Led from Observatory by Luyanda Mthembu
Luyanda Mthembu founded Vectorization Studio in 1994 and still oversees the work from our Observatory, Cape Town base. He keeps the emphasis on practical artwork that holds up on signage, packaging, uniforms and digital use, whether the brief comes from Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Pretoria or Bloemfontein.
Luyanda’s approach is simple: if a logo needs to be redrawn, it must keep its shape, balance and character. If a client needs a new illustration, it must fit the brand and print clearly at the final size. That attention matters when artwork is being sent to a printer, sign maker or packaging supplier and every line needs to land in the right place.
The redraw and illustration team
Our artists work with both bitmap tracing and hand redraw methods, depending on the condition of the source artwork and the final use. A blurry scan, an old brochure logo or a rough sketch may need careful tracing first, while a logo with awkward curves or damaged detail is often better rebuilt by hand for cleaner results.
- SVG files for web and flexible scaling
- EPS files for print and trade production
- PDF files for sharing and approval
- AI files for editable working artwork
The aim is always the same, clean vector files that can be used without loss of quality.
Ayesha Mafokeng, Senior Vector Artist
Ayesha Mafokeng handles detailed redraws where precision matters, especially when a logo has fine linework, small lettering or a complicated badge shape. She is careful with curves, corners and spacing, and she works through each file until the proportions feel right on screen and in print.
She is also the point person when a client sends artwork that is owned by someone else. Before any redraw starts, the studio needs to know the customer has the rights to use or reproduce the artwork sent through. That protects both the client and the production chain, and it keeps the job clear from the start.
Pieter Skosana, Illustration Lead
Pieter Skosana leads the hand-drawn illustration side of the studio, from mascot illustration and custom brand icons to scene illustration, pattern work and badge artwork. He likes projects that need more than a straight redraw, where the linework must carry personality but still stay neat for use in a menu, label or social graphic.
- Mascot illustration for campaigns and product ranges
- Map illustration for local or regional use
- Packaging illustration for labels and cartons
- Menu and sticker illustration for retail and hospitality
His process usually starts with rough shapes and then tighter vector construction, so the final artwork stays editable. That helps when a business wants the same illustration used across different sizes, from a small sticker to a larger signboard, with no distortion or fuzzy edges.
Zanele Kajee and Megan Khoza on client care and quality
Zanele Kajee manages client services, so she keeps briefs clear and makes sure the right files and notes reach the team. She often works with businesses in Stellenbosch, Paarl, Port Elizabeth and beyond, helping them explain what they need even when the original artwork is old, incomplete or a bit messy.
Megan Khoza handles quality control and checks the final artwork against the brief before delivery. She looks at file formats, spelling, spacing, alignment and export settings, and she catches the small things that can become big problems at print stage. Between them, the handover stays orderly and the finished files are easier to use.
Prepress support and the final artwork handover
Teboho Molefe coordinates prepress, which is where the artwork gets prepared for the real world. This includes checking bleed, scaling, file naming, colour setup and how the vector art will behave once it reaches a printer or sign shop. It sounds technical because it is, and that detail saves time later.
For South African businesses, this step matters when deadlines are tight and a file needs to move without confusion. A well set package can be opened, checked and sent on with no second guessing. That is especially useful for companies working across branches or sending material to different suppliers in different cities.
- Clear files for printers and sign makers
- Artwork prepared for re-use across multiple branches
- Vector redrawing for old logos and damaged scans
- Illustrations built for print, web and packaging
Our team works from one practical standard: make the artwork accurate, usable and easy to hand over. That is the kind of support businesses need when they are updating a logo, building a new range or fixing artwork that was never supplied in the right format in the first place.