Mamba’s good deeds earns him slot in M&G 200 Young South Africans

Former Graphic Design student, Thulisizwe Mamba. 


Graphic Design graduate, Thulisizwe Mamba has made the Mail and Guardian 200 Young South African Leaders 2017 list.

At the age of 22, Mamba has held the DUT flag high with his many achievements as a digital designer and illustrator. Mamba discovered his love for illustration in his high school years and decided to pursue a career in it.

“I got interested in digital design and illustration through music. I’d listen to a lot of music and marvel at the track art,” said Mamba.

He was owner of a conceptual design studio called Less Studio + Co that ran for almost 3 years and currently is an Art Director at Oglivy- Geometry Global.  His work aims to capture the spirit of South Africa’s youth culture.

“My work as a designer and illustrator centres around documenting South African youth culture on the internet and offline. I tasked myself with this duty as I felt no one was documenting what being young in South Africa was like,” said Mamba.

Apart from work, Mamba dedicates his spare time to the youth. He is part of the Bookdash Designers Group which designs books for children. Mamba also teaches art and design to high school pupils at a workshop called Ubuntu Youth.

He hopes that his work captures the changing trends of today and becomes a reference point for future generations to know their origins.

“I’d love to have a creative agency focusing on youth culture and culture in general. I’d like it to be very responsive in terms of taking from the culture and giving back to the culture in a manner different to that of advertising. I understand how corny things can get when it’s about the culture, so I’d love to apply my witty approach to design and illustration beyond 2D surfaces,” he said.

Mamba is highly grateful for being part of the M&G 200 Young South African 2017 and encourages fellow students to never put check boxes on personal growth, be it as a designer or person.
“Growth has no end point in life and most importantly, self-belief is more important than talent,” said Mamba.

-CARLY VAN DER WESTHUIZEN

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