The Digital Storyteller: How Bokang Leshika Found Her Voice in Design
In the second installment of our Future Designers Fund series, we meet a student who reminds us that design is more than just aesthetics—it is a language. At Infinity, our commitment to “actively engineering change” means supporting students who use their talent to bridge the gap between silence and expression.
Meet Bokang Leshika, a designer whose lecturers describe her as “joyful and determined,” and whose work is proving that the quietest voices often have the most powerful things to say.
Design as a Megaphone
For many, design is about filling a room. For Bokang, it was about filling a silence.
“I am a shy person,” Bokang admits. “Normally, when I speak to a group of people, I am inaudible. But design has given me the platform to express myself, to speak louder, and to be heard.”
By combining her high school loves—Mathematics and Visual Arts—she found a way to turn complex problem-solving into a visual dialogue. For Bokang, a floor plan isn’t just a technical requirement; it’s her way of communicating how she feels about the world.
The Spark: Where Tech Meets Tradition
While the industry has deep roots in traditional craftsmanship, Bokang has found a thrilling synergy in the digital frontier. After two years at TUT, she has found her stride in Digital Design, using sophisticated tools like Autodesk Revit to give her imagination a technical edge.
“Digital design speaks to me most because I enjoy using technology to bring ideas to life,” she says. It allows her to experiment with forms and present ideas with a professional clarity that ensures her vision is never “lost in translation.”
A Dream Rooted in Limpopo
If you gave Bokang an unlimited budget, she wouldn’t head for the bright lights of the city. She would head home to her village in Limpopo.
Her dream project? A museum or resort dedicated to the SiNrebele language and culture. It wouldn’t just be a building; it would be an immersive history lesson told through local materials, the flow of the layout, and the very atmosphere of the space. It’s a vision of “Uplifting Communities” by creating spaces where people—especially those in shared gathering spots like churches or parks—feel safe, valued, and connected.
The Secret to Resilience
To the young South Africans facing the same financial barriers she has navigated, Bokang offers a piece of hard-won wisdom:
“There’s always a door open for everyone. You just need to go look for that door, because it will not come looking for you. Resilience comes from believing that your circumstances do not define your future.”
Through the Future Designers Fund, we are honored to be one of the doors Bokang walked through. We can’t wait to see the stories she continues to tell.