Nehale Muteka
SELF-TAUGHT MASTER WHO DELIVERS WOWING DIGITAL DESIGNS
Graphic designers create visual concepts, physical or digital, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. Meet Nehale Muteka, an accomplished designer passionate about visual communication and who is considered one of Namibia’s leading motion graphics specialists. This is his story.
CHILDHOOD
Born and raised in Windhoek, the third of ten siblings, Nehale Muteka grew up a curious and inquisitive youngster.
“You know those small kids that always ask the ‘why?’ question. That was me - always asking questions; always trying to discover and learn new things. I guess it stems from an innate desire to understand and learn more about the world around me”, he recalls.
Science was Nehale’s favourite subject, whilst at Van Rhyn Primary School. “I really loved Science. I guess it’s just this thing I had, and still have, to discover new things and try to break them down into their smaller parts to better make sense of them. My marks were actually good. In fact, I would tell my family and friends that I would want to become a scientist one day”, he shares.
ARTISTICALLY INCLINED
At Windhoek Technical High, however, Nehale’s dreams shifted to music production. “The music thing really kicked in during my high school years. Back then, the local music scene was booming and really coming into its own. I just wanted to be part of this movement and producing tracks was my thing”, he explains.
Upon completing high school, the imaginative, artistic and driven Nehale’s decision to enroll for a Visual Arts diploma at the University of Namibia did not come as a surprise to his peers. “I’ve always just had this yearning to express myself in a different way and I found art to be that outlet. I experienced that when looking at pieces of art, my brain, in trying to make sense of it, would automatically start looking for patterns, shapes and so forth. That when engaging with a good work of art, it spurred my thinking”, he shares.
“Art not only made me think more, it also made me to feel things. Yes, I know, it’s awkward to explain, but art opens the heart and mind to possibilities. It fuels the imagination. It makes you more observant”, Nehale adds.
KEEN PHOTOGRAPHER
Nehale’s growing interest in art, also resulted in another passion, namely photography. “Most people think of photography as just a way of capturing events and memories. You pick up a camera, ask people to say ‘cheese’, snap, and there you go. To me, it’s more about expressing and bringing out the detail and brilliance I see in front of me. Photography is just incredibly fun”, he highlights.
Experimenting helped in nurturing Nehale’s photography skills. “Photography has so many elements to it; the science of light, contrast, the technology of the camera, and of course, the creative artistic side. It’s visual storytelling. You need to find a point of interest. You need to consider overall composition. Proper framing is also very important”, Nehale highlights.
“My photography skills are of great value in my job as a graphic designer. Taking photos and recording videos also help in counterbalancing the stressful demands of our modern lifestyles. I love nature photography, which comes with its own benefits. Getting out of the house, walking, and even hiking to where the landscapes and vistas are not only keep me fit, but I get to clear my mind, as well”, he adds.
CAREER CHOICE
It was a chance encounter with a fellow student that pushed Nehale into the exciting world of graphic design. “She came up with a very interesting and crisp design and I found myself to be jealous of her, as I knew that I didn’t have the skill set to be able to design something of similar quality. Yes, I envied her skill, but moreso, I wanted to also acquire that skill. In fact, I wanted to show her that I could do better”, Nehale shares.
Not one to back off a challenge, Nehale resorted to YouTube and its treasure trove of tutorials on graphic design techniques. “YouTube is not only about music and funny videos. It also has a wealth of information for learning any discipline, and graphic design is no different. You have access to thousands of tutorials by international experts who all have their own graphic design channels on this platform. YouTube became my one-stopshop for teaching myself”, he explains. “Yes, I am very much self-taught. A graduate of the ‘University of YouTube’. And very proud of it”, Nehale emphasises.
WORLD OF WORK
Nehale’s skill set allowed him to enter the job market, without needing permanent employment, at first. “Basically, I started off with small design jobs outsourced by other corporates or contractors involved with one or the other marketing campaign”, Nehale shares. “What helped in landing these opportunities was that in as much as there were many graphic designers around at the time, few had actually ventured into animation and multimedia and motion graphics, like I did”, he notes.
Word of this apt, innovative and talented freelancer spread fast amongst industry circles, and soon Nehale was inundated with requests to design fit-for-purpose multimedia products and to render campaign support to production teams.
“Entering the job market somehow coincided with the advent of social media, which in turn made video content more popular. I was in demand and I had to pull out all stops to deliver. After all, I had a reputation to build, and maintain”, Nehale shares.
TECHNICAL ACUMEN
Multimedia design is among the more challenging creative design skills to learn, because the advanced and specialised computer software processes are varied and intricate. Regardless, most content-producing studios nowadays demand of their graphic designers to possess advanced skill in the design of three-dimensional elements.
Nehale’s work history underlines his technical acumen and level of competence. His CV includes stints at Trustco Mixed Advertising, Intouch Interactive Marketing, Space Dimensions Advertising, as well as TBWA/Paragon Advertising, where he took charge of digital and animation designs. He also worked at Advantage Advertising as a senior animator, before joining Bank Windhoek in his current capacity as a multimedia designer.
“I am now part of a creative team tasked with promoting the services of our employer. As a niche multimedia designer, I am able to combine graphics with animation to create multimedia content for my employer’s website, social media platforms and television advertising products”, he shares.
“Nothing in life is impossible. The only limitation is your imagination”
SOFT SKILL
Multimedia designers must have both creative and technical skills. Furthermore, they need to stay on top of the ever-changing and fast-evolving creative sector. Nehale appreciates that he cannot rely on his technical skill only, but that to maintain and grow his reputation as an innovative creative, he needs to guard against procrastination.
“It’s easy to fall into the inflated ego trap. Yes, it’s nice to get praised, and it happens often. But, I don’t allow it to go to my head. Instead, I make a deliberate effort to stay humble and to just keep on considering myself as someone who must continue to learn. I steer away from bragging and dominating creative conversations, especially during our
brainstorm sessions”, he explains.
“These are important soft skills to possess if you want to make inroads in this line of work. You need to manage your time and keep to deadlines. You need to hone your communication, especially your listening skills. We do it well as a creative team here at Bank Windhoek, where we brainstorm and discuss ideas in a relaxed and often informal manner. It encourages lateral thinking and often we end up with crazy ideas. Sometimes, it’s those insane ideas that end up being crafted into original and impactful solutions”, Nehale adds.
TEAM PLAYER
Colleagues and peers alike appreciate Nehale as a seasoned graphic design specialist. They value his keen eye for detail and his commitment towards high-quality multimedia outputs.
“I’ve been around the block, having worked at some of our country’s leading advertising agencies, where I’ve been fortunate to be part of many exciting and impactful advertising campaigns. One thing I’ve learned is that team work matters. That everyone in a creative team, from the graphic designer to the copywriter, from the client liaison to the art director, has a role to play and that at the end of the day, it is the collective contribution that makes it work. Like they say, the sum of all parts”, Nehale shares.
Creative Director, Nyasha Karadzima singles out Nehale’s drive to innovate and improve on the impact of his creative outputs. “I think they don’t make them like him anymore. Always hungry, always learning, always trying to push the envelope. How can we do this better? In this line of work, people often reach a peak. But Nehale is always trying to go above and beyond”, he shares.
BEATING MONOTONY
Highly creative people hate monotony and tend to get bored easily. Nehale is no exception. To sidestep the creative procrastination that often kicks in as a result, he falls back on nature photography. “Whenever I feel the creative block setting in, I just grab my camera and get out to explore nature. I find it an effective way to just reset and to get away from technology, and just rejuvenate the creative juices”
Keeping away from the technology is not easy, however. Nehale is also big on computer games. “It helps me to unwind. To just switch off and do non-brain functions. However, sometimes I end up getting caught up trying to make sense of the advanced computer graphics the developers made us of and thinking about how I could integrate such elements into my work. Often, it’s a good thing, especially when I’m stumped in terms of creativity. Gaming really helps”, he adds.
Asked if he would recommend graphic design as a viable career path to others, Nehale highlights that developing a high level of competence and skills requires time, dedication and effort. “Across the creative industries, multimedia design is one of the most in-demand skills right now. Success won’t come instantly. But ultimately, it will come if you take it seriously, put in the hours, and fully commit yourself to develop your skills. Then again, you’re never done learning new things”
Nehale Muteka. Innovative, original, driven and a lifelong learner. In his own words: “Nothing in life is impossible. The only limitation is your imagination” His story teaches us that the future belongs to those who believe in their dreams and that it is entirely up to us to create the future we dream of. END
“Yes, I am very much self-taught. A graduate of the ‘University of YouTube’. And very proud of it”