Nikki studied the Diploma in Art Direction & Graphic Design in 2007. Now she works as our awesome Events Director, responsible for putting together incredible events like our annual graduation ceremony and Digital Agency Showcase.

Give us your elevator pitch… who are you, what do you do, what gets you outta bed every day?

My name is Nikki Smal, I am the Events Director at the Red & Yellow Creative School of Business but I have a history in Graphic Design and Art Direction, and have previously worked with major retailers (TFG, Woolworths) and a number of publishing houses during my freelance career. In all honesty, my kids get me outta bed in the morning around 4:30am – “tea in my bottle mommy!”. Aside from that, my amazing team, the creative and stimulating environment I work in and the passionate creative minds I get to rub shoulders with all day long makes it a pleasure to spend my time there. 

What did you study at Red & Yellow?

Graphic design and Art Direction, majoring in Art Direction. 

When someone says “Red & Yellow” what are your immediate thoughts, memories or feelings?

Life long friends, industry experience, family. 

Please complete this open-ended sentence: “Red & Yellow taught me…”

To take nothing at face value, to think differently, and to solve problems, creatively. 

Tell us about your most memorable experience at Red & Yellow on campus? Preferably good.

Working on live briefs with my teammates for FNB (Crossover) – invaluable experience, late nights, connecting with like-minded individuals and pushing out an awesome integrated campaign which the client loved. Real client briefs and feedback. 

You’ve been invited to answer these questions because you’re in the Red & Yellow “Alumni Hall of Fame”… tell our newsletter and blog readers how important it is to have a digital marketing qualification these days and a Red & Yellow social media qualification, and describe the types of career path doorways it can unlock?

These days, it’s impossible to be in any professional discipline that isn’t affected by digital in some way. Even if you are not directly managing digital channels, you still need to understand the impact they have on the business. In just 10 weeks, the Social Media Marketing online course brings you up to speed with the latest platforms, best practices, and tactics and strategies to understand how to maximise the benefit social media can add to your brand or business. If you’re wanting to move into becoming a Community Manager, Content Marketer, brand/sector influencer or add digital finesse to your analogue marketing expertise – this course is a must.