Written slowly, published when it's actually finished.
JournalNotes from
Notes from
the practice
Working notes on performance, product, design systems, hosting and the commercial side of running a studio. No listicles, no trend forecasts.
- Pieces
- 6
- Topics
- Performance · Practice · Apps · Hosting · Design systems · Digital
LatestPerformance · 18 June 2026 · 6 min readWhat a slow website actually costs you
Performance is not a technical preference. On South African mobile networks it is the difference between an enquiry and a bounce.In this piece- Test on a mid-range Android device on 4G, not on your laptop
- Fix images and fonts before touching your bundle
- Audit third-party scripts ruthlessly; they are code you did not write and cannot fix
Archive
Everything else
PerformancePracticeAppsHostingDesign systemsDigital
- Practice2 May 2026 · 7 min readThe brief behind the briefClients rarely ask for what they actually need. Learning to hear the second brief underneath the first one is most of the job.Read
Apps14 March 2026 · 6 min readDesigning an MVP you won't have to throw awayMost first versions fail for the same reason: nobody was willing to write down what the product was not going to do.Read
Hosting27 January 2026 · 5 min readHosting decisions you make once and live with for yearsThe cheapest hosting is rarely the cheapest hosting. What you are actually buying is who wakes up when it breaks.Read
Design systems9 November 2025 · 5 min readDesign systems for teams of oneYou do not need a design system department. You need tokens, a dozen components and the discipline not to add a thirteenth.Read
Digital22 September 2025 · 6 min readWhat a portfolio is actually forIt is not a gallery of your best-looking work. It is an instrument for changing the kind of enquiry you receive.Read
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JournalTaking projects from September
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Emailinfo@bonolomathabela.comEvery enquiry gets a reply within two working days.Phone & WhatsApp+27 82 419 7734Monday – Friday, 08:30 – 17:30 SASTNew businessstudio@bonolomathabela.comBriefs, proposals and scoping conversations.
Studios
Johannesburg studio14 Keyes Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196, South AfricaCape Town, by appointmentBuitengracht Street, De Waterkant, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
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Bonolo Mathabela · Designer & Developer · bonolomathabela.com