Skip to main content
Willem BothaWB
Open to opportunities

Willem Botha

@willembotha

I turn product concepts into production-ready designs, technical packs, and manufacturable solutions.

South Africa
Message

I turn concepts into production-ready products at VF!, bridging design and manufacturing through detailed 3D models, technical drawing packs, specifications, and supplier-ready documentation.

I guide design-for-manufacturability and design-to-cost decisions, lead value engineering and FMEA, and manage suppliers from prototype samples through full-scale rollout. I also test prototypes, create assembly instructions and how-to videos, and support on-site product implementation.

My background spans industrial design, signage, exhibitions, furniture, events, and mass manufacture. I have designed structural signage and manufacturing drawings for clients including Engen, Astron, Moove, KFC, Sweetbeet, and Swift.

I'm driven by creative, collaborative problem-solving and practical solutions that meet production and manufacturing requirements.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

VF! logoVF
Current

Design Engineer

Feb 2025 - Present (1 year 7 months)

Manufacturing & Design Engineer | Product Development

Serve as the critical bridge between design and manufacturing, providing expert guidance on design for manufacturability (DFM) and design-to-cost principles. Convert concept designs into fully resolved, production-ready solutions that encompass detailed technical specification documents and complete 3D model files.

Key Responsibilities:
- Dev

Self-employed logoSE

Industrial Design Consultant

Feb 2024 - Jul 2024 (5 months)

Contract and consultant work specialising in Signage, Exhibitions, Furniture, Mass manufacture & Events for:
- Empire Atlantic (Marketing & Branding Agency)
- UltraSigns (Architectural Signage)
- Oooh. (Interior Design)

Ultrasigns Signage logoUS

Senior Industrial Designer

Sep 2022 - Jan 2024 (1 year 4 months)

Worked as Senior Industrial Designer at Ultrasigns Signage.

The Exhibitionist CC logoTC

Senior Designer and Project Manager

Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 (2 months)

Designer and Projects Manager.
- Design and creation of exhibition spaces and stands.
- Design and creation of product displays.
- Design and organise exhibitions and events.
- General Problem Solving.

The Exhibitionist CC logoTC

Junior Designer and Projects Manager

Apr 2018 - Dec 2019 (1 year 8 months)

- Junior Designer and Projects Manager.
- Design and creation of exhibition spaces and stands.
- Design and creation of product displays.
- Design and organise exhibitions and events.
- General Problem Solving.

Freelance logoFR

Freelance Industrial Designer

Jan 2015 - Jan 2018 (3 years)

- Furniture Design.
- Collaboration in fashion design industry, experimental clothing and materials research and production.
- Content Creation and Graphic Design.

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

UJ

University of Johannesburg

Bachelor of Arts - BA, Industrial and Product Design

2015 - 2017

University of Johannesburg logoUJ

University of Johannesburg

Bachelor of Arts, Industrial and Product Design

2015 - 2017

Pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial and Product Design, focusing on design principles and product development.

Tech stack

Software and tools used professionally

Get matched with your dream remote job

Sign up now and join over 250,000+ remote workers who receive personalized job alerts, curated job matches, and more for free!

Sign up
Himalayas profile for an example user named Frankie Sullivan