Corporate Logo Design

Rode & Associates Property Economists

Rode & Associates Property Consultants and Valuers, located in Bellville, Cape Town, required a complete overhaul of their corporate identity, including a redesign of their logo.

The previous incarnation of their logo, also designed by me, looked somewhat outdated at a time when logos were becoming friendlier and less corporate, so it was time for a refresh.

Eco Spa Logo Design

Khaya Spas

Khaya Spas, based in Cape Town, needed a logo that would appeal to an upper-middle- to upper-income clientele, as well as eco-lodges in the Cape Winelands. Rather than conveying luxury or glamour, however, the brand needed to resonate with a more holistic, spiritually minded audience – people drawn to organic living, sustainability, and an earthy, indigenous-inspired aesthetic.

The logo needed to feel natural and organic. I began by sketching around 30 concepts in pencil, from which the client selected the one that resonated with them most. The chosen concept depicts rising steam that also forms the shape of a hand, creating a subtle visual reference to healing and spirituality.

I then refined the concept into a finished vector logo using the colour palette the client had already specified. The typography received the same level of attention: I spent several hours reviewing hundreds of typefaces before narrowing the selection to around 20 suitable candidates. The client ultimately chose the one shown above.

This project illustrates what a typical logo design process looks like – from concept exploration and refinement to typography selection and final execution.

Podcast Logo Design

Africa with André

André Thomas has extensive knowledge and experience in the African tourism industry which led him to launch a podcast that focuses on unique and interesting stories about his and others' experiences on our colourful continent.

His market is German and Swiss citizens who are curious about Africa. André is an Afro-optimist and a delight to listen to.

Creative Logo Design

Wordo Communications

Elmari Potgieter opted to become a freelancer following a successful career in creative writing, and she required a logo that would convey a blend of playfulness and professionalism.

The term "Wordo" carries a tongue-in-cheek connotation, and roughly translates to "word wizard," "word artist" or "language expert." It's a playful twist on the word "Weirdo."

Corporate Identity Design

World of Africa

I was commissioned by André Thomas to design a logo, business card, and letterhead for his new tourism company, which specialises in African tours. To cater to the upmarket target market, I opted for a clean and crisp feel for the logo while still infusing it with African colours. Since German and other European tourists are drawn to Africa for its unique qualities, I aimed to create a colourful and African-themed logo that accurately represents their vision of the continent.

World of Africa gave tourists a genuine  African experience, which included not only safaris but also the urban experience, showing off the continent's diversity.

Logo and Packaging Design

Provena Professional

I received a request from my dedicated client, Medis Medical, based in Bellville, to create a logo for their latest product, ProVena Professional medical hosiery/compression stockings. Additionally, I was tasked with designing the packaging for the product. Both the client and I were pleased with the outcome of the project.

During our collaboration, I worked with Le Roux Viljoen from Medis. However, Le Roux later left the company to establish OP Africa, for whom I also completed design work. It is worth noting that OP Africa eventually became a distributor for Össur.

Logo Design

Tharagay Addiction Services

Tharagay House, the oldest and most experienced secondary care facility for drug addicts in Cape Town, located in Kenilworth, began expanding a few years back. The Tharagay Group would now comprise a primary care centre, a tertiary care centre, and more.

As part of the expansion, I developed logos for the new rehabs, ensuring consistency in the corporate identity while making it easily identifiable. I incorporated different coloured leaves into the design to represent the various cycles of recovery and life, mirroring the changing seasons. To maintain the welcoming and compassionate essence of the care centres, I retained the handwritten typeface.

YouTube Channel Icon Design

Sleep video channel logo

Cape Town senior software developer Dominic Lee of Radical Media created a YouTube channel specialising in videos with ambient music soundtracks to help "viewers" fall asleep. The process of creating a new video every day was automated, thanks to Dominic's decades of experience in coding. Being a hobby of his, he created the music too.

The greatest challenge for a profile pic and icon designer? Ensuring legibility at only 36 × 36 pixels without losing detail – in this case, especially in the sea's reflections. To enhance the feeling of tranquillity, I selected colours associated with calmness.

WalletWise Logo and App Icon Design

Digital wallet app icon and logo design

Walletwise is a digital wallet app developed for the African market, with a particular focus on South Africa. It is designed for parents of children aged 10-17, who use the app to transfer funds to their children's digital wallets. The company required an app icon for the parents' app (rather than the children's app) that would also function as a distinctive logomark. They also needed a complementary logotype.

Blue is widely associated with trust, making it a natural choice for the colour palette shown above. I wanted the identity to convey professionalism and security, reflecting the financial nature of the app and its target audience of parents. At the same time, I chose a rounded typeface with playful, customised L letterforms to subtly reference the app's connection to children.

A fellow graphic designer collaborated with me on this project. It's easy to lose perspective when working in isolation, so receiving feedback from a trusted colleague can be invaluable.

Wine Shop Logo Design

Vinotage Fine Wine Merchants

Pieter de Waal, the proprietor of wine boutique Vinotage and Hermit on the Hill Wines, approached me to design a logo for his wine boutique situated between Bellville and Durbanville, Cape Town. The logo, crafted in the then-popular Cape "freestyle," captured the essence of his connoisseur-focused business.

It's a subtle detail, but keep an eye out for the "nose" incorporated in the logo, positioned as if it's sniffing the word "merchants."

Corporate Identity Development

Riakona Recruitment

I was tasked by Mandy Gilder from Johannesburg to create the corporate identity for Riakona Recruitment, which encompassed various elements such as:

• Developing a fresh logo
• Designing business cards
• Creating letterheads and cover pages
• Designing the corporate profile
• Developing folder designs
• Crafting compliment slip designs
• Designing engraved notes and note dispensers
• Creating an email signature
• Developing a T-shirt design
• And other related graphic design tasks.

Logo and Stationary Design

Chelsea Village Framers & Curiosity Shoppe

Zeki Hilmi and Sue Gutteridge established a framing business and curiosity shop in Diep River, Cape Town. They aimed to achieve an antique aesthetic while keeping it modern and current. After considering various options, we settled on the French Provincial look, which we applied consistently across window signs, boards, letterheads, and business cards. The client expressed great satisfaction with the final outcome.

Corporate ID

ARG Design Architects and Urban Designers

Based in Observatory, Cape Town, ARG Design is a company that specializes in architecture, urban design, and town planning. Their portfolio includes sustainable, community-driven projects.

Initially, the client requested the use of organic, esoteric symbols in green colours to accurately represent their philosophy. However, this approach had the potential to alienate them from the somewhat conservative South African market.

To avoid this, rectangular shapes were used to represent the systematic nature and efficiency of their work. Earthy colours were also utilized to suggest harmony with the environment, and thin outlines were added to showcase their aesthetic values. The logo features an italic, serif 'AR' for sophistication, and a solid, straight 'G' to indicate reliability. 

The business cards were printed on clearly recycled paper, and a portfolio was designed for the company. I have since worked with IG Architects, owned by award-wining architect István Gosztola, a co-director at ARG Design.

Thabo Matime
General manager, New Product Development, Netcare

"Konrad, wow!!!! I’m blown away. Thank you so much. I've always wanted this. I really love it."

Pieter De Waal
Sole proprietor, Hermit on the Hill wines

"A stickler for detail, Konrad appreciates the difference between good and great, and won't stop tweaking till the end-product meets his exacting standards.

"His offbeat sense of humour, coupled with his ability to transform this into his designs, makes it a pleasure to brainstorm new concepts with him.

"Konrad has been a key member in developing my brand, and I always look to him for inspiration and creativity."

Tania de Maine-Oosthuizen:
Manager, Tharagay Addictions Services

"We love his work, from initial ideas to final designs! What he has done for us, was simple, yet elegant, and purely beautiful".

Zeki Hilmi
Sole proprietor, Chelsea Village Framers and Antique Shoppe

"Konrad has this exceptional ability to develop illustrations.

"We were so thrilled by the work he undertook for us that we employed Konrad to design our wedding invitation, which, through collaboration and Konrad's outstanding knowledge of graphic design, he designed for us exactly what we were looking for. All our guests commented and said, "what an amazing wedding invitation!"

"I recommend Konrad to everybody and will use him in the future again."

Sanett Uys
Marketing manager, Colliers International

"The work Konrad did for us has been outstanding! His customer service is great and his creativity exceptional. He is willing to think out of the box and come up with new ideas, which we love."

Lynette Smit
Marketing manager, Rode & Associates

"A creative genius..."