, professional growth and digital development in education. As well as the figures themselves, Karmijn has kept the imagery human and relatable by using faces, hands and objects easily associated with training scenarios.

“For several posters, I used an isometric style to visualise layered learning processes and digital transformation,” she says. “This approach allowed me to show multiple steps, themes, roles, and responsibilities within one composition, helping viewers understand how different elements relate to each other. It also allowed me to build small narrative moments within one image, which I always enjoy doing.”

Colour coding was used to categorise information visually and as a navigation tool through the material. Karmijn has used the colour palette, which isn’t linked to MBO Digtaal’s branding, to create a feel that is open, optimistic and approachable, so the viewer finds the information-dense material more appealing.

But perhaps the biggest win is in how Karmijn’s visual language is starting conversations. One element of the project is an illustrated deck of cards used in workshops to open out all sorts of practices and ideas when it comes to digital platforms in vocational education.

Karmijn explains: “The idea emerged from the need to move discussions away from purely written frameworks and towards something people could work with together. Each card represents a theme, competency, or conversation prompt and combines a clear illustration with short supporting text. During workshops or team sessions, participants use the cards to structure discussions, reflect on their own practice, and prioritise development themes.”

Because Karmijn’s imagery is working so well, her collaboration with MBO Digitaal continues. In parallel, she’s taking on other illustration commissions in comms and editorial. She’s also collaborating with a ceramic artist, translating her work into physical forms that will be hand painted – a refreshing step away from vector graphics and isometric platforms.