Boiled and me.
From freelance design & illustration to digital transformation.
Expanding Horizons: Beyond Design Skills
Throughout my career, I’ve often faced the decision to either dive deeper into specific design skills—like 3D modeling, animation, and digital painting—or to broaden my understanding of other fields, such as marketing, communication, business, and its models, and how companies truly operate. Time and again, I’ve chosen the latter. Focusing on these "non-designer" skills makes me a more well-rounded designer, capable of aligning business goals with the real needs of customers and users.
Boiled remains my business entity, and I continue to operate from my domain: maartenvdb.com.
When I launched Boiled in 2003, my goal was simple: to build a successful career as a freelance illustrator and designer. Growing it into a company was never the plan. Still, I chose a name that could support expansion if I ever changed my mind—and there were moments when that possibility was very real. Initially, Boiled served as my online portfolio. But as my career took on new directions, it became the legal entity through which I manage all my business activities.
Back in 2003, I started out as a junior visual designer, long before roles like UX designer or social media strategist existed—before social media itself even existed! I earned a degree in Multi-Media Design, which probably isn’t even a thing anymore. As the industry evolved and matured, so did I, continually adapting to the changing landscape.
“Your employee experience translates directly to your customer experience.”
— Maarten