Natasha Marais Email & Phone Number

South Africa

Stellenbosch

Currently I manage a creative studio consisting of an Art Director, Copy Writers, Designers and a Traffic team which includes a Production team. Together with our Creative Director and Managing Director, we make up the creative side of the business.My duties include all communication with the Marketing team relayed back to the studio and vice versa. Among these are scheduling of all creative work, ensuring tight deadlines and deliveries are met according to my determined timelines. I guarantee that the critical path to the high quality end product is seamlessly followed through.In addition to duties mentioned above, occasionally I service corporate clients as Project Manager. For some clients I play an Account Executive role.In more detail:- Assessment of existing business processes and systems, identification of appropriate improvements and replacements, and implementation thereof for both Traffic and Production Departments.​- Detailed management of schedules and several daily deadlines, simultaneously delegating and overseeing team workflow to achieve the set goals in a timeous fashion. ​- Production Department management including print, procurement, sourcing suppliers, quality control and post-delivery client service.​- Continuous assessment and improvements of studio resources such as image libraries and Chase.​- Project management including executing full projects from start to finish, client service to several brands, client liaison, planning and budget.​- Leadership role including supporting and representation of team members of two departments (totalling 15 people at one point). ​- Right-hand to the Managing Director including sharing insights, problem-solving, decision making, providing daily updates on various departments’ performance and communication back to teams.

Somerset West

In three years I have grown Township 8 Design Studio into a profitable one-man business. My lovely home office inspires productivity and what I perceive as quality work and excellent service to each and every client. In the past I have led design teams to creative success by being involved, by motivating and inspiring. I understand the needs and requirements of the client and comprehend the subjective viewpoint, perception and reaction of the public eye.I have interacted, communicated and built relationships with the widest range of clients. These vary from Casinos to motorcar manufacturers and more recently, trading as Township 8, wine estates across the Western Cape. I have 11 years of extensive experience in the entire design process from client briefing, brainstorming and conceptualizing to print and/ or production. I was also involved in TV productions (concepts and storyboards) and various other areas of pre-production (location scouting, wardrobe, catering, casting etc.) and direction at the shoot itself.When I was employed as a studio manager, I believe my positive and dynamic attitude inspired the team to create, design, think, perform and produce at their best. Of course having your own business is another kind of horse. This is where your true strengths shine through; inspiring yourself and building relationships with potentially new and existing clients. Your holistic view regarding business grows to include all aspects of finance (which includes budgeting), research, marketing and strategy.Specialties: Design and production of advertising material. Website design and development.Township8 serviced the whole of South Africa and was situated in Somerset West.Some of my services included the following:logos | stationary | email stationary | websites | presentations | brochures | labels invitations | flyers | printing | signage | branding | corporate gifts | annual reports

This was a freelancing position working on accounts like Elizabeth Arden, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and Sanlam.It included packaging for numorous beauty products, design of brochures and conceptualizing and executing adverts.

Cape Town

Design work on Crazy Store

Management of the creative team and other resources:Work delegation and studio administrative duties (incl. stock orders and incentives)Conceptualizing and brainstorming: Pitches, print and production (This included storyboards for production)Design:Web concepts, print media, packaging, corporate ID’s, point of sale material, presentations, brochures, annual reports, etc Accounts included:ToyotaNissanSalexLiberty LifeJacaranda 94.2fmWesBankOasis WaterYellow Pages African Palace CasinoWesBankOasis WaterYellow Pages African Palace Casino

Pietermaritzburg, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

DUTIES:Pitches, print and production (This included storyboards for production and certain responsibilities of pre-production and production - location scouting, wardrobe, make-up, models etc.)Web concepts, print media, packaging, corporate ID’s, point of sale material, presentations, brochures, annual reports, full campaigns, etc Work delegation and studio administrative duties (incl. stock orders and incentives)Logo’s, corporate ID, signage, banners, brochure (The upholding of our corporate ID and compiling the corporate ID manual for future designers)Location scouting, décor of halls, invitations, leaflets and other supporting materialSocial company eventsAccounts included:Sanyo AdidasKIA Motors SAComrades MarathonGolden Horse CasinoVictoria Country Club and EstateStihlFirst National BankBELL EquipmentZululand TourismLiberty Midlands MallRichards Bay Coal Terminal

Graphic Design Diploma, Design, Marketing And Advertising

Graduate with Honors

Education record