KABELO CHILOANE
realised as early as after his tourism graduation that his life tour was
destined to take a different path from guiding others where to locate prime
spots to enjoy and view. He switched instead to graphic designing, which he
enjoys immensely, he tells Thembi Masser.
He studied graphic designing at the Johannesburg Institute
of Engineering and Technology.it was enjoyable, he says, “because I grappled
with graphic designing at my company
I co-owned with my mates I met at the HP
Mokoka library in Daveyton even before I studied it formally.”
Kabelo, 24, spent listless days at the library because he
was a disillusioned man. Straight after making the Top 10 in an Yfm-sponsored
SAB Hansa Pilsner business competition he spent his days not knowing where to
go or what to do. His entry for the competition was simple: built-in solar
power in the tiling of a dwelling. Although he made the top 10, he failed to
proceed further. He blames his flailing presentation skills. “I was not up to
scratch, “I suppose,” he offers.
Unbeknown to him, that is when the entrepreneur spirit
bugged him. The competition boosted his self-confidence and his self-esteem
blossomed. “I networked and realised that I could go further in business if I
applied my mind to it.”
And so while spending days looking at books in the library
he met like-minded guys who were in the same dilemma as he was - what to do
with our lives now? They formed a detergent-making company. The business lasted
barely a year but it taught Kabelo plenty. “Firstly, I taught myself graphic
designing while working and two, it taught me not to waste company money in the
future,” he remarks. “You see, we were good at what we did in the business, and
we were just a couple of brilliant with no care in the world except produce
household cleaning products. But when the money came in we boxed it out like
there was no tomorrow.”
So the company disbanded. That is when he enrolled with the
JEIT. His courses included photshop, illustrator, correl draw, indesign and
fireworks. While studying he was making money on the side designing for
businesses. After completion of his studies he registered his company, Beast
Limited Pty (Ltd). “I do visual communication-branding, corporate identity,
photography and, of course, graphic design.” He doesn't have a major contract
now but “I know it will come in one of these days.”
He partners in some of the projects with Bhekumuzi Philane
Zwane, who owns Beyond Power Media. “We collaborate nicely. I hope we do not
make the detergent mistakes with him.”
Kabelo was born in Bushbuckridge, where he did his matric.
He was at Maotole Primary then Setlhare high and completed matric at Maripe. He
did a diverse mixture of subjects, science, agriculture, biology, English,
maths, Sepedi and Afrikaans. “I liked English and Biology most and my favourite
teacher was Mr Stele. “What I remember about school is that I was confused
really. I did not know what I wanted to do after grade 12. The fact that there
was no career guidance at school exacerbated the problem further. My parents
too did not help me.”
After passing matric he went to Central Johannesburg College
to do IT but did not have a place. He then, out of desperation to study
something, enrolled to do tourism at Boston Media College. He passed the
two-year diploma course and looked for a job. “It never came.” It was then that
the idea of a build-in solar panel in the tiles materialised and he entered the
Hansa Pilsner competition.
There are too many graphic designers wannabees but they
don’t make enough effort to push forward to go the extra mile. At my time at
the JIET there were only the three of us-males. To tell you the truth, I have
not come across any females graphic designers to date. Should there be any
could they please give me a shout-it will be a historic moment!”
Right, Kabelo in camouflage and, below, a peek into the future
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