2022 in Review

Last year was a successful year.  I worked with amazing clients around the world, working on projects related to branding, web design/development & product design. I joined two mentorship programmes to help me with business strategy and overall my revenue was up by 25% since 2021.

Nearly 3 years as an Indie Designer

Since March 2020, when I fully became an 'indie designer', or freelancer if you will, I have enjoyed the autonomy that came with this.  As I have family in Cape Town, it was always convenient for me to visit there and continue working as I do.  The world after Covid opened many doors for remote work and I am grateful for this.

As Christmas 2022 rolled around

As last years silly season began, it was also at this time that I also took a personality test on , I found the timing of this to be quite interesting as I realised I was much more extraverted than I had given myself credit for.  Seeing as I love to learn and create pieces of design or art (ie. spend time by myself), I had always thought I was somewhere in the middle, or an 'omnivert'.  But no, that was related to my Intellect and Openness - my desire to explore and create, rather than my Extraversion.  So as people got jolly, I started to feel like I was living this meme, I realised that I missed working in a team with fellow creatives and sharing in triumph.  The remote working environment and creative collaborators I do have are incredible, but I had now realised something and felt in my bones, so it was at this moment I decided that in 2023, I would look to get a 'job job'.

The career path

2022 saw me work consistently in the role of a product designer with an innovative start up, Kabata Fitness. Although I had worked as a UI/UX designer before and use UX frameworks to help with brand strategy for clients, this was the first time I had worked exclusively in an agile manner.  For years I understood the method but this was really the first time I experienced working with a team in the weekly sprints, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!  I was able to dive deeper into Figma - my favourite design tool - ideating, wireframing, collaborating, prototyping, creating flows.  It was great to see it all come together and work at a fast pace with a talented team.

And so, the course is set...  Product design here we go

As 2023 begins, I am now certain of the path.  Setting off on a mission to become a product designer working with talented team of creatives, researchers and strategists. I understand its unlikely to be straight shot, as product designers are top of the creative chain, and as my background led me to be strong on the visual design side of things, I can see myself working my way up as as UI/Visual designer or UI/UX designer on my way to full on product design.  Although I have experience as a product designer, this was a smaller team and as I had helped with the brand identity (and possessed UI/UX experience), it made sense to keep me on board to successfully work on the product.

The roadmap ahead

Outside of publishing this website with my updated portfolio and case studies.  I find it important that I can showcase my ambition, talent and ability by levelling up and presenting my additional learnings through this blog or elsewhere on the website, such as the archive.  As I am a student in Trinity, I get access to LinkedIn learning which will help me add some certificates to my page.  Even though much of this knowledge has been in practice over my career, I do see the value in getting that seal of approval to show to hiring managers or companies looking to fill a position.

The work I want to do

As I reflect on my journey as a designer and my aspirations for the future, my passion for the Climate Tech industry and the Green Economy remains at the forefront of my mind. Since September 2022, I have been studying Climate Entrepreneurship at Trinity College Dublin, and this experience has only deepened my desire to help civilisation find balance with the natural world and live in harmony.

Ever since I was a young boy in South Africa, I have always had a deep love for nature. I believe that through innovative products and solutions, we can move forward into a safer, greener world. I am eager to work with a team of talented to bring these ideas to life and make a positive impact on the environment and society.

As I look to the future, I am optimistic about the possibilities that lie ahead. I am determined to continue honing my skills, taking on new challenges, and working on projects that align with my passion for Climate Tech and the Green Economy. I am confident that with hard work and dedication, I will be able to achieve my goal of becoming a product designer and make a difference in the world through my work.

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