Johann’s stint in the design world started when he opened his first studio in April 1994, after having completed a national diploma in graphic design. A few years later, he headed to London with his wife, Ailsa, where he got the chance to work as a freelancer with some of the biggest agencies in the world, servicing clients such as BBC, KPMG and i3.

A week at PSD:Fitch covering for an employee on maternity leave turned into three years in a senior design position at one of the then top three multi-disciplinary design agencies in the world.

With a heap of invaluable experience in the bag, Johann and Ailsa returned to South Africa in 2003 where he started as creative director for a well-known Joburg-based strategic design company, before rejoining Silverrocket in 2008.

Eight years later Silverrocket Creative is a design, brand and communication company creating inspired brands grounded in strong strategic thinking. The company has grown to include a publications arm, run by Johannes Deetlefs who joined in 2013 as a director. And boy, do these three make a dynamic team!