meet the maker
Marketeer, creative, project manager and the person behind The Babbel Game
I’m a Utrecht-based freelancer with a love for travel, language, culture and, unsurprisingly, good conversations. With The Babbel Game, I’m building a brand around those things. Trying to create something that helps people connect, share experiences and get to know each other beyond the usual small talk.
I’ve always been more interested in the people than the postcards. Living abroad in Helsinki and Melbourne, backpacking and meeting people from completely different parts of the world, all made me curious about how differently we communicate, live and look at the world.
That curiosity eventually led me to study Intercultural Communication and, later, to create The Babbel Game.
Travel is still a big part of who I am. Not just because I love seeing new places, but because of everything that happens when you step into an environment you don’t know yet, the people you meet, the conversations you have and the perspectives you take home with you.
As a freelancer from Utrecht with a passion for travel, language and culture, I hope to bring people together in a meaningful way through good conversations or, as we say in Dutch, a babbel.
The Babbel Game is also my own ongoing experiment in building a brand from scratch. I started with an idea and a list of questions, and since then I’ve been involved in pretty much every part of bringing it to life: concept development, writing and testing the cards, branding, production, packaging, photography, content, social media, the webshop, marketing and getting Babbel onto the shelves of stores.
I’m still building it. Trying things, learning what works, meeting retailers, creating content and figuring out how to get a very small box into a lot more backpacks. And I genuinely love that process!
when I’m not making people Babbel…
Alongside The Babbel Game, I work independently under Babbel Business as a marketing and communications professional.
I work with different organisations on projects that can start with something as broad as “we need to do something with our marketing” and end with a new website, campaign, content strategy, event or brand story.
Sometimes I’m there to think strategically, sometimes to create, sometimes to coordinate and sometimes it’s a combination of all three.
Marketing and communication strategy, campaigns, social media, PR, copy and content planning, from diving into what needs to be said to actually getting it out there.
Creative concepts, campaigns, photography and video direction, social content and storytelling. I like turning a rough idea into something people actually want to look at, read or interact with.
Turning ideas into something that actually happens. I coordinate people, suppliers, creatives, planning and deadlines and like being the person who keeps both the bigger picture and all the moving parts in sight.
Positioning, brand stories, tone of voice, content structures and websites. I work on both the thinking behind a brand and how that eventually translates into something people can see and experience.
Brand Positioning & Strategy
Turning scattered ideas into a brand with a clear direction.
For Freelance Administraties, I work on brand positioning. Through strategic sessions, I translate the company’s identity, target audience, and ambitions into clear positioning and concrete choices for the brand.
What I do: positioning · brand strategy · target audience · brand identity
Social Media · Content · Design
Making a new brand visible through a recognizable look and consistent content.
For JM Limoncello, I developed the social media positioning and translated it into recurring formats, photography, copy, and visual design. From strategy to the content that ultimately goes live.
What I do: social media strategy · content creation · photography · copywriting · design
PR · Communications · Campaigns
Turning social initiatives into stories that reach people.
For two years, I managed PR and communications for Utrecht4GlobalGoals. I translated local initiatives around the Sustainable Development Goals into campaigns, social content, and stories, and helped organize events and manage the community.
What I did: communications strategy · campaigns · PR · social media · content creation · events
Social Media · Content · Design
Moving from occasional posts to consistent, recognizable communication.
For Oskam, I developed the social media strategy and manage its ongoing execution. I turn real-world projects into content, write the copy, and ensure a consistent visual identity across social media.
What I do: content strategy · content planning · copywriting · social media · graphic design
Events · Communications · Project Management
Turning an idea into a complete anniversary event for 100+ guests.
For Green Business Club Utrecht Centraal’s 10th anniversary, I helped organize and deliver the event. From concept and programming to communications, coordination with everyone involved, and execution on site.
What I did: event planning · project management · communications · programming · coordination
Own Product · Branding · Marketing
Turning an idea in my head into a physical product on store shelves.
I developed The Babbel Game entirely myself: from the concept and 70 card questions to the brand, packaging, website, content, production, and launch. The game is now available online and at several stores across the Netherlands.
What I do: concept development · branding · product development · e-commerce · content · marketing
in short
Utrecht, the Netherlands
babs@babbel-business.comCoffee, call or a very long email, it’s all welcome!
