1on1 · 30 minutes · free

Thandiwe Mokoena

Creative Director · Studio Bantu

Johannesburg, South Africa

Slots left

Earliest

Tue, Oct 27

Offers

2 sessions a month

I am a creative director working between Johannesburg and Nairobi, building brand systems for African institutions, studios and cultural platforms. Most of my twenty years have been spent in advertising and design studios, where I learned that the craft is rarely the problem. The problem is usually the story: what a brand says, who it says it to, and whether the team behind it can keep saying it after the launch deck is closed. On a 1on1 I read work slowly. Bring your portfolio, a live brief, or a brand you are trying to reposition, and we will work on making the thinking visible. I am most useful on portfolio reviews, positioning, and the transition from doing the work to leading the team that does it.

Roles

Advertising, Marketing & PR·Creative DirectorArt DirectorBrand Designer

Design·Brand DesignerDesign Director

With us

Mentor · 2025Speaker · 2022DC100 · 2021Panellist

Find them on

Their work

LinkedIn Instagram Behance

What Thandiwe can help you with

Portfolio reviews and next career moves for designers, art directors and studio leads.

Portfolio review

Walk through the work and get honest feedback on what is working.

Career advice

The next move: studios, agencies, representation or going independent.

Apply

Apply for 30 minutes with Thandiwe

Free, and one session at a time. Your request holds the slot while Thandiwe reviews it.

Choose your time2 slots left

Applications for the earliest time close in 5 days.

Times are shown in your time zone (UTC). Thandiwe is in Africa/Johannesburg (GMT+2), so every slot shows both.

Tue, Oct 27

Thu, Oct 29

What is this session for?

Pick the one focus for your 30 minutes.

Your details

You are applying without an account, so we need your name and an email address to send your confirmation to.

Your name

Email for confirmations

Link to your work

Your goal for the 30 minutes0/1000

Anything needed to make the session work (optional)

Before you apply

Come prepared — bring the portfolio link and one clear question. Your mentor reads both before the call.
Be on time — arrive at the start of your 30 minutes, in your own time zone. Late starts are not extended.
Use it for direction — the session is for feedback and honest advice, not free production work or a job ask.
Cancel with notice — if something changes, cancel at least 24 hours before, so the slot can be released to someone else.

I have read this. I will show up prepared and on time, and cancel with notice if something changes.

Thandiwe is volunteering this time. Come ready, and follow up with a thank you afterwards.

The time is held for you while the mentor reviews your request. They have up to 48 hours to respond; if they decline or the hold expires, the slot reopens.