The format of the event brought 67 graphic designers together with 67 businesses who need a professional identity. Many of these startup businesses do not have the budget to employ a professional graphic designer to establish their brand identity and images. As successful businesses often discover, a professional identity sets you apart and contributes hugely to their success in the marketplace.

Businesses were paired to a designer who took their brief and gained a better understanding of their businesses and what they are looking to achieve. In many cases guiding the designers on what they liked or would like to see in their brand new logo. After the initial briefing businesses gave the designers two hours to design their identity while they attended seminars on effective business management, motivation and coaching.

A second session followed where designers would present their ideas and receive feedback from the company owners. They then had another two hours to finish up the final identity and package all the elements for the company to be used for print or digital reproduction. A complete logo package to brand and market their business to the word.

Gerald Yapp, a senior designer and owner of In-Detail Advertising, based in Bedfordview attended on behalf of the company and had this to say,

“Designers are often competitive and do not collaborate too easily as our industry is fiercely competitive. I often collaborate and world with designers and teams from outside SA and find them more open and quick to share information and ideas. All the designers were placed in one room at Workshop 17 in Sandton and the collaboration and interaction was outstanding. Discussion and critique flowed, common design challenged laughed about, connections made and contacts shared. As a designer it was a really rewarding experience and some good old fashioned pressure to create an identity from brief to final artwork in only four hours!”.

Gerald was paid with Chamuwari Ketano whose company The Green Loop who are pioneers of Greencubation and promoting prosperity in the Green Economy through training, ,information, support and coaching.

Well done to the organising team and well done to all the designers who gave up their time for Mandela Day. #67logos #MandelaDay2019