Hein du Plessis
Hein du Plessis has been involved with photography and branding for the past 30 years. His experience includes working as photographer and Brand Coordinator at the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) and as senior photographer at the daily newspaper, Die Volksblad. He lectured part-time at the University of the Free State and the CUT. He is currently the owner of Brand New SA and co-owner of Brand New afriKa and Brand New Lesotho.
His photographs were published in national food and travel magazines, in national newspapers as well as in international magazines and newspapers. AP, AFP, Reuters and Help Age International have used and commissioned his work. His photographs have been exhibited locally as well as internationally and he has received national and international recognition for his work which include; Fuji Press Awards, South Africa Pro Photo Awards, Commonwealth Photo Award: Regional Winner – Africa, South Africa Picture Essay Award: Two essays in final of seven and overall winner, New York Institute of Photography Competition, Holland Herald Photographic Competition, UNITEC Photographic Excellence Awards and Technikon Free State Vice-Chancellors Award: Class Gold.
London based Solicitors for Human Rights commissioned him to photograph the asbestos sufferers in Prieska. These photographs have since been exhibited in more than seven countries, published in numerous national and international publications and formed part of a successful international protest action forcing a British mining company to accept responsibility for their mistreatment of South African mine workers. In 2002 Hein was one of three international speakers to address a parliamentary committee in the House of Commons, London, regarding the social impact of the asbestos industry in South Africa. He travelled to England, Brazil, India, Argentina, Kazakhstan and Greece to help raise awareness regarding the dangers of asbestos.
Images of Elder Abuse, Living with Aids, Legacy of Asbestos, Into Full View (OHS in India), Going to the Dogs (Drug Rehab), Reaching Out and Face to Face with Cancer are social awareness projects initiated by Hein, all of which culminated in exhibitions.
At Brand New, Hein oversees the creative processes and specialises in conceptualisation, brand name and tagline development and overall creative direction of design projects. Apart from creative directing he is also responsible for new business development and building sustainable relationships with clients and suppliers. He has successfully managed more than 300 national branding and rebranding projects, ranging from start-ups to companies that are 131 years old.
