There’s a good chance that you’ll hear the bopping lyrics of MIKA’s smash hit “love today” when you walk into Design Infestation offices. That, or the gentle hum of conspiratorial communications, as graphic designers comment on briefs they weren’t given and the director plans projects to uplift the way we employ new talent in the industry. You’d be forgiven for thinking it’s one big party, rather than a design solutions company that kills deadlines daily and boasts a whole host of top notch clients. How do they do it, and still have fun?
“If you love what you do, the people you do it with and clients you do it for, great things happen,” says Christo Maritz, Creative Director of Design Infestation.
We chatted to him about being part of a family of creative professionals driven by an ethos of integrity and integration, and found that the seed is spreading almost by itself to infect the city beyond Infestation’s bright, neat walls in Bokaap.
CCT : Design Infestation’s entire portfolio is quickly comprehensible and smartly specialised. How does the company successfully combine the extremes of work and play?
Christo: “The very nature of creativity is personal. An environment where we can be ourselves and express ourselves is fundamental to nurture creativity. We have also realised that as we spend more time at work than at home, work forms a big part of our lives. To make sure we stay personal yet professional starts with having the right people. Then making sure everyone takes responsibility and accountability for their role in the team. At Infestation, rules take the back seat. Outcome drives us. The means to get there is always open to interpretation. We also make sure everyone is always on the same page and no matter what position you have, you can influence and control your career as you wish.
Infestation’s work flow includes approaching a job as a love child, a product in process, and a shared responsibility. Christo continues – “All internal reviews are done in a discussion forum where improvements are debated and not directed. Traditionally, the creative industry is known for the competitive nature between internal designers. At Infestation we recognise the power to deliver solutions as a team has far better results than when individuals compete against each other.
“We choose staff very carefully. Our team is specialised, with every member hand-picked. We don’t just look at CV’s and portfolios; we look at attitude, personal values and determination to succeed. We are passionate about giving young designers the platform to gain experience and we host many interns throughout the year. We have also launched “Project Germination”, an initiative in the form of a competition where young creatives who have finished their studies can gain access to the industry through a paid internship programme. My wish is that all the Cape Town creative companies will adopt this project or start similar ones to add value to the industry as a whole and present opportunities where they are overdue.” Read more about Project Germination here.
Its Traffic and Client relations liaison, Jenifer Coetzee is a qualified Criminologist. Her thoughts on design echo the Infestation approach set the tone for 2011. “I believe in order to be creative, you need to be able to view things in new ways or from a different perspective. Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes and having fun. The biggest crime in design is to play it safe.”
Here’s to living bravely and creatively in 2011.
