KATRIINA MANSIKKA
Graphic designer & Illustrator
Hi! You've come across a designer based in Helsinki with a passion for art, sustainability and internationality. My dream is to work in a design studio that believes in open communication and collaboration as much as I do, because the best ideas come when different perspectives meet, crash and mesh.
I would describe myself as cheerful, detail-oriented, and diligent, and I bring those qualities into everything I do –whether I’m working in a team or on my own projects. In my free time you'll catch me sewing with thrifted materials, baking too much bread so I don't have to buy it in store or walking around to get my 7000 steps a day.
SOFTWARE SKILLS
Adobe Creative Cloud
Illustrator  –  Excellent
Indesign  –  Excellent
Photoshop  –  Satisfactory
After Effects  –  Good
Acrobat  –  Excellent

Office 365
Powerpoint  –  Excellent
Word  –  Excellent
Excel  –  Good

Other
Procreate  –  Excellent
Wacom  –  Excellent
Photography  –  Good
Chat GPT  –  Good
Canva  –  Excellent
DESIGN INTERESTS
I feel most accomplished when I can solve problems through design. My goal is to use my skills to create user-friendly and thoughtful solutions that make a difference in everyday life. I’m especially interested in the following areas of graphic design:
Brand design
Packaging design
Illustration
Campaign design
Content creation
Currently working on
During my job search I have taken the opportunity to widen my skill set with interesting courses!
Aloittavan yrittäjän valmennus
Nuorten yrittäjyyspalvelut / Helsingin kaupunki 
Urapolkuvalmennus Luovien alojen työnhakijat
Työmarkkinatori / Spring House Oy
WORK EXPERIENCE
09/2024 – 12/2024
Graphic Design Intern
Erasmus+, Opetushallitus (Finnish National Agency for Education)
05/2023 – 08/2023
Graphic Design Intern
Advertising Agency Lycka Reklam
RECOMMENDATION LETTER
"Katriina has an excellent visual eye and excellent visual skills, and she has been able to adapt the European Commission's Erasmus+ brand to our na­tional Erasmus+ communication. She has also had a vision of how, for exam­ple, the content of our powerpoint presentations could be developed visu­ally. Katriina has taken on many different task sets under guidance and adapted to quickly changing situations and schedules. Katriina has good presentation skills and as a visual communicator she has been rich in ideas. Based on these experiences during her internship at EDUFI I can warmly rec­ommend Katriina for any similar tasks in the future."
— Anna-Maria Strengell, Senior Communications Specialist, Opetushallitus
REFERENCES
Anna-Maria Strengell
Senior Communications Specialist
Opetushallitus
+358 295 331 798
anna-maria.strengell@oph.fi
Mentor during my Erasmus+ internship
Aino Kivelä
Communications Specialist
Opetushallitus
+358 295 338 596
aino.kivela@oph.fi
Mentor during my Erasmus+ internship
EDUCATION
2024
Visual Communication Design
Metropolia UAS, Helsinki, Finland
09/2022 – 02/2023
Exchange semester: Brand Design module
Hogeschool Utrecht UAS, Utrecht, Netherlands
2020
Visual Design Studies
Paasikivi Institute, Turku, Finland
2019
High school Graduate
Kerttuli High School, Turku, Finland
OTHER NOTIONS
2022
Tutor for first year & exchange students
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki, Finland
2019
High school Art Diploma
Turku, Finland
2017
Youth camp leader
Martin Seurakunta, Turku, Finland

LANGUAGE SKILLS
Finnish – mother tongue
English – excellent
German – good
Swedish – basic
EXCHANGE PERIODS
I've always been interested in international experiences. I believe that when you choose to live abroad, you don’t lose a home in Finland, but gain another one somewhere else. Living abroad expands your world and teaches you resilience, compassion and courage.
02/2025 – 06/2025
Gap Year / Cesena, Italy
09/2022 – 02/2023
University Exchange / Utrecht, Netherlands
08/2018 – 05/2019
High School Exchange / Ingolstadt, Germany
Short exchanges (2 weeks)
2016 – Cologne, Germany
2015 – Kingston, United Kingdom
2014 – Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Next up:
PROJECTS
&
ILLUSTRATIONS