Yolandi Burger weaves cities into stories. As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Gauteng City-Region Observatory, in a joint appointment with the University of Johannesburg’s Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, she explores how places speak through their signs, murals, typography, and the layers of history etched into their streets. Holding a PhD in Higher Education Studies and a Master’s in Design, Yolandi’s work sits at the intersection of urban storytelling, graphic heritage, and placemaking. She is also an honorary research fellow at Loughborough University, where she co-leads an international research agenda. Her collaborations with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital have led to public-facing projects such as the Named after Nelson exhibition, an AI-driven podcast series, and creative data visualisations. Through these, she invites communities to see their environments not just as spaces but as living narratives.