Pierre
Nel

What led you into design?

I discovered design through an unexpected intersection of small-town life and technology. Growing up in a South African university town – coincidentally the site of the country's first internet connection – I was exposed to this fascinating blend of local culture and global academic influence. My creative journey started with my brother's ZX Spectrum, where I'd spend hours coding simple BASIC programs to generate glitch art on our TV screen. That early experience of using code to create visual elements really captured my imagination.

My path deepened through studying both traditional art (sculpture and art history) and computer science. While at university, I found another outlet for creative technology through DJing twice a week, mixing tracks for crowds of humanities students and familiar faces from my hometown. This combination of visual creativity, technology, and music really shaped my approach to design.

A move to London with my wife (who'd just completed her Fine Arts masters) really accelerated my career. The city's agency scene exposed me to incredible talent and helped build my global network. Now, based back in Cape Town, I'm still working with international clients – just with better weather and ocean views.

What does a typical day look like?

My day kicks off around 5:30 – usually thanks to our cat Gomez (named after the charismatic Addams family patriarch) and his enthusiastic morning social hour with the neighbor's cat. After the inevitable Instagram doom scroll, I help get the kids ready for school. Post-school drop-off and coffee run, I dive into my project list. Rather than getting lost in project management apps, I keep it simple with handwritten tasks and Bear for project notes.

I usually juggle around three projects simultaneously, each at a different stage. The global nature of my work means video calls can pop up throughout the day. I've found that the time difference between US West Coast clients actually works pretty well. Here's a quirky part of my workflow: I keep B-movies (lots of sci-fi and horror) playing on a tablet under my monitors when I'm not in a music mood. I log everything on Letterboxd, trying to outdo my previous year's count of endured films. The worse the IMDB rating, the less it demands my attention – perfect for background noise while coding or designing.

What's your workstation setup?

My workspace combines a 5K iMac with an Ultrawide monitor. It might seem like overkill, but the wide screen splits perfectly between browser and design references/Figma, letting me code, design, and preview simultaneously.

On the development side, I've recently switched to Zed, a Rust-based editor, alongside Neovim. I've created several themes for it, and its new SSH file editing capability pairs perfectly with my Arch Linux server setup. For design work, Figma is my go-to, complemented by Eagle for organizing visual inspiration – it's transformed how I reference and collect design ideas.

Under the desk I have an AMD Ryzen server running Arch Linux and Docker, which lets me keep projects running and accessible from anywhere via Tailscale. For mobile work, I use an M2 MacBook Air, though I'm constantly debating whether an iPad Air might better suit my on-the-go needs.

Where do you go to get inspired?

Living in the Western Cape of South Africa offers incredible natural inspiration. Whether it's exploring the Winelands (Babylonstoren is a favourite), walking through our national botanical garden, or visiting amazing nature reserves like Groot Bos, getting outdoors helps reset my creative thinking. For digital inspiration, I regularly check cosmos.so for innovative web design and designboom for broader creative perspectives.

What product have you recently seen that made you think this is great design?

Teenage Engineering's OP-XY is absolutely blowing my mind right now. It perfectly embodies what happens when thoughtful industrial design meets cutting-edge music technology. The device is this beautiful piece of anodized aluminum that looks like it belongs in both a design museum and a music studio. But what really gets me excited is how they've managed to make something so technically complex feel intuitive and playful.

What I love most is how they've solved real studio problems without compromising on aesthetics. Take their multi-output port solution - it eliminates the usual rat's nest of cables while letting you connect to everything from Eurorack modules to guitar pedals. It's that rare perfect balance of form and function, where the physical design actively enhances the creative experience. This is exactly the kind of thinking I try to bring to my own work - where technology enables creativity rather than getting in its way.

What pieces of work are you most proud of?

I redid my portfolio site recently and it made it onto SiteInspire which I'm so happy about - I'm also working on sites for 2 startups (one based in the UK, the other in NYC) - I can't say anything about them yet, but they're close to going live so I'll announce them on all the usual channels.

What design challenges do you face at your company?

The biggest challenge is maintaining authenticity in an industry driven by trends. I strive to understand what's current while pushing boundaries in unexpected directions. My philosophy is about finding that sweet spot between subtlety and impact – creating designs that impress through thoughtful details rather than overwhelming effects.

What music do you listen to while designing?

Any advice for ambitious designers?

For designers looking to grow, I'd strongly recommend spending time in a major creative hub if you can. Cities like London, New York, or Berlin have this incredible energy - it's not just about the design scene, but the whole creative ecosystem. Immerse yourself in exhibitions, meetups, and the local tech community. What's fascinating is how you'll start seeing the intersection of different creative fields - where architecture influences web design, or how street art impacts digital aesthetics. Absorb everything, but here's the key: when you return home, use those influences to develop your own unique perspective rather than just replicating what you've seen.

Anything you want to promote or plug?

If you're a designer, small studio, or startup looking to bring your designs to life on the web, let's chat! I love collaborating with creative folks to turn their visual concepts into fully functional websites. Whether you need some slick animations, a robust CMS setup, or just someone who gets both the design and technical side of things, I've got you covered. After my recent portfolio redesign, I'm especially excited to take on new projects that push creative boundaries. Drop me a line if you want to create something cool together – I'm particularly keen on working with boutique agencies and independent designers who want to offer their clients that extra technical edge. Check out my portfolio and let's see what we can build.