As Graphic Design starts being popular in the country, many young Burundians dream to become Graphic Designers. According to some of these latter, this art pushes them to become more creative and innovative for earning their living. Iwacu has met some of them.-Yves Didier Irakoze
Danny Nzeyimana: “I became both more mature and competent. I noticed that only with a pencil, a piece of paper, a pair of scissors, and some paint someone can create great things and give a new look to the world.”©Iwacu
Inspired by the world development, the economic environment, as well as the artistic pieces of work by graphic designers from around the world, young Burundians are eager to become graphic designers for their fame.
“I was really passionate in pictures, cameras, changing images but I didn’t know anything about Graphic Design and what was behind it,” says Danny Nzeyimana, a Graphic Designer and Art Director at IWACU Press Group.
He goes on saying that all began at IWACU Press Group when he started handling the Photoshop and Quark Xpress Software. Step by step, he developed a great passion in graphic designing thanks to some training sessions. “Then, I flew to Kampala at Artfield Design Institute where I got some skills. I became both more mature and competent. I noticed that only with a pencil, a piece of paper, a pair of scissors, and some paint, someone can create great things and give a new look to the world,” points out Nzeyimana. Franck Kavakure, a Graphic Designer and Head of Promotion and Advertisement at ECONET, a young man of about 27 expresses that he is very passionate in the way graphic design is the whole everyday life of men; it is the world, the society, the nature, the environment and the way people think and live. Indeed, the art within us. “Each day is a new day, you inspire yourself, you learn, and you have to know your environment you live in and everything inside,” highlights Kavakure. Kavakure adds that what impresses him is that through that field someone can earn money, create his own job and also offer employment to others. According to him, someone is open to the world, moves forward and became famous. But someone has to be always updated. The market is easily accessible as companies, factories as well as public and private institutions are there and need to be advertised. However, Nzeyimana mentions, some Burundians don’t really know what a graphic designer is and how his job is highly demanding but rewarding!
Inspiration from other EAC countries
“I was really surprised by the step already reached by Kenyans or Ugandans in Graphic Design. It’s really life. In front of factories, shops, in the streets, you’re welcomed by the advertisement billboards, and straightforward you become very curious to know what lies behind,” declares Kavakure. Nzeyimana to recall that in Uganda, Graphic Design is everybody’s competition and the Designer is always needed and this art feeds many people because every time someone wants to make known his work activities, he needs a Designer. “Young should aim for far, be open to the world, have a sense of creation and innovation and not lagging behind waiting for the government’ job,” Kavakure says. Nzeyimana concludes that the government should include in schools’ programs courses on Graphic Design because this art and science is very important in the world today.
IWACU Open Data
