About me
and the journey of Tread well studio
About me
and the journey of Tread well studio
The story behind the designer
Hey, I’m Nicole and I make cool stuff that people want to look at.
From posters that stop you mid-scroll to merch that fans line up for and brands that actually feel alive, my work lives at the crossroads of curiosity and chaos. Equal parts strategy, storytelling, and a healthy obsession with good design.
I started Tread Well as a playground for ideas that move. A place where design isn’t just about making things pretty, but about making people feel something.
I believe good design should hit you twice – first in the gut, then in the brain. It should look good, sure. But it should also say something.
If that’s your vibe too, you’re in the right place.
My personality
I’m an INTJ-A: The Architect. Translation? I think in systems, plan ten steps ahead, and obsess (in the best way) over the details that make something work. I’m driven by purpose, strategy, and curiosity – the kind that asks “how can this be better?” and doesn’t stop until it is. If you want to know what that really means, you can read more about the INTJ-A personality type here.
My personality
I’m an INTJ-A: The Architect. Translation? I think in systems, plan ten steps ahead, and obsess (in the best way) over the details that make something work. I’m driven by purpose, strategy, and curiosity – the kind that asks “how can this be better?” and doesn’t stop until it is. If you want to know what that really means, you can read more about the INTJ-A personality type here.
the journey thus far
My first “job” was illustrating for Yes!Definitely, where my work ended up on limited-edition water bottles (pretty cool for a 16-year old). From there, I spent high school doing custom illustrations for small businesses, selling my art in coffee shops, and realising that creativity wasn’t just a hobby – it was a reliable way to make a fun living.
Fast forward to studying Information Design at the University of Pretoria, where I won a Bronze Loerie for my title sequence “Seamless” and graduated with a distinction in design. Five days later, I jumped straight into my first design job.
After a quick detour as a Marketing Executive (where I learned to actually enjoy designing for socials), I launched Tread Well Studio. Now, I design bold brands for small to medium sized businesses, create merch for the The Red Flags Podcast, and occasionally take on a website project when it’s too good to resist.
Basically, I’ve been making cool stuff people want to look at since day one.
