Behind every great creative project is a team of talented individuals who bring it to life. At Ambassadors, we're proud to work with an incredible team of artists, each bringing their own creativity, expertise, and passion to what we do. In this series, we're taking you behind the scenes to showcase the people behind the craft.
Today, we’re catching up with Mirjam Verhoog, Lead Designer at Ambassadors, to talk about her journey into illustration and concept art, her love for character-driven storytelling, and how bold shapes, colour, and style shape the visual worlds she creates.
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m an illustrator and concept artist specialising in character-driven work, visual development, and style exploration. I work across different phases of projects, translating ideas into clear character concepts and visual directions. I also supervise style consistency and provide Art direction during the process.
How did you get your start in illustration / Design?
Ever since I was little, I’ve visualised the world around me through drawing, scribbles, characters, and small comics. I always dreamed of turning this into a career, even before I knew it was actually possible.
Coming from a small village, this was a huge leap, choosing a profession that wasn’t considered “safe.” Still, I took the leap and studied design at Grafisch Lyceum Rotterdam.
Over time, I realised that drawing remained at the heart of everything I did, which led me to specialize in Illustration at the Art Academy Willem de Kooning Rotterdam. After graduating, I started working in animation and illustration, focusing on storytelling through storyboards, style explorations, and character design. From there, I naturally found my way into the world of VFX at Ambassadors.
Where do you look for inspiration? Who or what inspires you?
I find inspiration everywhere, in museums,live drawing sessions, or even during random moments when my mind starts to wander. Whenever I hit artist’s block, museums are my go-to place. I love how modern and classical art come together there in a beautiful harmony.
One of my recent inspirations came from a visit to the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, where I discovered the joyful and vibrant work of Ken Done. His sense of color is magnificent and instantly makes me happy! His work also reminds me of Yayoi Kusama, whose bold use of shape and color leaves a lasting impression. I once visited an exhibition of hers, and it felt like stepping into a completely different world.
And before I forget: an artist who truly gave my career a kickstart is Kevin Dart. When I was just starting out, his work inspired me to use bold, graphic shapes combined with playful lighting. Even after all these years, his work continues to inspire me. It’s timeless.
All these influences show up in everything I create. My work blends bold, graphic shapes with vibrant color and a strong sense of character. I’m drawn to storytelling that feels personal and expressive. Aiming for visuals that are playful, emotionally rich, and visually striking.
Ken Done — Chinamans in Summer
Yayoi Kusama — Pumpkin
Kevin Dart — Concept Art
What do you enjoy most about your job?
What I love most about my job is that I’m constantly learning new styles. Every project calls for something different, which asks a lot of versatility from me. One project might need cute, playful characters, while another requires a more realistic visual language.
Sometimes this can be challenging, especially when a style doesn’t come naturally. But those are often the moments when I learn the most, because I’m pushed to work in ways I normally wouldn’t. In the end, those new skills always find their way back into my own skill set.
What’s been your biggest learning in your career so far?
One of my biggest lessons has been learning to “kill your darlings.” It sounds a bit dark haha, but it simply means letting go of your work when needed. I tend to put a lot of effort into things early in the process, but sometimes you need to explore many directions before reaching the final result.
When I just started my career, I found it difficult when my work was rejected. Over time, though, I learned that it’s all part of the process and that no work is ever truly “wasted.” Every sketch and every style frame contributes to the creative journey in some way.
What project or piece of work are you most proud of and why?
For KNGF’s 90th anniversary, Ambassadors helped craft a classic superhero-style animation, showcasing how guide dogs are real-life heroes for their owners. It was such a wonderful team effort, and I truly loved working on it. The theme, the positive mission of the organization, and the 1950s retro cartoon style all came together beautifully.
The project felt very nostalgic to me. It reminded me of the cartoons I loved as a kid. Being able to work in this style was an absolute joy. With the fantastic direction of Nick Groeneveld and the smooth, lively animation by Irma Peniche and Stefano Paron, the whole process felt like a warm, seamless collaboration.
What project do you wish you’d worked on?
If I ever got the chance to work on Disney’s Win or Lose, I’d sign up in a heartbeat. I absolutely love the character design: the playfulness combined with the soft, highly realistic render style is just simply gorgeous. I also really appreciate how refreshing the theme feels for a Disney series. It tackles heavier topics like loss, stress, and real-life challenges, but presents them in a way that’s accessible for a younger audience. Balancing those themes with playful, rounded characters is such a smart and thoughtful approach. I think it works wonderfully.
How do you think the creative industry will change over the coming months/years? What are you most excited about?
A lot is changing quickly in the creative industry: budgets, workflows, and ideas, largely due to the impact of AI. While AI opens up many new possibilities, craftsmanship remains just as important and forms the foundation of every project.
What excites me most about these changes is that they make you reflect on who you are as an artist and why you create. In a world where almost anything is visually possible, the real question becomes: what do you want to say? I believe that staying true to yourself shows in your work. For me, it’s about using these tools to create work that’s felt, not just seen, whether through a commercial, visuals, or even a simple card with a beautiful message.
