Marc's passion for drawing and computers began in childhood. His brother's reliance on computers to overcome physical limitations inspired Marc's early exposure to technology and his strong desire to help others. Faced with what career he would pursue when leaving school, it was clear that he excelled in art and ideation, he loved working with computers which at the time was still a novelty, and importantly, he had an aptitude for figuring things out and problem solving - all roads lead to Graphic Design. In his time completing his BA Degree in Graphic & Multimedia Design, Marc met a whole group of people just like him.
“I remember getting a hundred percent for creative concept writing, my lecturer wrote that it was worth 150 out of 100 but as that wasn't plausible so she settled on 100. It was an amazing moment because I realised that it was my thinking that gave me an edge.”
Marc explains that upon graduating from university, we may feel knowledgeable, but real-world work experience quickly reveals how much we still have to learn - was university only an introduction?! Marc's first job at an events and conference agency not only exposed him to multimedia production work but also connected him with a psychologist turned Creative Director who would teach that creative direction was in fact, a psychological art form.
“It just clicked. I needed to understand the person, then the business, and THEN the problem. You see, a designer is not a programming junkie, they’re a thinker first, creator second. A great designer is not an artist, a designer can create beautiful aesthetics yes, but a designer is actually someone who has a special way of thinking.”
Having built up extensive and deep experience in conceptual ideation and multimedia, and leaving his mark on one of the biggest telecoms brands in South Africa at the time, Marc was ready for his next career challenge. Adverse to playing it safe, he transitioned into the unknown: the emerging online casino industry at a company that was essentially the largest online casino in Africa. Here he was introduced to web based work at a time where smart phones were still emerging which put him at the forefront of designers that were solving for the fluidity needed between web and mobile design. More importantly, his role exposed him to the world of in-house development, allowing him to work closely with developers taking it upon himself to solve the discord experienced between design and development. To develop real empathy and understanding of ‘the other side’, Marc tried his hand at development, opening his eyes to the design restrictions at play. This afforded him the deep understanding of the limitations in design work and all the potential that designers had typically not considered. He continued to hone his craft, extending his design skills in the commercials space where he was able to flex his creative skills in multimedia design for TV advertisements for his employer who had gone on to purchase their very own channel.
“We had an agency put a TV advertisement together for us and it didn't make a lot of sense, there was no story, just a few shots. I went to the CEO and convinced him to give me a chance. I knew I could apply my multimedia design and animations skills to take this to another level. Not convinced, he said if I could make something better, he would put me in charge of the TV advertisements going forward. To his surprise, I exceeded his expectations.”
With the turmoil that came with the online casino industry and ongoing local regulations, Marc found himself with an offer on a silver platter: an option to take a retrenchment package which would give him the funds needed to start a business of his own. At first, a daunting time learning about the commercials of running a business, how to build up a client base and keep the lights on. It took about two years of trial and error for him to get into the groove of what it really meant to be IN business.
Eight years developing business skills that have become an integral part of his professional identity, Marc relocated to Switzerland to immerse himself in his heritage and explore what it took to be a creative in this part of the world. X-TECHNOLOGY SWISS R&D, a company dedicated to engineering the most advanced sportswear for athletes and sports enthusiasts around the world, recognised Marc’s talents from across the shores, and he accepted the role of Digital Art Director to help drive their online presence and advertising. Despite the challenges of starting a new life in a foreign country, including learning the language and culture, Marc was promoted to Head of Creative for the group (X-Bionic, X-Socks and Apani) just one month after joining the company. From building sales collateral to documentaries with athletes, Marc was able to apply his creativity across a broad range of business touch points and a plethora of big brand partnerships from Puma and Asics to Hugo Boss and Lamborghini. During his time there, Marc met Dr Prof Bobo Lambertz, a psychologist and engineer who invented X-BIONIC and X-Socks sports apparel technology. This mentor profoundly influenced Marc, opening his mind to the role of psychology in the workplace and in marketing specifically, also helping him overcome his avoidance of public speaking. Marc continued to grow in his business acumen stepping into presentation and thought leadership. Another key connection was made during his tenure at X-BIONIC. Marc’s knowledge in the marketing sphere was fundamentally nurtured through his close friendship with Marketing Director, Aitor.
“Life changing connections can be made in business and Aitor was one of those. We formed an incredible creative connection where we allowed one another into our professional territories, learning to not let our egos get involved. As a true partnership, we were able to significantly contribute and be a part of the success experienced in that business.”
Today Marc is a Creative Art Director at GLA-United, a full service agency whose services span across marketing, branding, strategy and digital. Introducing video to their offering and working closely with the partners, Marc has been fortunate to contribute to the company's growth with the same excitement and passion he experienced in his own business. Creating, rejuvenating and working on inspiring brands such as The Champions Hockey League of Europe and learning from creative specialists across varying domains from marketing to micro typography, Marc’s learning never stops.
“Every aspect of your evolution professionally can come from other people and your openness to develop yourself through every interaction. As a designer, you need to be passionate about what you do otherwise you will just end up doing what you’re told. Designers need to be rebels because we need to show clients what is possible.”
Marc is one of those people who has received the phrase ‘I’ve heard about you, I heard you're the most creative person in the business’, more times than one can count. This helpful, approachable, incredibly ambitious, highly passionate creative with mad skills from branding, UX and UI to video, animation, creative strategy and storytelling, is one of a kind creative. Marc advocates for designing with empathy, a process that requires a great deal of curiosity. He draws continuous inspiration from the diverse individuals he meets throughout his professional journey. Little does he realise that it is HE who inspires those fortunate enough to experience his creative touch.
“Solving niche challenges Founders face”.