A creatively designed man

When you see a stylish, tanned man with short salt and pepper hair sitting at SMD’s Zaras with a notebook and a pencil, you have spotted Jaoa Cabral.

The chatty, creative designer of all things beautiful and different loves working at this particular coffee shop, because of its surroundings.

“Looking at a gorgeous Ferrari while working is so inspiring. It motivates me to work harder, so that I can one day own one,” said the philanthropic Portuguese Cabral who lives in Ballito with his parents.

“Imagine having the kind of money where you can just buy a car for someone who needs one, or a house. Having enough money to enrich others’ lives is what I think people should strive for to live a healthy, happy life.”

The luxury cars are currently inspiring Cabral to design his latest project, a shop for the new Mega Mall at the Junction.

“Just thinking about the mall makes me feel like a kid in a candy store. I hope to open a store by and for creative people,” said Cabral, who is a qualified interior designer, garden designer and specialised retail designer.

“The coffee shop retail store’s main focus is going to be bespoke design furniture.”

Cabral was one of the lucky people to go on the East3Route last year, a tourism initiative for business networking between South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. This experience inspired him to start this store.

“I loved what I saw in Mozambique. I hope to get some of the designers’ work from there for my shop.”

The cheerful coffee-lover is passionate about retail design. He worked as the space and interior designer for the KZN Spar Group for three years.

“Retail design is great fun, because I get to mess with peoples’ heads. There is a lot of psychology involved in getting shoppers to go where you want them to be.”

Cabral said the reason he loves design is because it is always changing and he enjoys working with materials and things he can touch and feel.

“There are certain stores like hardware stores, home decor stores and stationery shops that I cannot go into, because I just want to touch and buy everything. I absolutely love pens, sounds nerdy I know,” he said with his boyish charm.

Being in a garden is another one of his favourite things, which is why he did a garden design course in England a couple of years ago.

“I find small, urban gardens very interesting. Working on roof tops and vertical gardens is my ultimate. The challenge to create that little, green escape is great,” said Cabral, who recently entered the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in England.

Sadly he could not get a sponsor in time, but he hopes to bring his garden design alive in South Africa instead.

For now, Cabral enjoys designing and planing his store, while drinking a cup of coffee and looking at that gorgeous Ferrari.