Lamar Pretorius

Innovative Industrial Designer with 20 years of multidisciplinary problem-solving expertise. With nearly two decades of hands-on design and development experience, bringing a rare combination of creativity, technical mastery, and manufacturing knowledge. Proficient in Inventor, SolidWorks, CorelDRAW, Photoshop, KeyShot, and more, excelling at transforming concepts into precise, manufacturable solutions.

Skill set spans hand sketching, conceptual ideation, 3D visualization, high-quality renderings, and detailed technical drawings. Extensive experience designing for a wide range of materials and manufacturing processes, including 3D printing, plastics, metals, wood fabrication, injection molding, extrusion, vacuum forming, laser cutting, sheet metal, and print production. Highly skilled in integrating electronics and hardware, with deep understanding of DFM and DFA principles, specializing in complex assemblies, precision tolerance stacks, and optimizing designs for production efficiency.

Proven Global Freelance

Success – Over 550 projects successfully completed on Upwork, earning hundreds of 5-star client reviews and maintaining Top Rated Plus status for the past 5 years. Recognized as the highest-ranked and only South African Industrial Designer to hold this distinction.

Industrial Designer at Freelance Design Studio (2009-01 – Present)

Obtaining new contacts and clients for more than 15 years. Working on multiple projects at once. Designing products for more than 10 industries. Established long term clients.

• I worked on products used on the space station by Nasa
• I have been part of numerous medical technology products
• Creating fully detailed Shop Drawings
• Developing custom packaging solutions
• Creating point of sale and Exhibition designs

RnD Manager at Ukhuni (2016-06 – 2020-03)

• Conceptualize and develop complete furniture ranges
• Directed Research and Development to increased product portfolio
• Coordinated with purchasing department to identify new materials and technology and to create prototypes
• Liaised with owners to understand business requirements and expectations and develop effective solutions

Industrial Designer at New Dimension Group (2015-01 – 2016-05)

• Convert briefing documents into concept designs
• Develop shop drawings for In-house factory
• Conceptualize and develop Point of sale Units of various sizes and materials
• Developed fully detailed shop drawings for leading brand's shop-fitting contracts
• Created exhibitions of various sizes and industries. Fully detailed shop drawings

Engineering Draughtsman at Turnmill Engineering (2014-01 – 2014-11)

Heavy Engineering Design and Manufacturing Draughtsman

• Created complete shop drawing on Sasol Standards
• Metal fabrication and welding processes

Industrial Designer at Pan Africa Shopfitters (2011-07 – 2013-12)

• Producing Engineering Drawings and Cut Sheets
• Overseeing manufacturing process
• Implemented Autodesk Inventor into workflow
• Set up new Drawing Standards using Inventor

Industrial Designer at Myriad Displays (2010-03 – 2011-07)

• Creating brief from client input
• Designing POS stand and presenting
• Optimizing material usage and manufacturing simplicity
• Producing Engineering Drawings
• Overseeing manufacturing process

Head of Graphic Design Department at Printwise (2006-03)

• Speaking to clients, designing and oversee Graphic Design project completion
• Operating vinyl print and cut machine
• Vinyl fabric transfers
• Banner Design and Printing

Higher N.Dip in Industrial Design – University of Johannesburg (2005-01 – 2008-12)

Diploma in Graphic And Advertising Design – Intec (2006-01 – 2006-12)

1st Year (No Degree) in Mechanical Engineering – North West University (2004-01 – 2004-12)

High School Diploma – Afrikaans High School (1999-01 – 2003-12)