About – Alyssa

From understanding to execution, held with clarity.

Before I open a brief properly, I want to understand the business it belongs to. Who the customer is. What the competitive landscape looks like. What the project is actually trying to achieve at a business level, and whether the brief as written is going to get it there.

Going that deep into the context is what produces the best brief responses. Clients feel the difference — it's why they include me in conversations beyond the immediate scope, and why the working relationships tend to last.

Background

I trained as a designer at CFAD in Durban, graduating with the Platinum Award (highest aggregate in web design). Before that I was top 10% in an LLB, with distinctions in philosophy and ethics. I followed a truer instinct into design and advertising, but the rigour of that training - building arguments, reading systems, understanding how decisions connect - has shaped how I work ever since.

At Ogilvy Durban I was lead designer on SA Home Loans' digital transformation: South Africa's first fully automated home loan website, coordinated across teams in Durban, Cape Town, and India during full remote lockdown. From there, two years on MR Price Sport at ITI, joining as senior designer and art director, growing into team lead on the account, and working directly alongside the creative director across campaigns, shoots, and team output. Since 2023, independent practice.

Twelve years in. Still learning on every project.

HOW I WORK

I work best when I'm brought in with enough runway to understand the brief thoroughly before execution begins. I'm comfortable working independently, communicating clearly, and making confident creative decisions as part of a distributed team.

I'm based in Durban, South Africa (one hour ahead of GMT). I've coordinated creative across teams in three cities and worked with developers in India. Async communication, clear briefs, and consistent delivery are simply how I've always operated.

Tools

Adobe Illustrator · Photoshop · InDesign · After Effects · Figma · WordPress · Shopify · Canva · Google Suite · Keynote

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

“She got me from day one. I've never made it through a whole project with a designer before.”

Michelle Schlussas, Consulting Psychologist

“I love the logo so much I want to get it tattooed.”

Juliet Abrahams, J&K Holiday Homes

“The first week after we launched, we made more than we'd ever seen. The conversation about pricing before the design even started changed everything.”

Venisa Christophers, Orca Estates

I work on a small number of projects at a time and stay closely involved throughout.

If you’re looking for senior creative thinking for a remote project, retainer, or overflow, I’d love to hear what you’re working on.

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