About
Kirsten Townsend is an award winning Creative Director and Graphic Designer based in Venice Beach, California. During the day she is a freelance Creative Director and Designer, currently on contract at Meta on the Cross Meta Visual Systems Team.
She started her career in South Africa and has over thirteen years experience in graphic design, brand identity, visual design, textile design, editorial design, advertising and creative direction.
She’s worked at top Advertising and Design Studios winning multiple local and international awards while servicing blue chip clients and helping to win new business.
In 2016 she became a freelance creative consultant working with Brands, Advertising Agencies and directly with private clients worldwide. Since joining Meta’s NPE (New Product Experimentation) in 2021 her time was dedicated to building the internal studio and working on the brands of new products part of the NPE Organization at Meta. Kirsten later joined MasterClass as Associate Creative Director of Design as part of the Marketing team where she worked on campaigns and led a team of creatives focussing on craft and agility in a fast-paced environment.
Kirsten is currently contracting at Meta on the Cross Meta Visual Systems Team as well as working with a number of freelance clients, start ups and collaborating with previous friends and colleagues.
When she’s not judging New York Festivals or perfecting her commercial design work you’ll find her exhibiting the art pieces and bespoke rugs she designs across Europe.
All work is copyright of Studio Kirsten LLC and respective clients.
Awards and notables
2020 Grand Jury, New York Festivals Advertising Awards 2018 Exhibition, Cape Town, South Africa 2017 Exhibition, Vienna Design Week, Austria | Exhibition Le BHV Marais, Paris 2016 Bronze Loerie Award | Craft Loerie Award | 1 of 100 Beautiful Things, South Africa 2014 Grand Prix Loerie Award | Bronze Loerie Award | Bronze Loerie Award | 8th Best Designer in South Africa 2013 Silver Loerie Award 2012 Clio Award Shortlist | One Show Design Shortlist | Bronze Loerie Award | Bronze Loerie Award 2011 Gold Loerie Award 2010 Loerie Shortlist 2009 Student Loerie Shortlist | Student Loerie Shortlist
Clients and brands
Meta, Adobe, Google, WPP, TBWA\, BBDO, Wunderman, FoxP2, Grid Worldwide, Halo, Joe Public United, Modular, Brand Terminal, Microsoft, Design Indaba, Woolworths, Rand Merchant Bank, First National Bank, Central Bank of Africa, Alexander Forbes, Liberty Life, Metropolitan Life, Telkom, MTN, Openserve, ELLE Magazine, Mercedes Benz, Sasol, Anglo American, Mastercard, Distell, Oude Meester Brandy, Three Ships Whisky, Hunters Cider, Snickers, KFC, Organicgirl, Arts & Culture Trust of South Africa + more.