en / de / nl

Marije Kruis

Communication & Marketing Expert

Hi! I’m Marije (pronounced Mah-rye-yuh), a Dutch communication expert based in Austria. For over 20 years, I’ve partnered with clients around the globe. Whether you need a communication strategy, social media management, street art integration, a website launch, or help bringing your podcast or video ideas to life. I’m here to make it happen.
Marije Kruis
About

Creativity & Scaleable

I have been widely recognized for finding unconventional ways to connect and tell meaningful stories. Doing things differently helps you stand out. Together with my network of talented creatives I can scale and shape each project to match your goals.

Patient Advocate & NGO Founder

With over a decade of experience as a patient advocate and founder of the international non-profit Spot the Dot, I specialize in out-of-the-box health awareness campaigns that make an impact. I love working with other non-profits to help them communicate their mission with authenticity and impact.
Patient Advocate
Services

Versatile & Innovative

From September 1, 2025, I am available to help you with the following:

Strategic Marketing & Communication

I love tackling communication challenges, big or small. Whether you’re launching a brand, refining your messaging, or figuring out how to connect with your audience, I’ll help you find the right approach. I’ve worked with all kinds of clients, from lifestyle brands and startups to eHealth companies, record labels, street artists, e-commerce businesses, and B2B companies. No matter your industry, I’ll help you craft creative, effective strategies that make an impact.

PR & Media Strategy

I provide strategic media advice and develop press strategies that make an impact. Instead of spending big on advertorials, I take a creative, out-of-the-box approach to get media attention. I’ve successfully implemented this strategy in my own campaigns, check out my Spot the Dot press page to see it in action.

Social Media Content & Management

I create content and tailored strategies for social media as well as newsletters, backed by structured content calendars to keep you organized. If managing social media gives you a headache, toss it my way. I’ve got you covered!

Creative Strategy & Content Creation

I am a Creative Strategy Director for hire. I help brands find their voice and positioning. And we can take it a step further: working closely with creatives worldwide, I produce compelling content tailored to your needs. This includes campaign concepts, copywriting, websites, podcasts, videos, social media visuals, newsletters, animations, high-end photography, browser games, infographics, merchandising, and more.

Project Coordination & Connecting

I’ve collaborated with over 300 creatives, from photographers and illustrators to filmmakers, musicians, podcast creators, and street artists. I love bringing brands, agencies, and creatives together, whether through seamless project & production coordination or acting as the connector.

Patient Advocacy & Awareness Campaigns

I decided to turn my melanoma diagnosis into something positive by founding the non-profit Spot the Dot in 2015. To this day, I continue to organize global campaigns and events in 9+ languages. Invite me to speak at your event, craft compelling content for your social media channels, or design your next awareness campaign.
Interested? Let's talk!
Projects

Some of my Favorite Projects

Refurbed

Dutch market entry refurbed

I successfully launched refurbed, one of Austria’s leading start-ups, in the Dutch market by shaping and executing the local strategy. My role spanned data analysis, social media, influencer marketing, PR, partnerships, and driving brand visibility through key events and awards.
Spot the Dot

Founder of Spot the Dot

After my melanoma diagnosis, I wanted to turn my experience into something positive, so I founded Spot the Dot in 2015. Over the past decade, I've organized 25 events across 12 countries, launched 20+ awareness campaigns, published a book, short films and a game, created my own merchandise, and won several awards. My innovative, multilingual campaigns all aim to inspire crucial conversations about prevention and early detection.
Exhibition Madrid Love Your Body

Love Your Body exhibition

I had the honor of exhibiting my photography project at the prestigious Clínica Dermatológica Internacional in Madrid.  I initiated and curated this photo series to promote body positivity and skin cancer awareness. Watch the event video here.
Check a Mole Game

Check a Mole Game

I’ve always had the dream of developing my own game, especially after working for PlayStation Magazine as a columnist for a decade. That dream came true when I developed and self-published a free educational skin cancer browser game called "Check a Mole." It is currently available in 8 languages and has been played more than 200,000 times. The game has won several awards for its innovative approach to raising awareness about skin cancer. www.spotthedot.org/game
street art

Street art

I have over 13 years of experience working with street artists, handling PR and media relations for world-famous artist Nychos and his Rabbit Eye Movement collective, as well as his full-length documentary The Deepest Depths of the Burrow. I’ve organized street art festivals and facilitated commercial collaborations between brands and street artists worldwide.
OPM

Columnist The Official Playstation Magazine

I’ve often been called the first female gaming journalist in the Benelux—maybe even Europe. From 2004 to 2014, I wrote for the Dutch/Flemish Official PlayStation Magazine, covering everything from game reviews to diversity and music in gaming. It was a groundbreaking opportunity, and I'm proud to have been part of shaping the conversation around gaming, especially from a female perspective, in an industry that was—and still is—largely male-dominated.
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Contact

Based in Vienna, often in Amsterdam, working globally

Clients

I’ve collaborated with

... and many more.
Awards

Doing things differently has been rewarding

Winner two IPRA awards 2025

In 2025 we won two International Public Relations Association (IPRA) awards for the Spotted Realities Book and awareness events in Poland. This was a joined effort with the Polish Rak’n’Roll Foundation and photographer Anna Bedyńska.

Nominated Deutscher Fotobuchpreis 25/26

Nominated for Deutscher Fotobuchpreis (Germany's Photo Book Prize) for my Spotted Realities photography book in the category Photobook | Self-published / Independent Publisher | Handmade Artist’s Book. 

Nominated Schönste Bücher Österreichs 2025

Shortlisted for Die schönsten Bücher Österreichs (German: Austria's most beautiful books) for my Spotted Realities photography book.

Nominated Health Makers Award 2025

Nomination for my educational Check a Mole game in the category Outstanding digital innovation & Transformation.

Winner Patient Innovation Award 2024

For the project Making Skin Cancer Prevention Accessible in the category New Channels and Digital Tools in Patient Communication.

Shortlisted VOLUMES Book Award 2024

Shortlisted for the VOLUMES Book Award for my Spotted Realities photography book.

Winner Pharma Advertising Award 2023

For my Do You campaign in the categories multi-channel campaign. The campaign has received nominations for another two categories.

Winner Patient Innovation Award 2022

For my Don’t Fade Away campaign in the category New channels and digital tools in patient communication.

Winner Creative Club Austria Award 2022

Winner Patient Innovation Award 2021

For the Check-A-Mole game in the category Increasing Disease Awareness.

Winner Pharma Advertising Award 2019

Winner of two Golden awards for my Rebel Against Skin Cancer video campaign in the categories multi-channel campaign and film & video.

Nominated Most Inspiring Women 2017

Nominated for my work with Spot the Dot in the category World Improvers. Issued by VIVA Netherlands.

Most Wanted in Game Industry 2014

In 2014 German Gamebiz Magazine mentioned me in their print publication as the fifth most wanted person in the Gaming Industries.
Award

Testimonials

“Boy is she a go getter. Clear planning documents and strong texts were developed, new creative ideas were thought up and she always kept the eagle eye of overview.”

Eva Wolf

Founder De Wolven PR

“Marije is a hard working communications professional who is able to manage the complexity of international marketing projects with diligence and commitment.”

Thomas Prantl

Ex Global VP Swarovski

“Marije greatly contributed to the success of Soundlabel and new product roll-outs.”

Renger Koning

Founder Soundbase

“I love working with Marije because of her great storytelling skills and fascinating personality. She's a top writer.”

Youri Loedts

Head of Games Fund

“Marije brings in a large international network and a lot of experience in the field of marketing and social media. She has the ability to think out of the box and seek for PR and branding opportunities according to different budget scenarios.”

Jose Feghali

Head of International Markets at refurbed

“Marije was my primary marketing communications guide when we started setting up the Indian subsidiary. Her incredible ideas helped create the early Lomo community in Mumbai.”

Partha Rao

Country Head Lomography

“Marije rocks. First and foremost, she brought our social media and visuals to a whole new level. Eurozine continues to benefit from it to this day.”

Filip Zielinski

Researcher at Heidelberg University

“I think you should call Marije for "impossible" questions.”

Jan Willem Wolff

Founder Wolff MC

Marije Kruis