Sisonke Design Sprint Launched by Stratcom Branding in Honour of Madiba
Stratcom Branding, the South African packaging and design specialist – being a well-established SMME – has committed itself to encouraging other SMME’s in a shoulder to shoulder initiative, Sisonke (we’re together, lets grow together), to be launched on Mandela Day 2018.
Mandela Day 2018 sees the launch of the Stratcom Branding ‘Sisonke Design Sprint’ initiative. With Sisonke meaning “We’re together” or “Coming Together”, Stratcom Branding challenges other Small Medium and Macro Enterprises (SMME’s) to match this drive to work together to share skills with 100 percent black-owned start-ups.
Stratcom Branding – an SMME brand, packaging and design specialist agency of 23 years – will identify outstanding black entrepreneurs, their companies and brands through an application and selection basis to partner with them, taking the design of their branded packaging to an award-winning level. Strategic and highly creative, regionally relevant designed packaging sells products, a luxury many start-ups pass off, due to lack of resources.
HOW WILL IT WORK?
The initiative will open for two, two-week application periods per annum, allowing South African 100 percent black owned start-ups the opportunity to pitch as potential candidates of a packaging design sprint, at *no cost, coupled with expert advice and world class design.
CEO, Gail Macleod says, “To launch the initiative we are proud to say that our first SMME has been selected and today, Mandela Day, we begin the sprint to craft their packaging design. The progress will be shared on our social media platforms.
The next application will take place in March 2019 and again in October 2019, followed by a 2-week adjudication period to select the successful candidate, who will be welcomed into Stratcom Branding’s world of design and packaging for 2 months.
“Sharing skills can make all the difference. Not only do we understand the challenges start-ups face, but also feel that we have a responsibility to give back and use our talent where it can best be used to foster a community”, says Macleod. “Stratcom Branding prides itself on finding pragmatic approaches to ‘connected packaging’ that greatly enhances user experience, generating increased loyalty and customer recruitment.”
South Africa, being a growing entrepreneurial nation, often fails to give the support to these spirited and passionate individuals who can assist in making communities thrive. To address this, Stratcom Branding has decided to step in and share their learnings and to start sharing the unique skills they have to boost the start-ups in need.
The centenary celebration of Mandela Day is a global call to action that celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world, the ability to make an impact and provide opportunities for those that are excluded in society.
With that in mind Gail Macleod and the highly talented team at Stratcom Branding will, through the ‘Sisonke Design Sprint’, share their skills with the foresight of making a difference one SMME at a time.
“It would be great to see other businesses in the chain, such as label printers, plate makers, and distributors even retailers, step into their place in the chain of successful product and brand development packaging from farm to fork,” Gail adds.
Published on WineLand
19 July 2018
