Michelle Bradfield

Michelle Bradfield is a seasoned entrepreneur with two thriving businesses under her belt. “I started Design Origin, a computer graphic design business, back in 1999,” she explains. “I’ve been on my own from the beginning, and it’s been quite a journey.” Her other business, Eventtiming, began in 2009, where she serves as a director. “We handle online entries, registration, and race timing. It’s a busy, hands- on venture that keeps me occupied seven days a week.”

Growing up on the Bluff in Durban, Michelle attended Grosvenor Girls’ High School, completing her matriculation in 1982. “I like to say I’m QBE — Qualified by Experience,” she shares. “I don’t have a formal education, but I don’t believe you need one if you’re determined and willing to persevere. A degree isn’t the be-all and end-all.” Her entry into graphic design came by chance, as she recalls: “I was working in the office of a company called Proforms, handling business forms and stationery. When I first started, it was all darkrooms and typesetting, but then I saw someone using a computer to do graphic design. I thought, ‘I could do this’.”

Her boss, familiar with her work ethic, took a leap of faith. “He invested a significant amount of money in the equipment, and I did a two-week course. I didn’t even know how to switch the computer on at first, but I just fell into it. It came very naturally to me.”

Eventtiming
Eventtiming began as her husband’s dream. “He’s a long-term runner and has completed the Comrades Marathon,” she notes. “He saw a better way to manage timing than the old manual systems, especially for smaller clubs where using permanent plastic chips was costly.” Her husband developed a programme using disposable timing chips, and Michelle’s involvement gradually increased. “I was just helping him at first, but then I got more involved until we were 50/50 in the business.”

Managing Eventtiming demands significant effort and meticulous planning. “I handle the day-to-day running, organising, and planning,” she says. “We need to co- ordinate race numbers months in advance, making sure everything runs smoothly on race day. Sometimes, we’re up at 2:30 in the morning, and if it’s an ultra- marathon, we can be on-site for up to eight hours.”

The work is physically and mentally exhausting, but Michelle finds it rewarding. “It’s a lot more than just taking a time over the line. There’s so much involved and dealing with the public every weekend is challenging. Not everyone understands how the timing system works, so you find yourself explaining things over and over.”

She encourages others to experience the organisational side of races. “I think every runner should get involved in organising a race at some point,” she suggests. “It’s eye- opening to see just how much work goes into it.”

Michelle’s approach to life is firmly grounded in practicality. “I’m not one for fairy-tale dreams,” she admits. “I’m very practical and realistic. I believe I can achieve just about anything, but my goals are grounded in reality.” Her journey into graphic design is a testament to this mindset. “It’s funny,” she reflects, “as a child, I wanted to be the editor of a magazine. I never expected that dream to resurface later in life through my work in computer graphics.”

Her initial interest in accounting, thanks to her strong aptitude for maths, took a back seat to graphic design. “It seems unrelated, but maths plays a big role in my design work,” she says. “Angles, measurements, and layouts — all those skills come in handy.”

Michelle credits her problem-solving skills for her success. She says, “I’ve taken on projects I didn’t know how to approach, and the satisfaction of achieving the end result is unmatched.” Michelle emphasises the importance of finding solutions rather than focusing on problems. “If there’s a problem, there is always a solution,” she asserts “That’s how I live my life. I just get things done. If I don’t know how to do something, I figure it out.” Staying up to date with technology is an ongoing challenge. “You just have to expose yourself to new things,” she advises. “The internet is amazing — you can find any answer you need.”
Her work in graphic design often involves collaborating with other designers. “Sometimes, I receive artwork and don’t quite know what the designer has done,” she explains. “But I unravel it, go back to the basics, and deliver a print-ready product.”

Find the Solution
For young women following her, Michelle offers straightforward advice: “Stick to your guns. Being QBE has never held me back. Today, if you have a problem, you can go online and find the solution. Don’t let anything stand in your way. There’s so much you can achieve if you apply your mind.”

Michelle’s life is busy, with her work schedule often stretching to seven days a week. “I do computer graphics during the day and event timing in the evenings. It’s intensive, but I’ve always believed in the value of hard work.” She added that she doesn’t have a lot of spare time, but when she does, it’s usually spent packing race pins and numbers.

Michelle’s goals are simple yet significant. “I’m getting on in years,” she says, “I want to stay physically and mentally strong. If I can keep doing what I’m doing for the next 20 years, I’ll be happy.” Exercise is an essential part of her routine, helping her maintain the stamina needed for her demanding lifestyle. “I’ve been exercising for over 40 years,” she shares. “I lift weights and run — it’s what keeps me going.”

However, despite the hectic pace, she finds ways to relax. “There’s nothing better than a quiet meal and a nice glass of red wine,” she says with a smile. “That’s my idea of unwinding.”

For Michelle, business success is about persistence, problem-solving and staying grounded. “I don’t have a formal qualification, but I’ve built two successful businesses,” she reflects. “That’s proof enough that with the right attitude, you can achieve anything.”