Design Grid

18/09/2025

When we walk into a space, we rarely think about what it is trying to make us feel.

But every environment is telling us a story. Sometimes loud and obvious, other times subtle and quiet.

When SnoMaster asked us to bring life to the partitioning wall in their Cape Town showroom, we knew it could not just be decoration. It had to tell a story worth stepping into.

So we asked ourselves:
What story should this wall whisper to every customer who walks past it?
What emotions should it leave behind?

The wall was dedicated to leisure lifestyle. Not just products on display, but the experiences they enable. A campfire with friends. A glass of wine at a farm. A night out at a restaurant. A journey into the remote unknown.

We broke the wall into sections, each a fragment of a bigger journey, and built it to feel like the start of a story.

Because SnoMaster is not just about fridge freezers. It is about adventure, comfort, and the freedom to live life on your own terms.

Your next story starts here.

If you are in Cape Town, visit the SnoMaster showroom and let us know what you think of the transformation.

16/06/2025

History Made. Legacy Cemented. 🏏
The Proteas are your World Test Champions! 🇿🇦

Aiden. Temba. KG. The squad. The pride.

This is more than just a win; it's a moment that rewrote our cricketing story.

Stand up. You're in the presence of Giants.

Cricket South Africa

10/06/2025

🟢🏉 Springboks X Pick n Pay

Yesterday, the Springboks unveiled their new warm-up kit, featuring Pick n Pay front and centre.

Springbok fans lit up, though much of the chatter wasn’t about the performance on the pitch, but about that logo placement. 👀

As a lifelong Bok fan and designer, I couldn’t resist designing my take on how sponsor branding and heritage stripes can live in harmony.

Here’s my concept. Let me know what you think. 📣

19/05/2025

We had 3 months. And a mountain of design work.

A partner agency approached us to deliver a full-scale brand and event suite for a major client in the betting world:

✅ 36 custom logos
✅ Event invitations
✅ Press releases
✅ Video content
✅ Social media assets

and more...

You name it, we built it.

And the craziest part?

It was just the three of us at Design Grid.

And we pulled it off.

Because we’re not just a design shop, we’re strategic partners.

We saw the vision.
So we rolled up our sleeves and made it happen with late nights, weekends and last-minute client requests.
No fluff. Just ex*****on.

Not because we had to. Because we wanted to.

We LOVE sports branding.

The result?

✔️ Two incredibly happy clients.
✔️ 12 athletes proud of their personal brand.
✔️ One wildly successful event.

This project reminded me of something important:

You don’t need a big team to do big things.

You need obsession.
You need grit.
You need a burning desire to do great work.

We may be a small business.

But don’t mistake that for small impact.

Here’s to the next big one.

If you’re a founder, agency or event organiser looking to deliver bold creative under pressure, let’s talk. This is where we thrive.

Email: [email protected]

08/05/2025

When last did you stop and ask if your brand is still working?

Not the logo. Not the website.
The brand.
What it means.
How it feels.
The story it tells when you are not in the room.

Most people wait until things are already falling apart before they think about this stuff.

But here is the truth:
A brand audit is not about fixing what is broken.
It is about finding out what still fits and what quietly doesn’t.

Here is when I usually see the red flags:
👉🏼 Growth is flat.
👉🏼 The team cannot explain what the brand stands for.
👉🏼 You feel stuck, even though nothing looks “wrong”.
👉🏼 A competitor shows up and suddenly your brand feels...old.

This is usually the moment when a brand audit becomes your secret weapon.

And it does not need to be complicated.

Here are 3 questions I ask every founder we work with:
1️⃣ Can your team explain your brand’s promise in one sentence?
2️⃣ Does your message still resonate with who your audience has become?
3️⃣ Do your visuals and tone reflect the business you are becoming, or the one you used to be?

If you are hesitating on any of those, I promise you are not alone.

And it might be time to take a proper look under the hood.
Because great brands do not drift.

They evolve with purpose.

24/04/2025

Suzuki just became the official ODI partner of the Proteas 🇿🇦

At first glance, it looks like a classic sports sponsorship. Not because it’s great marketing (which it is).

But if you look a little deeper, there is a smart brand play happening here.

Cricket isn’t just a game in South Africa.

1. It’s heritage.
2. It’s a shared language.
3. It's a tradition.

A memory we all have with friends and family dancing after wickets fall.

So, when a brand like Suzuki steps into that space, they’re doing more than putting a logo on a shirt. They are tapping into emotion. Belonging. And national pride.

That is how modern brands earn attention. Not by interrupting moments, but by becoming part of the moments that matter.

What makes this partnership stand out even more is:
They’ve donated a fleet of 30 vehicles to CSA’s development program, helping young cricketers across SA access better facilities and opportunities.

That means creating opportunity…

This is what brand-building should look like: emotional connection + real-world contribution.

This is what every founder or marketer can learn from.

When you align your brand with what people care about and back it up with real action, you do more than drive awareness; you drive loyalty.

And in a world full of noise, that kind of connection is gold!

CSA has announced a partnership, welcoming Suzuki as the vehicle partner and headline sponsor for the Proteas men's and women's ODI teams.

22/04/2025

I received a call from a web developer recently who had questions about his project. We got chatting for a while, brainstorming ideas and exploring client processes to improve the project's overall outcome.

At the end of the call, he thanked me, almost apologetic for the detailed conversation we had. His gratitude caught me off guard. I was simply doing what should come naturally in our industry...

As a small business owner, I've noticed a concerning trend: many small business owners tend to guard their knowledge and expertise out of fear, fear of losing clients or being outperformed.

This mindset holds us all back.

Imagine if we instead pooled our collective wisdom and experiences? We'd all achieve greater success through these shared insights!

When small businesses collaborate on epic projects, we create something more valuable than what we could achieve while competing for nothing. Yes, occasionally you might get burned; that's unfortunately inevitable.

But when you find that perfect synergy with the right partner, something truly magical happens...

These connections only form when you're willing to provide value without expecting immediate returns.

There's genuine fulfillment in seeing others succeed, partly because of your generosity and kindness.

The moral of my story is that our business community would thrive if more of us embraced a collaborative approach instead of building barriers between each other.

13/04/2025

What does it actually take to turn a netball tournament into an unforgettable experience?

Hint: It’s more than just a venue and a scoreboard.

We recently had the opportunity to develop the visual identity for the Junior & Little League IPT25 tournament, hosted at Montague Action Sports Arena, one of South Africa’s indoor sports venues under Action Sports South Africa.

This event wasn’t just a competition. It was a celebration of rising netball talent, family support and community spirit.

Our goal?�To amplify that energy through a bold and unified brand experience across the venue.

Here’s what we delivered:

- A wall banner that served as a central backdrop for unforgettable photo moments�
- Branded selfie boards to boost social sharing and crowd interaction�
- Refreshed interior signage�
- Trophies and medals designed to feel truly earned

A powerful physical brand presence does more than decorate. It:�
• Shapes atmosphere
• Elevates experience
• And cements memories long after the final whistle.

💡 If you're planning a sports tournament or youth event, let’s explore how design can transform your space and your story.

Massive thanks to SG Branding Africa for the stunning prints and installation! You helped bring our designs to life. 🙌

📩 DM us if you're ready to turn your next event into a full-scale brand experience.

12/04/2025

Having dabbled with the current figurine trend, I decided to take it a step further and explore how it could be applied to one of my favourite South African brands, SnoMaster.

The goal was to capture and reflect the brand’s adventurous spirit in a way that resonates with outdoor enthusiasts, off-roaders, campers and explorers alike.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this creative direction.

Does it speak to the wild at heart?

07/04/2025

In the ever-evolving landscape of brand marketing, Kim Kardashian's SKIMS has emerged as a pioneer in leveraging sensory marketing to create immersive consumer experiences.

She didn’t launch a store. She launched a sensory world...

To celebrate the new SKIMS flagship in LA, Kim partnered with the iconic Mel’s Drive-In, transforming it into a fully immersive brand experience.

From custom SKIMS-inspired milkshake menus to a photo booth wrapped in n**e tones, every element was crafted to trigger emotional recall.

Nostalgia. Warmth. Sensuality. Comfort. All in one branded space.

This wasn’t just marketing. It was sensory theatre.

Sensory marketing is one of the most underused yet high-impact brand strategies.

Studies show that brands engaging 3+ senses are more likely to be remembered and emotionally connected to.

And SKIMS is proving it!

They’re no longer selling shapewear.

They’re selling how it makes you feel, before you even touch the product.

Now let’s bring this home...

Imagine this:

A Cape Town-based fintech startup is launching a savings or investment app targeting 20 to 30-year-olds.

Instead of a traditional product demo, they host a "Future Wealth Lounge" pop-up at Mojo Market.

Guests receive metallic, textured “dream investment tokens” that they can trade at interactive stations. Each token unlocks a different financial future.

• Headphones play curated soundtracks based on their goals.
• Subtle scents change per zone. For example, citrus scents in ‘’high-growth’’ areas or calming lavender in ‘’long-term savings’’ corners.
• Branded mocktails/cocktails to reflect different investment styles.

Each station subtly ties back to user journeys inside the app, making the fintech brand memorable and ''feel'' human, not transactional.

Now, you're not selling a finance app. You’re helping people experience financial empowerment with all their senses!

If you’re building a brand in 2025, ask yourself:
1. Are you connecting with your target audience on a deeper level?
2. Are people just seeing your brand or are they ''feeling'' it?
2. How can you make your brand more memorable through the use of sensory marketing?

Let’s chat sensory strategy.

24/01/2025

🎬 Instagram Launches “Edits” App: The New Mobile Video Editing Tool! 🎬

Instagram's stepping up its game with a new video editing tool that could change the way you create content. Here’s what you need to know about Edits!

🎥 Instagram’s Version of CapCut
▶️"Edits" is Instagram’s new mobile video editing tool.
▶️Aimed at offering more creative control over your content—just like CapCut, but with Instagram’s twist.

⚙️ Creative Tools at Your Fingertips!
▶️Video capture up to 10 minutes.
▶️Easy project management with saved drafts.
▶️Timeline editing for more control: green screen, effects, transitions.
▶️Record in higher quality: HDR, 1080p, etc.

💡 Inspiration & Collaboration Made Easy
▶️Dedicated tab for trending audio and content inspiration.
▶️Share drafts with friends and creators for feedback.
▶️Export clips without watermarks.

You can sign up to pre-order the app, which is set for release in March📅

23/01/2025

🚨 SAVE THIS! 🚨 Instagram just rolled out a big update: the grid layout has switched from square to a taller 4:5 version! Here’s what this means for your content:

✋ Stop creating square posts and switch to 4:5 content ASAP.
👀 Grid previews now display in 3:4 ratio.
🤯 Reminder: You can’t post in 3:4 — stick to 4:5 and add some padding to avoid cropping!
⚠️ Many users still see square grids, so your content needs to work for both layouts.

Swipe through the Carousel for more tips, and drop your questions below! 💬