Thato Maselela
Thato Maselela is a brand and UI designer from Pretoria, South Africa. He’s passionate about building brands that feel thoughtful, alive, and so magnetic that they spark a following.
He discovered his fire for design in the fourth grade, when his aunt gave him a cracked USB thumb drive that housed a copy of Photoshop. Thato spent hours experimenting with logos, photo manipulation, and retouching. What could have been a passing hobby quickly became an obsession. That early spark grew into a career built on curiosity and a love for creating work that feels bigger than design alone.
Thato has spent his career at creative agencies, where he’s worked with clients across industries, from ambitious startups to fintech innovators to global brands. A highlight was leading the identity for Nuro, a financial advisory brand that helped families and individuals rethink how they manage money. That project went on to become a finalist at the Loeries Awards.
What makes Thato tick? It’s simple: design is connection. It’s how people find trust, emotion, and a sense of belonging in something greater than themselves. He’s known for blending strategy with storytelling, crafting brands that aren’t just recognizable but unforgettable.
Outside of work, Thato is a foodie who loves discovering new restaurants just as much as test-driving cool tech gadgets. He recharges by gaming, working out, reading, sketching, and sometimes heading out for a walk to clear his mind.
At Focus Lab, Thato is excited to bring his passion for clarity, care, and creativity into building brands that truly come to life.
