Meet Sanele Qwabe, the mastermind behind ‘Kind Kid Company’
In a world where designer art toys are widely recognized, Sanele Qwabe has cemented his place locally as the creator of Kind Kid, with his captivating decorative toys.
IOL delves deeper into his journey as a creator and the spark that ignited his passion for designing decorative toys.
Hailing from Durban, the 28-year-old has always had an interest in animation and cartoons, which he shares have always inspired him.
"Growing up, I wasn’t big on having toys, but I’ve always loved animation, especially when I started discovering the world through the internet," he says.
Qwabe draws inspiration from Hebru Brantley, a Chicago-based artist known for his conceptualised iconic characters.
He also finds Korean artists' work particularly inspiring, noting how their cool designs influenced him and kept the thought of entering the industry at the back of his mind.
Besides being a decorative toy designer, Qwabe wears many hats: graphic designer, photographer, and music video and film director.
His passion for designing tangible toys was fully ignited after directing a short film titled Blue, a love story centred around a stuffed animal in a claw machine.
He ended up creating the plush character from the short film and this was the beginning of Kind Kid.
“Curiosity and consistency can get you anything you desire,” Qwabe explains.
He shares how his curiosity drove him to discover different ways to create and design toys. On this journey, he invested a lot of money to get to where he is today.
"Even now, I’m still learning how to make them the best way I can. In terms of skills, it’s a trial-and-error process," he adds.
To bring his Kind Kid toys to life, Qwabe uses a free 3D software program called Blender, creating everything from character designs to small animations.
His creative process is unique as he starts with a simple block and lets the design emerge, later discovering the meaning behind whatever takes shape.
“I prefer it that way because it’s more fun. I never know which toy will emerge until months later, when I realise the psychological inspiration behind it. Sometimes as artists, we create and only later understand what our minds were trying to make sense of,” he says.
For Qwabe, it’s important to have fun as a creator of something meant to bring joy.
He has exciting plans for his brand and aims to break into the art gallery scene, hoping to see his work displayed in museums and remembered forever as interest in the art collector space grows.
The different Kind Kid character prices are reasonably accessible, as Qwabe is still introducing the designer decorative toy scene to the public since it’s still something new to most.
He hopes Kind Kid will inspire children and aims to introduce them to the toy creation industry, something he wishes he had experienced as a child.
Some of the characters include Kind Kid Mega Kid, Kind Kid Joy Boy, and Kind Kid Life Guide, priced at R899.00.
IOL