top of page

Kathrin Federer

Digital Artist,

Creative Director & Educator

Adobe Community Expert

Ask the Expert @ Adobe MAX 2024

Skylum Marketplace Artist

E-mail address

Art Licensing requests

Social Media

  • instagram
  • twitter
  • facebook
  • youtube
Portrait Kathrin Federer

KATHRIN FEDERER

 

Less is not deprivation.
Less is more.

 

This is the conviction that runs through everything I do — through my digital art, through my courses, through the way I compose images and think about brands.

 

I'm Kathrin, an artist and creative strategist from near Zurich. What drives me isn't money, reach, or recognition—it's penetration. It's understanding why something works. I see something new, I want to understand it, I learn it, I build with it. Then the next thing comes along. It's not a plan. It's just how I operate.

 

I'm a self-learner, a doer, a fast starter. Where others are still weighing options, I've already tested. Where others would commission an app, I build it myself. I think in systems, see patterns earlier than most—and I can't help but think two steps ahead. Entrepreneurial thinking isn't an add-on to my creativity. It's an integral part of it.

 

Everything I teach, I've taught myself. Photoshop, image composition, brand strategy, AI workflows. Not because I had to, but because I'm fascinated by the process. The moment I truly get something, I’m already onto building the next thing.

 

Art & Visual Language

I've been working digitally since 2017. What began as an experiment has evolved into a clearly recognizable style: minimalist, surreal, and precisely composed. My works are created from photographs, 3D elements, vectors, and digital design—but the crucial element comes before: the idea, the message, the impact. The art of omission. AI can generate many images. It can't decide what should be left out. That's precisely my craft.

Courses & Education

I teach what I myself would have wanted — directly, practically, without detours.

My online course on minimalist image composition is the starting point—something that hasn't existed in such a simple way before. It offers a fresh perspective on image design, not just technically, but in the very act of seeing itself. This includes a custom-developed app that analyzes and evaluates compositions. Not because an app is needed, but because the idea demanded it.

Anyone familiar with the online course will immediately notice why in my live courses: active visual seeing, composition in practice, direct implementation — all based on the same framework of thought.

 

Freelance & Branding

Occasionally, I work with companies and brands seeking a clear visual identity—not a modular system, but thoughtful design and strategy with a clear message. In the areas of branding, graphic design, web development, and social media, I always strive for a result that not only looks good, but also functions effectively, grows organically, and becomes a unique selling proposition.

 

Photo Tours

Once a year, I take a small group on a tour through Switzerland, to places most people don't know. Little theory, lots of practice, real moments. You can't learn photography from books.

 

What motivates me

I get bored easily—that's not a flaw, it's what drives me. I learn everything I set my mind to until I've truly mastered it. Then I move on to the next thing. What remains is the conviction that quality, clarity, and a well-considered aesthetic aren't a matter of style—but of ambition.

I don't do things because they're financially worthwhile. I do them because they challenge me. Because an idea is too good to let lie. Because I can't wait for someone else to implement it. The resulting pace is sometimes the only thing others can't keep up with—and that's perfectly fine.

Adobe Community Expert · 200k+ Community · Standing still was never an option

Interested in partnering with me?

Past & Upcoming Events

Photo Münsigen Award

31 October 2025

DESIGNING THE COVER & STORY VISUALS FOR "FORUM DES 100" 2025

In addition to the cover, I also designed further visuals for the renowned «Forum des 100» of Le Temps for the 2025 edition.

31 October 2023

DESIGNING THE EXCLUSIVE "FORUM DES 100" COVER FOR LE TEMPS

Once again I was commissioned to design the cover for the renowned «Forum des 100» of Le Temps .

A woman holds the 2024 issue of Le Temps F-100 in her hand.

14–16 October 2024

ADOBE MAX 2024

"Ask the Expert" at the Adobe MAX Creativity Conference .

Miami Beach Convention Center, FL / USA

Adobe Max

June 9 – June 30, 2024

MASTERCLASS IMAGE EDITING & COMPOSITING

In cooperation with VHS-Nord.

Online course. Register now, only a few places available!

Masterclass with Kathrin Federer

• BOOKED UP! •

14 April – 5 May 2024

MASTERCLASS IMAGE EDITING & COMPOSITING

In cooperation with VHS-Nord.

Online course. Register now, only a few places available!

Masterclass with Kathrin Federer

• BOOKED UP! •

Forum des 100 by Le Temps – Cover by Kathrin Federer

31 October 2023

DESIGNING THE EXCLUSIVE "FORUM DES 100" COVER FOR LE TEMPS

I had the fantastic opportunity to design the cover for the renowned «Forum des 100» of Le Temps .

Kathrin Federer for Le Temps

10–12 October 2023

ADOBE MAX 2023

Teaching Coach at The Creativity Conference .

Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), California USA

September 13, 2023

ARTICLE IN FOTOPULS, ONLINE PHOTO MAGAZINE

The article is dedicated, among other things, to my work 'Arcadian Contrast'. Big thanks to Thorsten, the editor of FOTOPULS, who asked me for this article.

Article in the Fotopuls of VHS-Nord.de

June 15 – November 15, 2023

FRENCH ANNECY LAKE PHOTO EXHIBITION (OUTDOORS)

Free access – along the promenade of Lake Annecy, French Alps near Geneva and Chamonix Mont Blanc

French Annecy Lake Photo Exhibition

19–20–21 May 2023

IMAGENATION PARIS 2023
Galerie Joseph Le Palais, Paris

Zementboden

Get my updates delivered straight to your inbox.

  • Instagram
  • Threads
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Youtube

©2026 kathrinfederer.ch

bottom of page