Mokokoma Mokhonoana

QLooking at your work, particularly your personal website and Skout, the feeling I get is that you have quite a classic approach to design, meaning that you lay elements down on a grid, you take great care to balance typography and colours, and you make content clear and accessible. How do you feel about all the trends going around, like collages, the ubiquitous shiny buttons, the overuse of gradients, over-the-top illustrated banners that take up 50% of the page..are these all fruits of fads or self-expression, or do you feel they still add value to whatever they're promoting? And how can a balance be achieved?

AI’m not a fan of trends. The problem is that a client who doesn’t know much about design will approve a mockup simply because it looks like its ‘done by a designer’, its too complex for an average person to do – so it is ‘cool’ to them. I believe there’s a huge need for us to educate clients about design, its purpose and value.

One thing that some designers fail to remember that design is there to deliver the message (content) NOT to take the limelight! Yes, we also use design to grab attention but it should not overpower the message! If content is really King, then the design should be made its servants.

Self expression? NO! It’s not about the designer expressing themselves. Designers are supposed to express and/or communicate the client’s message. I don’t think it makes sense for a client to pay me, so I can express myself! If a designer wants to express themselves they should consider painting (and hopefully someone will [like] their artwork).

QWhat's the web (and graphic) design scene like in South Africa? Incidentally, one of the project managers at the office comes from SA as well, and according to her most people in your country are still on dial-up. How does a lack of infrastructure affect you (if at all)?

ACreativity is borderless! I’m quite confident in our creative abilities as a South Africans and I’m proud of some of the (standard of) creative work created in South Africa. A lot of people are starting to grasp the internet medium, so there’s definitely a huge growth in terms of awareness and internet usage. I personally don’t have any infrastructure challenges, all I need is a Mac, pen and paper (and preferably some coffee) then I’m ready to rock ‘n roll.

QIf you could meet anyone from any point in history (designer or not) who would it be? and how has he/she influenced you?

APaul Rand – I love the standard of his work and most importantly the way he did business. He didn’t sacrifice when coming to dealing with clients, he respected his profession and demanded the same from those that employed his expertise. He only presented one concept for a project. He understood that it was his responsibility to propose the best solution NOT impress clients with multiple concepts – which in most cases leads to confusion and a project taking for ever!

QAny books you would like to recommend? And what do you do when you're not designing?

ABooks:

1. Logo Design Workbook (read)
2. The truth about brands (read)
3. It’s not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be (read)
4. The Google Story (read)
5. The Geometry of Design (still to buy)
6. Elements of Graphic design (still to buy)

When I’m not designing, I’m thinking of designing!