Saint Rose

Name: Kgabo Mametja

What are your three must-read design books, blogs or podcasts and why?

I love information so much. I listen to, watch and read a lot of content that focuses on a verity of topics not only because I get bored very easily but also because paying attention to more than one topic keeps me inspired and curious. So I’m definitely an advocate for digging deep into your other interests and in letting them inform your creative work. However, I do have a ton of design platforms that I check on regularly. One of my favourite design books is [“Steal like an artist” by Austin Kleon[(https://austinkleon.com/steal/). This book changed the way I view my work and it affirmed a lot of my existing beliefs. Read it, reference it, tell your friends about it and let it be your affirmation. There is an endless list of websites and blogs that I follow religiously but “Cool Hunting” is on the top of that list because it’s a space that curates really interesting design inspiration, design-related articles and really fun products that I am not able to afford but truly love. And finally, one of my favourite podcasts, apart from Debbie Millman’s Design matters podcast, is Design Milk’s “Clever” podcast. I love to hear about people’s paths and stories and Jaime and Amy’s podcast allows us to see a more vulnerable side of our favourite designers, also this podcast has introduced me to a lot of creatives including one of my design crushes Ini Archibong.

Who are your top five design crushes right now?

Oh my God, top 5 lists are so hard but today I have major crushes on Kate Moross, Petra Eriksson, Ini Archibong, Timothy Goodman and Johannes Torpe.

Design work by Saint Rose The Design Kids interviews Saint Rose work-2

What career advice would you give your 16yr old self?

Trust yourself, you know what you want and you’re great at what you do.

What advice would you give students starting out?

Follow your gut. I spent a lot of time in spaces that I didn’t want to be in, and although there are lessons and potential for growth wherever you go, I really do think that it’s important to learn to trust yourself as early as possible.

I really do think that it’s important to learn to trust yourself as early as possible

What do you think the design community could do more of to give back?

I have actually been mulling over this thought for a while now, and it’s one of my goals to get into creating work that impact people positively, as opposed to just servicing a client. I think that the solution is to follow the lead of studios like Sagmeister & Walsh who make it a point to set aside studio time for projects that are centred around people and how they feel, and example of this is the studio’s “The Happy Show” project.