Design director
Ms Bontle Mabunda
Sets letterspacing, finish language, and the gold-coral art direction across the range.
For examples of Bontle's spacing calls, finish pairings, and marquee styling choices, browse the journal. If you need details on gold-coral palettes, face materials, or venue fit for Gauteng installs, use our contact form.
The role
As design director, Bontle sets the look of every letter in the range. That covers the letterforms, the spacing between characters, the finish options and the gold and coral palette that runs through the brand. For custom builds, she reviews artwork and adjusts spacing so the word reads evenly from guest distance.
Spacing calls
Letters that look even on a screen often look uneven at full size. Bontle checks awkward pairs such as AV, LT and script capitals beside lowercase letters, and adjusts the gaps before metal is cut. Full-size mocks on the Kew floor confirm the spacing with the client.
Finish language
Each finish in the range has a purpose: warm gold for evening celebrations, ivory for daylight, sealed timber for estates, vinyl for brands. Bontle tests each one under venue-style lighting and camera flash, and she guides clients towards a pairing that suits the venue.
Working with brands
Brand teams send artwork and colour references, and Bontle matches vinyl, paint and lamp warmth to the brand palette. She also advises on letter height and placement so a logo reads clearly in photos and on social media.
In the studio
Bontle's day moves between the drawing board and the Kew floor. Mornings often go to artwork checks and spacing drawings for custom builds; afternoons to sample reviews and full-size mocks with clients. New finishes are tested under several lamp warmths and with camera flash before they join the range.
She also maintains the brand's look across showrooms, so regional sample sets stay consistent with the Kew range.
Working with planners
Planners often bring mood boards and palette notes. Bontle translates those into a finish pairing and a letter height, then checks the spacing at full size before the client signs off.
Outside the brief
Bontle keeps a reference wall at Kew of venue photos, finish samples and past installs. New clients often find their style by pointing at a photo on the wall.
Questions for Bontle
Send artwork, colour references, venue photos and the word or logo through the contact form. She reviews spacing, finish and scale, and suggests options for the venue.
Bontle's Finish and Spacing Brief
Our contact form can be used for questions about brushed faces, lamp warmth, acrylic returns, and colour matching under Johannesburg evening light. Kew fabrication yard remains the point for mock-up checks, finish samples, and sign-off on lettering details for weddings, launches, and brand activations.