Arjan van Woensel

Arjan van Woensel – Designer

Easy-going and highly experienced designer / art director with many professional accolades and experience under his belt.

Overview


Hello, my name is Arjan, born and raised in the Netherlands but living in beautiful New Zealand.

Under the nom de guerre of Tenzing, I help people achieve their publishing aspirations. Together, we explore opportunities and I guide you to your publishing goal until — in the words of Sir Edmund Hillary — you knock the bastard off. I'm the Designer / Art Director who will forge ahead on the path to getting you a gorgeous, publishable book.

Let’s talk about your Everest and see if I can be your sherpa! 🤩

I've got tons of experience in print — the technical side of it as well as the visual aspects of it. I love a challenge and always aim to make a publication stand out. Typography is my forte and I go further than just creating an attractive cover: the perfect typesetting of the interior text is just as important to me.

Over the years, I've won many professional accolades. I'm afraid I seriously lost count of how many design & art direction awards I have won.

I'm a book nerd and built my own library room to keep all my favourite reads neatly together. Think of it as a research library for book design — I'm almost a bit ashamed to admit there are plenty of copies in my library that I bought just because of their looks. Oops! There, I said it.

I love cover designs with loads of character in it — whether that is bold and funny or clean and straightforward or playful and frank.
My designs are not minimalist but rather maximalist: I aim to dramatise the main feeling and style the author wants to get across and I use typography, colour and well-curated photography to achieve that goal.

But I'm at my very best when I can add that emotional layer of suspense and intrigue to the design. I love it when a book makes a statement and is singular in its design. Let's make yours!

↪ Snippets of recent reviews I'm proud of:

“Arjan is such a talent! So much thought went into how and why images were chosen, it really opened my eyes to the creative force of the book cover. I'm certain that his artistry played a role in my #1 new release title. You won't regret a collaboration with Arjan.”
— Cee McDermott

“Arjan is an extremely unbelievable professional. His quality and class of job output are way out of this world. He is extremely patient, painstaking and committed to the project he undertakes. His level of understanding of the job requirement is mind-boggling.”
—Emmanuel Obeta

“Arjan was great. Not only did he come up with several good design ideas, but he also sent them in a fun and clear presentation for me to make my choice.”
— Kevin Mori

“I must say, Arjan's work is state of the art. His thorough involvement, engagement and interaction during the project was second to none.”
— Sohan Gokarn

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Business & Management Health & Wellbeing Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Fiction
Espionage Historical Fiction Historical Romance Science Fiction
Languages
English
Awards
  • Eurobest Awards
  • Cannes Lions Awards
  • Epica Awards
  • ADCN Awards
  • Adobe / HOW Awards
  • Best Awards
  • Clio Awards
  • Crowdiate
  • Effie Awards
  • Esprix Awards
  • PHNX Award Jury Member
Certifications
  • BFA Communication Design
  • SEO Linkedin Certificate
  • SquareSpace Circle Member
  • Google Analytics
  • Enlightened Warrior
  • ICC Boating License Inland + Coastal + VHF

Work experience

Self-employed

Mar, 2012 — Present

Design and marketing consultant. Starting self-initiated and commissioned branding projects. Translating strategy into visual communication. Growing brands and businesses.

Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

Jun, 2013 — Nov, 2015 (over 2 years)

Creative Strategy workshop as part of the Entrepreneurship curriculum of the Amsterdam University Of Applied Science.

Doom & Dickson

May, 2000 — Jan, 2006 (over 5 years)

Creative direction, brand strategy concepts and art direction for consumer and business brands. Strategy and management tasks for agency.

Portfolio

Made with Reedsy
Your DNA, Your Life

McDermott, Cee

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
The Tears of Apphat: Immortal Beloved

Camus, Alain Louis

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Standing Strong memoirs of an Overcomer

Webb Kirby , Sandia

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
The Hussar: The Etonians: Book 1

Jackson, M. Battle

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
The Casino Caper : An ill-conceived quest

Joyce, Margaret M.

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
The Settlement: The Etonians - Book 2

Jackson, M Battle

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design Production Management
Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Illustration Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Faith and Fearlessness

Thomas, M. G.

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design Production Management
Made with Reedsy
Strong Like Wildflowers

Thompson, Eric L

Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
You Too Can Live Very Long

Twostones, Al

Cover Design Illustration Typography

Arjan has 38 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Martha J.

Martha J.

Mar, 2024

Arjan and I have just finished our fourth collaboration, and it truly is a collaboration. He is a very talented artist and somehow manages to bring my characters to life in creating luscious book covers and designing a fabulous book interior.
Tamar G.

Tamar G.

Mar, 2024

Arjan was awesome! He was quick to respond to my questions, even when he was on vacation! He has a great sense of humour and was super fun to work with. I wanted a beautiful book, and his type-setting design went beyond my expectations. Always a very good sport, he was willing to collaborate by incorporating my ideas into the design. I valued his patience honesty in sharing his own thoughts wh...
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Arjan V.
Thank you Tamar, it was great to be part of something that’s so dear to you. I hope you and your readers will treasure your book as something very special.
Sheridan G.

Sheridan G.

Mar, 2024

This is my 2nd project with Arjan. I chose him again for his good communication, kind heart and of course brilliant artistic skills. I highly recommend him and will use again. Thank you for all your help and attention to detail, Arjan. :-)
Arjan V.
Thanks Sheridan, was great to get you on your publishing journey!
Martha J.

Martha J.

Feb, 2024

Arjan and I have just completed our third project. He is a fabulous designer and a great guy to work with. I'm looking forward to our fourth project with great anticipation!
Martha J.

Martha J.

Nov, 2023

Arjan and I have just completed our second project, and I couldn't be happier and more pleased. He is a fantastic designer, not only the book cover but the interior as well. So many of my readers have commented on the beautiful cover for the first book, and I expect even more positive remarks on the second cover.

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