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MARTINA ZABEL

For more than two decades, I’ve worked across strategy, art direction and design, turning ideas into identities, experiences and visual worlds. What keeps me interested is finding what gives something its character — the idea, tension or detail that makes it distinctive — and finding the right way to bring it to life.

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I’ve worked across Germany, Austria and New Zealand, with agencies, in-house teams and clients across different markets and cultures. Moving between places, disciplines and perspectives has taught me to stay curious, question the obvious and keep an open mind.

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I’m drawn to clarity without predictability, character without noise, and meaning without excess. Work that feels considered, but never overworked. Work that makes you look twice.

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And after more than 20 years, I still genuinely enjoy making things — the first idea, the unexpected turn, the moment when something suddenly clicks. Even better when it happens with good people who challenge, inspire and make the work better.

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From visual identities and packaging to campaigns, editorial, digital and spatial experiences, I bring together strategy, concept and craft to make ideas visible — with room for instinct, curiosity and a little play.

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Based in Auckland, New Zealand, I work globally with people and brands I value.

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Outside of work, I’m happiest spending time with my family and being outdoors — hiking, biking, exploring new places, and finding time for arts and craft. There’s always something new to discover, make or see differently.

Interested by nature. Evolving by design.

Experience

2026 — Present

Freelance Art Director & Designer for Digital & Print Media

Auckland · New Zealand

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2023 — 2026

Art Director & Designer for Digital & Print Media

WMW Advertising Agency

Ainring · Germany

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2015 — 2023
Freelance Art Director & Designer for Digital & Print Media
Christchurch · New Zealand

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2010 — 2014
Junior Art Director
WMW Advertising Agency
Ainring · Germany

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2007 — 2010
Graphic Designer
Rahofer Advertising Agency
Salzburg · Austria

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2006
Work & Travel
Peach Advertising
Newcastle, Australia · Indonesia

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2002 — 2006
Media Designer
makrohaus GmbH
Bad Reichenhall · Germany

Education

1999 — 2002
Media Designer for Digital & Print Media
Germany

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1997 — 1999
College · Field Economy
Traunstein · Germany

Tools

Design & Digital
Adobe Creative Cloud · Figma · Wix Studio · Squarespace · Canva · MailChimp

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Collaboration & Productivity
Miro · Apple Keynote · Numbers

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AI & Emerging Technologies
Creative AI · Generative AI · AI-assisted workflows

Tools change.

Ideas evolve.

Curiosity stays.

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