About Me.
Hi, I'm Candida
I am currently studying toward a degree in Communication and have a strong passion for connecting with people and sharing ideas through meaningful communication. I enjoy taking complex ideas and turning them into clear and engaging messages that people can easily understand.
One of my greatest passions is language and culture. Portuguese is my native language, and being multilingual allows me to connect with people from different backgrounds. My Christian faith is an important part of who I am and guides the way I approach life with integrity, kindness, and purpose.
When I’m not studying, I enjoy exploring creative ideas and having meaningful conversations. And if there’s tea involved, even better because honestly, some of the best ideas start with a good cup of tea.
Heritage Stamp Design
I designed my heritage postage stamp to honour Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and the role he plays in South Africa.
I used warm African colours, wildlife, the South African flag, and traditional patterns to represent our country’s heritage.
I made Mandela the main focal point by using a large portrait and placing his name prominently at the top.
I used contrast, spacing, alignment, and typography to create a clear visual hierarchy and make the important information easy to read. I also did not want to make it too busy, so it's not distracting.
Generally, this project helped me understand how different design elements can work together to communicate heritage, identity, and history.
Brand Identity Sticker
I chose the letter C because it represents my personal identity and brand. I used bright analogous colors, bold shapes, and strong lines to create a fun graffiti-inspired style.
The contrast and visual hierarchy make the C the main focal point, while the crown adds personality and confidence.
I simplified my original sketch to make the final sticker clear, memorable, and usable in different contexts.
Writing & Culture
A Taste Of Home: 10 South African Foods Everyone Should Try
South Africa is known for its diversity, and one of the best ways to experience that diversity is through food. Growing up with South African meals taught me that food is about more than hunger. It brings families together, represents different cultures, and creates lasting memories. These ten foods show some of the flavours and traditions that make South African cuisine special.
1. Pap And Stew
Pap is a maize-meal staple I strongly associate with home. It is usually eaten with meat, gravy, vegetables, or stew. Its simplicity turns an ordinary family meal into something filling and comforting.
2. Chakalaka
Chakalaka is a spicy vegetable relish that adds colour and heat. Recipes vary by household but often include vegetables, beans, spices, and chilli. It is commonly served with pap, meat, bread, or at a braai.
3. Boerewors
The smell of boerewors cooking immediately brings a braai to mind. This seasoned sausage, traditionally made mainly from beef with other permitted meats and spices, is more than food—it's part of social gatherings with friends and family.
4. Bunny Chow
Bunny chow is linked to Durban and its Indian-South African community. A hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with curry turns a simple, affordable meal into an iconic South African dish.
5. Vetkoek
Vetkoek (“fat cake”) is fried dough with a golden outside and soft inside. It can be filled with savoury mince or enjoyed with something sweet, making it an adaptable everyday favourite.
6. Kota
Kota is popular township street food. It starts with a quarter loaf of bread and can include chips, cheese, egg, polony, Russian sausage, atchar, and sauces. Shops and customers create their own combinations.
7. Bobotie
Bobotie pairs spiced minced meat with a baked egg-and-milk topping. Especially associated with the Cape, it reflects cultural influences on South African cuisine and balances savoury and slightly sweet flavours.
8. Biltong
Biltong is seasoned, dried meat and a favourite snack. Beef is common, though other meats are used. It needs no full meal, so it is convenient for road trips, sporting events, or home snacking.
9. Malva Pudding
Malva pudding is a soft baked dessert served warm and soaked in sweet sauce. Often paired with custard or ice cream, it is especially comforting in colder weather.
10. Koeksisters
Koeksisters are fried dough soaked in syrup, resulting in a very sweet, sticky treat. Different regional versions show how one food can reflect South Africa’s cultural diversity.
These ten dishes prove South African cuisine is about more than flavour. Pap and stew offer the comfort of home, boerewors recalls gatherings around the braai, and foods such as bunny chow and bobotie highlight cultural influences. Street foods like kota and sweets like malva pudding add further variety. For me, South African food connects people, culture, community and memory. Trying these dishes is a delicious way to experience a small part of what makes South Africa unique.
Photography
I recreated the original photograph by using a close-up perspective, black-and-white colour, strong contrast, and focus on one eye.
I used cropping to make the eye the main focal point while allowing the darker areas of the face to create a dramatic mood.
The composition immediately directs the viewer's attention to the eye and shows how perspective, lighting, and contrast can create context and emotion without words.
Nature & Scripture Design
For this design, I used one of my edited photographs because I wanted to highlight the beauty of nature and God’s creation.
I chose the message “Beauty is All Around Us” because it connects well with the bright sky, clouds, and greenery in the photograph.
I used dark text to create contrast against the bright background and kept the wording short so that it would not take attention away from the image.
I included Psalm 96:11-12 to connect the design to gratitude for the earth and its beauty.
Sound Production
For this assignment, I explored sound production using three everyday objects: a set of keys, a metal straw tapping against the inside of my Stanley tumbler, and a sheet of paper being crumpled. I enjoyed discovering how simple household objects can create interesting sound effects.
I also explored how AI can recreate the sound of a metal straw tapping inside a tumbler. Comparing the two helped me notice differences in rhythm, clarity, and how natural the sounds appeared.
I found my original recording more realistic because the tapping had natural variations that made it feel authentic. The AI-generated sound was impressive because it demonstrated how technology can recreate sounds from written descriptions.
Overall, this assignment taught me that creativity and technology can work together to produce engaging audio content.
Video Production
Click the image to see the promotional ad!