Cape Town-based design hub Pixelsmith Studios announced the launch of its digital marketplace this week. The expansion signals the site’s evolution over 10 years from a design-oriented hub for over 800 creatives to a multichannel platform where local artists can connect and promote, sell and purchase work.
The team behind Pixelsmith Studios has always had a passion for helping people and looking after fellow creatives
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The site was initially created in 2010 by founders Ruan Smit, Matt Davison and Neal Strydom. It has since become a reliable source of tech reviews, networking connections, local and international artist interviews, and is frequented by up-and-coming digital creatives, including animators, illustrators, VFX artists and game developers. The online environment also encourages sharing, learning and expertise development among local artists.
The digital marketplace
With the advent of the pandemic, the founders understood that the site needed to adapt to help creatives survive financially. Smit explains that “there’s not currently a beneficial place where South African creatives can promote and sell their work. We wanted to create a site where we could empower designers in SA to sell designs and services to an international audience.”
A strategic investment by The Marketing Mill allowed Pixelsmith Studios to redesign and optimise the site in 2021 to include a digital marketplace and create incomes for SA creatives.
The platform will initially service illustrators and designers with plans to expand and include other digital creators in coming months. Signing up is free for a year and artists take 90% of sale proceeds.
The original purpose of the site has not been abandoned, however. Creatives will still be able to promote themselves, network, find jobs and assist one another on the subdomain. Artists are also encouraged to join the Pixelsmith Studios Discord server with a community of over 100 passionate SA creators.
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Featured image: Ruan Smit and Neal Strydom, founders of Pixelsmith Studios (Supplied)
