Barry Swart Independent thinking.
International creative leadership.

Leadershipshould befelt.

Better brands.
Braver teams.
Bigger possibilities.

Art direction. Brand thinking.
People-first leadership.

The thinking behind the work.
The people behind the progress.

Move across the words. Reveal what’s within.
  • 18+Years connecting strategy and craft
  • 8Brands under creative direction
  • 150%Increase in production volume accommodated during 2025

Serious about the work.Human aboutthe people.

Request CV Let’s talk

Big thinking. Practical impact. Team-first, always.

I make the complicated feel clear, useful and human.

Across Australia and South Africa, I connect strategy with craft, brands with people, and ambitious ideas with the teams that bring them to life.

Today, as Art & Production Director at PetSure, that means creative direction across eight brands. Always close to the thinking. Always close to the work.

  1. ’04

    Designer & Trainer

    Delivered in-house graphic design and training, combining creative execution with knowledge-sharing.

    CPT (Compu Plus Training) · 2004–2006

  2. ’06

    Design Meets Moving Image

    Led graphic design and video editing, bringing visual ideas to life across both print and motion.

    Revolution Business Solutions · 2006–2009

  3. ’11

    Brand Ownership

    Worked directly with the CEO to shape brand positioning, develop visual identities and lead website development from concept to execution.

    Mont Blanc Financial Services · 2011–2015

  4. ’15

    Leading Creative at Scale

    Built and led an in-house creative team for one of South Africa’s largest medical schemes, earning three Ask Afrika Orange Index wins.

    Bonitas Medical Fund · 2015–2023

  5. ’23

    Creative Direction Across Eight Brands

    Leading creative strategy, production and execution across eight pet-insurance brands in Australia, aligning creative output with brand objectives and business priorities.

    PetSure · 2023–Present

  6. ’26

    Taking Creative Leadership Further

    Selected for the D&AD Creative Leaders programme in London, advancing my approach to creative leadership, strategic thinking and building high-performing creative teams.

    D&AD · London · 2026

Selected contributions

Different challenges.
One creative instinct.

Find the human truth. Make it clear. Build something that works.

PetInsurance.com.auBrand transformation / Identity / Digital

A brand refresh,
built for every touchpoint.

Brand transformation and refresh, evolving the identity across digital and customer-facing experiences.

Art & Production Director · PetSureView the Behance project
GapOnlyBrand transformation / Campaign / Film

A brand transformation,
from idea to every touchpoint.

Led brand transformation and national campaign and film creative, extending the identity across digital, partner and consumer experiences.

Art & Production Director · PetSure
OodleNew brand / Identity / Website

A new personality.
A complete experience.

Led the creation of a new consumer brand identity and website experience for the Australian market.

Art & Production Director · PetSure
Compare Pet HealthDigital product / UX / Decision support

Complex information.
Clearer choices.

Directed an insurance comparison experience that makes policy features, benefit limits, reimbursement, excess and sample claims easier to navigate.

Art & Creative Direction · PetSure
BonitasCreative leadership / Integrated brand

Clarity at scale.
Across a whole ecosystem.

Led integrated brand and creative work across broadcast, digital, print and member communications. The period included three ASK Africa Orange Index category wins for customer experience.

Explore the brand work
Explore the visual portfolio on Behance
The leadership manifesto

Leadership
should be felt.

Developed through the D&AD Creative Leaders Programme, London, 2026. Five convictions that shape how I lead.

The people
you help grow
are your legacy.

Maybe leadership isn’t about being the best. Maybe it’s about helping others become it.

Book me to talk about creative leadership and my manifesto, and help your team shape their own
The people behind the progress

Good work starts
with good people.

Barry Swart, looking up, thinking

  1. Give them trust.

    People do their best work when they’re trusted. The fastest way to kill creativity is to micromanage it.

  2. Give them clarity.

    A clear idea. A collective ambition.

  3. Then give them room.

    Give them trust. Give them clarity. Then give them room.

I stay close to the craft while mentoring teams, directing partners and connecting executive stakeholders around a clear idea. Creative leadership includes building the systems that help people do work they’re proud of.

2023–presentArt & Production Director PetSure

2015–2023Head of Creative Bonitas / AfroCentric

2011–2015Brand Manager & Graphic Designer Mont Blanc Financial Services

A conversation could change everything

What’s yournext possibility?

Based in South Africa.
Thinking beyond borders.

LinkedIn ↗︎Behance ↗︎Request CV ↗︎
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