Olitemba
Khayelihle Mbatha, AKA Torey Stash, started out as a freelance graphic designer due to the lack of funds, as he could not afford to constantly pay for new designs. At that time, he constantly needed new designs and decided to learn and master the art, only to realise that he had fallen in love with the craft and was good at it.
“My company is called Asili Studio, meaning ‘Essence’ in Swahili. It was known as GT Studio before, but because there were a lot of familiar names, I decided to rebrand,” says the 25-year-old. The company mainly deals with event branding, corporate identity, and motion graphics. “Since I’m the sole owner of the company, my working hours depend on the projects that are required. Perks of being a freelancer,” he adds.
When Torey Stash started out, he was propelled by the events he was pushing. Gradually, he resonated with the craft and got assistance from Bandele Sondlo (Brazo Media) and Crazy (Alpha Marketing). “From that point, I got exposed to a whole different new side of design. I met with other designers and grew into the designer that I am today. It’s safe to say, those two brothers were my inspiration,” he tells The Olifants. Asili Studio’s target market is simply events, festivals, medium and high-profile companies.
The cool part about working with Torey Stash is that you can come with a template, or he can design some for you from scratch. Simply put, it depends on the client. The prices depend on the scope of the project; however, there is a rate card for specific work.As testimony to his work, Torey Stash has been nominated by the Thembisa Awards NPC in the “Best Graphic Designer” category. “I’ve been in design for quite some time now. I’ve handled some huge projects in Thembisa and on a national level.
This nomination helps me move a step forward in my career since I believe in the quote that says, “Conquer your hood before you aim for the world.” Torey Stash concludes.
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