Lungi is going through a period of reflection but also cautious optimism. “Things are moving, but at the same time it feels like they’re not”, she laughs as she describes the past three months, capturing the complex nature of creative entrepreneurship.

Her social media strategy is moving fast, Lungi tells us. She separated her personal and her ceramic accounts, a move that has led to a clear visual and cognitive distinction between the two. “You can see it’s the same person, but the art looks totally different”, she explains. Perhaps most notably, Lungi has embraced TikTok for business purposes, despite her initial scepticism. “I wasn't a fan of TikTok... but I ended up realising that actually maybe there are other opportunities, even if it’s a bit early to say”, she says.

While some of the recommendations or pointers from the Imperial College team remain unimplemented at this time - particularly the record keeping system, Lungi has made improvements to her creative process. Storytelling, which she describes as “a very fundamental and critical part of what I do”, has become more intentional. Rather than creating pieces and forgetting the origins of a piece or a creation, Lungi now captures the emotions and stories during the making process. “I keep that together so that one piece flows with that story”, she explains.

Lungi also feels that more recognition is beginning to come her way. One of her pieces is currently showcased at the Spier Trust ceramic exhibition (a major sponsor of creative arts in South Africa), while six of her cups have been selected for an exhibition in Italy after she was approached by organisers - a particularly encouraging development.
Lungi also expresses her heartfelt gratitude for the Imperial College team. “I want to say a huge thank you – and for coming in with such passion and open-mindedness. You did not assist me in a generic way, you actually put me at the centre of what you were doing, and that was heartwarming” she says.