Experience

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  Nadra Safiri

  • South Africa

  • Co-Founder Wellness and Fragrance House

    • Apr 2019 - Present
    • South Africa

    As COO for Nadra Safiri in South Africa, responsible for scent and product development support. Being mindful of ethical and sustainable practice, establishing sourcing supply chain and setting up production according to GBP and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) along with certification of all products.

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  Teachonline.co

  • Gordons Bay

  • Designer and Owner

    • Feb 2012 - Present
    • Gordons Bay

    Teachonline, a robust online digital platform for the delivery of course material on a grade-by-grade and subject-by-subject basis for parents, teachers and facilitators who teach according to the CAPS aligned curriculum as used in South African schools and for those who wish to supplement their children’s at-school and after-school learning, began with the development of Visual Arts Theory courses for grades 10 to 12.This initiative developed out of a free experimental website aimed at assisting learners of the Natural Learning Academy studying Design and Visual Arts.The purpose of the platform is to establish sustainable educational courses using digital technology particularly for use in rural and urban communities in Sub-Saharan Africa where individual learner’s progress through courses, lessons and quizzes is recorded on the users profile and is available to Learners, Teachers and Facilitators online for monitoring purposes. The lessons whether in or out of the classroom, are self-paced or may be instructor-led. Courses are suited to distance learning and flexible learning, yet can also be used in conjunction with classroom teaching.In 2013 Teachonline.co partnered with Edusmart Consultancy in a joint venture called Farm-ED, in association with Fruitways, intended to enhance literacy levels in rural and disadvantaged communities in the farming districts of the Western Cape. Teachonline is committed to cooperation with other organizations with similar goals of producing education based courses helping to develop a community of use, research, and development.The long-term goal is that the literacy and numeracy instruction model be refined to serve as a framework for a meaningful and goal-orientated, digitally facilitated teaching and learning intervention-program for all learners from poverty-stricken urban backgrounds, as well as for learners from rural communities.

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  Arachne Design

  • Gordons Bay

  • Designer and Owner

    • Jan 2009 - Present
    • Gordons Bay

    In 2009 launched Arachne Design, a web-design service. Initially begun in 2002 to develop African Aromatics online business, the service has grown into a design company that supports small businesses with every aspect of their websites from logo design to writing website content and using a website/blog to market their businesses including social media platforms. Further growth has resulted in the provision of custom IT, hard and software solutions, for clients wishing to enhance existing systems or develop new.

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  YEW FILM PRODUCTIONS

  • Director and Owner

    • Feb 2002 - Present

    In 2008 Reorientation of Yew Film Productions for the purpose of developing social programs and creating documentary films promoting Social and Environmental awareness. Responsibilities include design and development of concept, storyboard development (audio and visual) and presentation of concept to client for approval. Build facilities, direct and execute the filming, editing and finishing of video productions. All pre and post production being done in house.Involved training in video and web based technologies.Partnering with local NGO, Immanuel's Haven, recycling IT equipment for the development of an in house laboratory designed to offer skills training courses for disadvantaged children and adults. Selected to design and direct an ad campaign to launch the brand image of NGOConnect Africa who provide a social workspace for NGOs and everyone that wants to engage with them. The focus is on how ICT can act as an enabler to assist NGOs with their work.In 2004 Began promoting Science and Technology, Social and Environmental Awareness in the Helderberg. Responsibilities include coaching and facilitating Robotics program and research project, First Lego League, at Somerset College, for learners aged 9 - 16 .Program involved design, build, programming and demonstration of autonomous robots. Project research covered issues from Ocean Degradation, Nanotechnology, Sustainable Energy and Climate Change.This involved introducing learners to graphical software enabling design illustration, film editing and web design.Development, with graduates of the FLL program, of IT 3D design tools. Platform enables Teachers and Learners virtualized access to physics based tuition simulator for building and programming purposes. Project involves collaboration with Stellenbosch University and promotion of the First Lego League at the National Technology Association Conference 2009.In 2002 Co-Founder African Aromatics, producing artisan scent and flavour products from Africa.

  • Director

    • Feb 1990 - Present

    Personal Qualities: Highly intelligent, inquiring and logical thinker who communicates well and brings a level of technical and creative enthusiasm to every job. Adopts a very responsible approach to his work and has demonstrated his ability to lead and develop people. Displays an ability to coordinate complicated action sequences coupled with a flair for directing believable performances. Skills include:Concept design & developmentConcept execution and finishCampaign DesignCommunication of ideasIn Camera & Post Special EffectsGraphic design – 2 & 3 dimensionalPerformance – people, animal and/or objectsCharacterization – animated and/or realAction Choreography – stylized and/or realUnderwater & aerial photographyModels & miniature developmentEditing audio & visual in multilayer environment

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  GARRETT AND PARTNERS

  • Commercial Director

    • Jan 1994 - Jan 2002

    Partner with agency creative directors in the production of TV commercials. Responsibilities include design and development of concept, storyboard development (audio and visual) and presentation of concept to client for approval. Direct and execute the shooting, editing and finishing of commercials. * Selected to design and direct an ad campaign to launch the brand image of the South African Broadcasting Corporation in the "new" South Africa. This involved movement choreography, music score and performance direction. Presented with a small budget, designed the concept for a 3 year advertising campaign for water purificationCompany HTH. This resulted in a series of beautiful and highly emotive marine adverts that are timeless and continue to draw praise from the industry.

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  MOONLIGHTING FILMMAKERS

  • Commercial Director

    • Jan 1993 - Jan 1994

    Partnered with agency creative directors in the production of TV commercials. Responsibilities included design and development of concept, storyboard development (audio and visual) and presentation of concept to client for approval. Directed and executed the shooting, editing and finishing of commercials. * Designed and created models and miniatures with puppeteers to produce a fully animated solution for Trek Petroleum.* With a small budget, utilizing animatronic and electronic effects created a dramatic illusion - turning a scorpion into a bottle for a liqueur advertisement for Black Sambucca.

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  OZ PRODUCTIONS

  • Commercial Director and Owner

    • Jan 1990 - Jan 1992

    In response to clients' and agencies' anxiety regarding escalating production costs, created OZ to deliver a quality product and maintain a tight rein over production costs. Responsibilities include design and development of concept, storyboard development (audio and visual) and presentation of concept to client for approval. Directed and executed the shooting, editing and finishing of commercials. Employed six people and directed eight commercials.* Created an award winning in camera animation for Good and Clean and Fresh.* Directed a number of sensitive commercials for charity organizations. Included Project Hope, a children performance and ITHUBA, a three dimensional storyboard.* Selected to create a truck commercial for Isuzu that had to be unlike other truck commercials, had to be visually fluid and the titles had to look unlike titles. Shot almost entirely from a helicopter, succeeded in creating a fluid, fast moving rhythmic commercial that creates a sense of excitement and a strong brand impression.

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  MOVIE MAKERS

  • Commercial Director

    • Jan 1986 - Jan 1990

    Successfully transitioned from a special effects professional to a commercial film director. Responsibilities included design and develop of concept, storyboard development (audio and visual) and presentation of concept to client for approval. Directed and executed the shooting, created special effects, and editing and finishing of commercials. * Reinvented local image for Delta Motor Corporation from General Motors through a series of 5 car commercials. This included "Dummy Run", "Moon Mission" and cars "dancing on the beach". * Cinematography award for work involving underwater photography, models and animation. Finalist in London International Advertising Awards for Fedlife "Oasis". Created an award winning Crossbow Cider commercial. All effects are incamera using ultra high speed photography (2000 frames per second).

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  SPFX

  • Special Effects Director and Owner

    • Jan 1982 - Jan 1985

    Developed South Africa's foremost special effects company specializing in incamera effects for the commercial and feature film market. Versatile in the creation of climatic environments, model building and "rigging" - the suspension or movement of objects with hidden devices. * Worked with a number of prominent international directors such as Peter Smilie, David Cornell, Ashley Lazarus, Paul Giraud and Chris Rowley on numerous commercials. Clients included Nissan, Colgate and Berocca. * Commissioned by South African TV to create a new face to be used as an educator for the younger viewers of TV. Harry Hound, a human in costume, unique and instantly recognizable by children, was a resounding success. * Managed the entire special effects program, including the pyrotechnics, for the successful local feature "Van der Merwe PI". This involved the design, construction and operation of a radio controlled robot - the star of the film - "Klein Koos".

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  LEO COMPUTER, BUREAU (PTY) LTD

  • Senior Programmer/Analyst

    • Jan 1977 - Jan 1981

    Responsible for the design and implementation of commercial applications including payroll, general accounting and a complete insurance accounting system. As project manager for a development team, clearly demonstrated the ability to lead and develop staff.

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  BRIAN HARMER DESIGN ASSOCIATES

  • Industrial Designer

    • Jan 1976 - Jan 1977

    Specialized in the design of domestic appliances for the national market place.