Mikasa Sonnenberg, Designer in Johannesburg, South Africa

Mikasa Sonnenberg

Designer

Location
Johannesburg, South Africa
Toptal Member Since
September 18, 2018

Mikasa has over a decade of experience with branding—working on numerous startups from restaurants, clothing stores, sustainable businesses, and more. She has been a part of one of South Africa's largest financial institutions, Standard Bank, for more than five years working as one of the senior product designers creating designs for iOS, Android, and web products. She is meticulous and passionate and works with a user-centered design approach.

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Work Experience

2013 - PRESENT

Design Lead

Standard Bank
  • Worked as a UI and UX designer and was responsible for the insurance products (iOS and Android) including creating a fully digital claims process from beginning to end.
  • Designed a payback/settlement feature for motor and vehicle assets lending products.
  • Migrated an independent staff-facing, client management features into the digital banking platform for international offshore banking.
  • Worked with a team establishing the design system for the bank.
  • Ran multiple user tests including qualitative and quantitative, AB testing, and validation testing.
  • Led the design of a robust customer web platform.
Technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, InVision, Sketch
2010 - 2013

Freelance Graphic Designer and Photographer

Freelance
  • Designed multiple brand identities resulting in branding and corporate guidelines.
  • Crafted print collateral including logo designs, color theories, packaging, and brochures.
  • Photographed food for Easyfood magazine based in Ireland.
  • Photographed and designed Jade Corporate Clothing's fashion brochure.
  • Worked on product, food, people, and travel photography,.
Technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign
2008 - 2010

Senior Graphic Designer

Global Mouse
  • Produced campaigns for Discovery Health; these included designs for the layout, posters, banners, and for the web.
  • Led photoshoots for campaigns.
  • Created concept designs.
  • Crafted activation and packaging designs.
Technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign

Education

2008 - 2010

Diploma in Graphic Design

City Varsity - Johannesburg, South Africa

2006 - 2008

Diploma in Photography

National College of Photography - Johannesburg, South Africa

2000 - 2004

High School Diploma in Arts

National School of the Arts - Johannesburg, South Africa

Certifications

DECEMBER 2007 - PRESENT

Professional Photography

National College of Photography

JULY 2006 - PRESENT

Express Course

National College of Photography

JUNE 2006 - PRESENT

Intermediate Course

National College of Photography