Jason Kempen (32) was born in Cape Town, the son of a Dutch father and a South African mother. Despite a school background including both academic and artistic pursuits, Jason's primary interest in the creative world led him to enrol at the renowned AAA School for Advertising where he graduated with Honours after completing a three year diploma.

In 1999, he graduated top of his class and took home the awards for Best Graphic Design Student and Best Overall Creative Student. Jason has received numerous prestigious awards acknowledging his creative talent, including a Gold Clio Award internationally and many Loerie awards locally.

Steadily moving up through the ranks, Jason spent eight years building his diverse portfolio at premium design agencies Code and Fountainhead. Working with well-known South African brands such as Old Mutual, Primedia, British American Tobacco and Dunhill, his mulit-disciplinary approach allows easy movement between the demands of creative development and forward-facing client liason.

Jason joined Fountainhead Design in 2004, eventually becoming Head of Studio at the Cape Town-based agency. In 2007, he embraced his entrepreneurial spirit by opening his own studio - Magic 8 Design - to focus on more design-oriented branding projects. After three years of flying solo, Jason reunited with Fountainhead, and in September 2010, the two agencies merged.

With an acute interest in interiors and fashion and an eye for detail, Jason's design sensibility is clean and uncluttered. Combined with a motto of 'never taking it all too seriously', his no-nonsense approach keeps the studio's work fresh, honest and relevant.