Graphic designer works his way to the top – The Herald

The Herald

Shepherd Chimururi Youth Interactive Correspondent

The burning desire to create unique beautiful images is the fire that runs through the veins of many young people.

Nkosinathi Moyo, a 21-year-old brand designer based in the leaf suburb of Cowdray Park in Bulawayo is no exception.

This makes him a beneficiary of the ICT driven economy.

My journey into graphic design started in 2019 when it came to my attention that business owners, especially small business owners in Bulawayo, were now accustomed to bad design and had put aside the fact that the most influential assets of any business is its Identity. I employ artistic methods to distil thoughts and vision into imagery and words we work to solve a clients problem, explained Nkosinathi.

With no prior formal training his entry into the world of graphic designing was though sheer determination.

I learnt how to design through YouTube Academy and LinkedIn Learning then in February 2020, enrolled for the Visual Technics and Creative Design course at Bulawayo Polytechnic to learn more skills that could help in my journey, but I never got to finish the course because the class was disbanded after the emergence of Covid-19.

Later on in the year I enrolled at NUST to study Publishing Media, but had to defer because of financial challenges. I then got an internship at Kantor Enterprises and am now working as a junior graphic designer, he explained.

Part of his work includes designing banners, fliers, logos, labels, T-shirts, magazines, menu cards, calendars and business cards.

I mainly use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign to do my work. Through the YouTube Academy I have also learnt to use Affinity Software as well as write HTML and CSS.

His success story includes making designs for food festival giant Munch n Sip, UmaIceCream, Group Therapy Events and Entertainment who also have an upcoming festival on the 30th of October which is spreading breast cancer awareness.

Getting recognition in the field has not been easy as Nkosinathi explained.

As an upcoming young freelance designer, the hurdle was with entering the market as there were quite a number of other established designers already in the field and as well as clients who dont understand that they hire designers to do something that theyre not good at, and in turn pay for the knowledge, skills and experience.

He continued, But now that the hard part is almost out of the way, I am making steady income from the freelance gigs and the fulltime job. My inspiration mainly comes from Fungi Dube founder of Fungi Dube Graphics in Harare and Lesley Bhebhe of Amahle Creatives based in South Africa and number of other African Brand Designers.

Nkosinathis to aspiring brand designers is practical.

To young people looking to get into graphic design, I want them first to understand that it is a game of patience and hard work, but also a powerful tool for personal empowerment.

The power of design shapes the future of brands. In order to grow your craft, you have to listen, watch and learn. It is also a learning journey that you take together with your clients to create brands that are both brilliant and beautiful.

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Graphic designer works his way to the top - The Herald