Dr Herman Botes holds a PhD in Visual Arts from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, with a thesis focusing on critical citizenship and decolonization in design education. As the Head of the Visual Communication Department at Tshwane University of Technology, he oversees Film, Photography, and Communication Design programs. With over three decades of experience in higher education and the design industry, Dr. Botes is a peer evaluator for the South African Council on Higher Education, evaluating design-related programs nationally. His academic interests include critical citizenship in design education, and he is currently investigating design circularity with one of his master's students. He also served as president of the Design Education Forum of Southern Africa, representing design educators across the country.