BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MBABANE – The big question is who will be announced as the top five in each of the 23 categories of creatives for the upcoming Creators Awards.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Swazi Boy, Nokwanda Sibandze, shared with this publication that the top five of this year’s Eswatini Creative Awards will be released this week.
The top 10 were released last month, and voting closed on Friday, December 29, 2023. . It’s worth mentioning that last year there were 30 categories; this was done to ensure inclusivity.
According to Sibandze, the date and venue for this year’s awards will be revealed at a later date. Last year’s awards were held at Happy Valley on December 4.
With a few days left until the release of the top five Eswatini Creative Awards, we caught up with one of the 10 nominees for the Best Graphic Designer of the Year category, Dennis Condani Charnley.
Charnley is a first-time nominee for Best Graphic Designer of the Year. Eswatini Positive News had a seat down with him, and this is what he had to say.
How did you feel when you learned about the nomination?
I was totally blown away! It was such a pleasant surprise to see that people actually knew about my work.
Who is your best graphic designer locally and internationally, and why?
Locally, Scinzo Mdluli is hands-down the best graphic designer. The reason why I admire him so much is because he has successfully built a remarkable personal brand, which is exactly what I aspire to achieve.
Moreover, I truly believe that he has a deep understanding of design and how it should function. All his poster designs are consistently clean and impactful.
Internationally, my uncle Hlengwa Manzini from Blaqhead Design Studio in Sandton, South Africa, is the best designer I know. He’s not only an amazing art director but also a master at making money with his design and presentation skills. His success motivates me to strive harder and become a successful designer myself.
Why do you think people voted for you?
I think they voted for me because I have a unique blend of skills and qualities that make me an outstanding candidate for the prestigious role of top graphic designer.
Over the past two years, my design work has achieved great success, thanks to my employer for showcasing it to a wide audience. I strongly believe that my work truly reflects the creative industry of Eswatini.
What inspires you to be good at what you do?
I get my inspiration from the designers who came before me and occasionally from the individuals and brands I follow on the internet. Whenever I come across a beautifully crafted billboard or poster, it pushes me to strive harder in order to achieve similar outcomes.
Where did you study?
I went to Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.
What advice would you give an aspiring graphic designer?
If you’re planning to enrol in a design class, I highly recommend taking a marketing class as well. In the field of design, you often have to explain your ideas to clients, so having marketing skills will come in handy.
For aspiring designers, my advice would be to build as many business relationships as possible, as you’ll soon find that people will be in need of your services. And remember, always ask for a 50% upfront payment from clients to protect yourself from those who might try to steal your work.
Always prioritise the needs of your clients when designing, and never let critics discourage you. Instead, embrace their feedback and give it another shot because we continue to learn throughout our lives.
