Bonolo Modise · Mellow

In memoriam · 20 March 2026

Bonolo
Modise

Mellow, to the people who knew her.

Novic’s life partner · Executive Creative Director · Writer
Co-Founder, Creative Fixer

Harajuku, Tokyo Photo: @welcome_moyo

What she brought

Verbal precision. Cultural intelligence.

Bonolo Modise and Novic Hader, Creative Fixer founders — Bonolo and Novic Creative Fixer founders

Bonolo turned complex briefs into clear, culturally precise ideas. Her writing and creative direction shaped work for Heineken®, LEGiT, Absa, Tiger Brands and DStv.

Creative Fixer was built as a partnership. She brought the verbal precision and cultural intelligence; Novic built the visual language and directed it through production. Together they made campaigns, identities, films and experiences as one creative practice.

That partnership remains the centre of the studio. Her judgement is inseparable from how it thinks and makes today.

A life in colour

Her world.

@kei_mellow

Bonolo with pink braids seated outside overlooking vineyards in Cape Town — Cape Town

Bonolo wearing sunglasses and a colourful jacket in Hong Kong — Hong Kong Photo: @welcome_moyo

Bonolo with teal braids in a striped outfit against a geometric wall in Maboneng — Maboneng Photo: @nomncube

Selected archive

Work she led.

Film direction, creative direction and writing, drawn from Bonolo’s own case studies.

Bonolo with blue sculptural braids, seated beside a patterned sofa at FCB Africa — Bonolo · FCB Africa Photo: @supersaiyan_minyuku

“Having an opportunity to tell a woman-empowering story that celebrates just how incredible and resourceful African women are.”

Bonolo Modise · On Sunlight, More Than You Expect

KOO · Nov 2021

Colour Your Plate

Executive Creative Director · Film Director · Senior Copywriter

Deliverables, contribution and highlights

Deliverables: A cooking programme and campaign across broadcast, digital, retail, PR and events.
Contribution: Rewrote the Brenda Fassie song.
Collaborated with the composer to re-record the iStraight Lendaba song.
Co-directed the first six episodes and directed their edits.
Highlights: Carried a multi-agency idea through to its SABC 2 broadcast.

Watch case study

Mrs Ball’s chutney bottle on a pale patterned background

Mrs Ball’s · Feb 2021

Matched By The Mrs

Executive Creative Director · Film Director

Deliverables, contribution and highlights

Deliverables: A Valentine’s campaign built around brand-sponsored dates during lockdown.
Contribution: Developed the idea and chose the celebrity participants.
Directed the dates, edits and voice recordings through to delivery.
Highlights: Used influencer partnerships to make the brand part of Valentine’s conversations.

Watch case study

1Magic · Feb 2022

UnMarried Series

Creative Director · Film Director

Deliverables, contribution and highlights

Deliverables: A season-three relaunch across television, social channels and DStv’s platform.
Contribution: Developed the campaign idea and visual references.
Directed filming, editing and voice performances through final delivery.
Highlights: Contrasted the characters’ public appearances with revealing shadows.

Watch case study

Mzansi Magic · Aug 2022

Ayeye Stripped

Creative Director · Film Director

Deliverables, contribution and highlights

Deliverables: A campaign introducing the new cast and story across TV, social and DStv’s platform.
Contribution: Developed the idea and visual references.
Directed the shoot and edit, overseeing production through delivery.
Highlights: Made a provocative social campaign within a limited budget.

Watch case study

DStv · Jan 2022

Step Up

Creative Director · Film Director

Deliverables, contribution and highlights

Deliverables: A campaign spanning TV, radio, social and digital across more than 15 African markets.
Contribution: Developed the idea and shared directing duties on the commercial.
Led post-production and voice performances through to delivery.
Highlights: Delivered campaign assets in several languages for the regional rollout.

Watch case study

A mother and daughter hanging laundry in the Sunlight campaign

Sunlight · Apr 2021

More Than You Expect

Creative Director · Senior Copywriter

Deliverables, contribution and highlights

Deliverables: A television commercial about women’s contributions to family and community.
Contribution: Developed the idea alongside the film’s director.
Cast and coached vocal performances, guiding production.
Highlights: Put African women’s ingenuity at the centre of the story.

Watch case study

The Black Cat mascot holding peanut butter and a red megaphone

Black Cat · Mar 2021

Feed The You, You Can Be

Executive Creative Director · Senior Copywriter

Deliverables, contribution and highlights

Deliverables: A children’s campaign that animated the brand’s familiar mascot.
Contribution: Developed the idea, briefed directors and helped direct the commercial.
Guided production, voice performances and the campaign rollout.
Highlights: Introduced the animated character after 95 years and refreshed the back-to-school packaging.

Watch case study

A framed photograph of a father and child beside a football for Absa Life Insurance

Absa · Dec 2019

Life Insurance Commercials

Creative Director · Senior Copywriter

Deliverables, contribution and highlights

Deliverables: Three commercials introducing Absa’s life insurance offering.
Contribution: Developed the ideas in close collaboration with the director.
Cast and directed voice performances while overseeing the production company.
Highlights: Used tenderness to tell stories about providing for loved ones.

Watch case study

View Bonolo’s Behance archive

Her words

From idea to life.

Bonolo Modise was a writer, Executive Creative Director and founding partner of Creative Fixer Studio.

“Bonolo is a seasoned creative director, dynamic writer, and now film/content director from Joburg. She is the founder of The Curve Revolution and co-founder of Creative Fixer .Studio”

Bonolo's bio · Behance case-study footer ↗

Bonolo smiling in a green shirt — Bonolo Modise

Bonolo smiling over her shoulder in front of a neon palm tree and a tropical wallpaper

“Giving birth to an idea that required multiple agencies to bring the end product to life. Leading the entire process from concept to development, testing, shooting, interviews, events and finally seeing the Colour Your Plate with KOO cooking show live on SABC 2.”

Bonolo Modise · On KOO, Colour Your Plate

Recognition

She judged the work too.

Jury service

Bonolo served on juries for the Loeries, Creative Circle, AdFocus, AD STARS and Pendoring Awards.

Bonolo laughing, wearing silver braids and a striped jacket — Mellow · Aurum

Always, Mellow.

“Mellow, I bear witness to your life. In all I make, I honour your legacy.”

Novic Hader

See the work Back to the studio