About Annette
Annette is a multidisciplinary designer whose career began at the software development company, Platform45. Building on her expertise in design and front-end development, she progressed to become a senior designer, serving as the design lead within diverse teams and catering to a variety of clients.
After five years, she transitioned into the corporate world as a Consultant in Accenture South Africa’s digital department. Following a year of rubbing shoulders with incredible talent and gaining experience with major clients like Discovery, Vitality, Alexander Forbes, and Standard Bank, she joined forces with her sister to establish a design company called Pepperplane.
As a Director at Pepperplane, Annette wore many hats. In addition to her roles as designer and developer, she oversaw project management and handled key business functions—ranging from financial management to leading internal systems and process development for improved operations.
Illustration has always been a strong creative thread in Annette’s work. Over the years, she has seamlessly incorporated illustration into many of her projects, using it to bring storytelling, warmth, and distinctiveness to her design solutions.
In 2023, she relocated to New Zealand, where she led operations and managed a fully remote team across multiple time zones—further demonstrating her strengths in organization, leadership, and communication.
Annette recently made the decision to return her full focus to the craft she loves most: design. Now working as a Senior / Lead Designer, she thrives in collaborative team environments and continues to push creative boundaries.
A born creative, Annette is a dedicated, experienced, and enthusiastic designer at heart.
Key skills and experience
- Working collaboratively and leading teams of all sizes
- Engaging with diverse stakeholders
- Effectively managing multiple projects simultaneously
- Navigating time zone differences
- Agency and corporate experience
- Adapting to fast-paced environments
- Problem-solving across different industries
- Strategic planning and execution
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Proven ability to drive results under pressure
13
years experience
2009 - 2012
Studied Graphic Communication Design at Stellenbosch University
2013 - 2017
Designer and front-end developer at Platform45
2017 - 2018
Designer and Consultant at Accenture Digital, South Africa
2018 - 2024
Director, project manager, designer and developer at Pepperplane
2025
Senior / Lead designer and Consultant at Pepperplane
A closer look at her work responsibilities
Product design
With 13 years of expertise in product design, Annette has created innovative solutions for a variety of brands. Her diverse background enables her to customize her approach to user-friendly interfaces, brand-specific designs, and product innovation.
Annette’s approach to design is rooted in a deep understanding of design principles and a trained eye that brings a high level of attention to detail to every project.
She is known for her hands-on approach, not shying away from getting her hands dirty to achieve the best results. As a dedicated team player, Annette combines an effective and efficient work ethic with a collaborative spirit, whether working in a shared workspace or engaging over video calls.
Her passion for discovering unique inspiration fuels her creativity, and she remains constantly eager to explore new ideas and approaches in her work.
Illustration
Annette has been drawing since childhood, and illustration has always been one of her greatest loves. Over the years, her skills have continually developed, evolving alongside her deep curiosity and creative drive.
Her process begins with thorough research—understanding the target audience and the purpose of the illustration. From there, she determines the most effective style, color palette, and visual approach to bring the concept to life in a way that resonates with the intended viewer.
Annette has cultivated a broad range of illustration styles—from clean and minimal, to bold and vibrant, to playful children’s illustrations. This adaptability allows her to meet a wide array of project needs while keeping her skills fresh and constantly evolving. There’s always something new to explore, and that’s what keeps it exciting.
Her tools often start with traditional pen and paper, which she then brings into the digital space depending on the project requirements. Illustration remains a central and joyful part of her creative work, and she’s passionate about continuing to grow in this space.
Project management
Annette is a natural organizer who excels at creating schedules, arranging tasks, and managing expectations through clear goal-setting and prioritization, all while utilizing the Agile methodology to ensure flexibility and adaptability.
With seven years of experience managing a fully remote team across multiple time zones, Annette has honed her clear and effective communication skills. Her ability to maintain team enthusiasm and motivation is driven by her energetic and inspiring leadership style, ensuring cohesive collaboration and sustained engagement.
In her management role, she seamlessly integrates her art directing talents, combining creativity with a structured approach. Her expertise in art direction not only allows her to lead with vision but also to mentor others effectively, setting a standard through her
own example.
This combination of creativity and organization allows Annette to integrate the artistic aspects of design with the disciplined strategies of development, achieving both imaginative and systematic success.
Front-end Development
With a foundation in HTML and CSS, Annette brings technical precision to her work in WordPress, specialising in Elementor. Her past experience in front-end coding enhances her ability to customise and refine layouts, ensuring that every design is both visually compelling and functionally robust.
She thrives at the intersection of design and development—enjoying not only the creative aspects of web design but also the logical systems and structures that power them. The process of organizing information, building intuitive user flows, and solving complex problems is just as rewarding to her as crafting beautiful interfaces.
From the discovery phase to the final, polished product, Annette takes pride in managing the full web development journey. Bringing ideas to life and seeing her work make a real impact fuels her passion and drive.