WORDS Amelia Brown IMAGES courtesy of Design Indaba
Following a nationwide search, 50 gifted up-and-coming creatives, from students of design to artists and photographers, have been chosen to be part of Design Indaba’s annual Emerging Creatives programme.
Started by Design Indaba with the Department of Arts and Culture in 2005, the programme provides a platform for young creatives to showcase their talent and be exposed to all of the inspiration and innovation the festival has to offer. Past finalists include award-winning fashion designers Laduma Ngxokolo, Thebe Magugu and Rich Mnisi, amongst others.
The curators of this year’s line-up are all previous Emerging Creatives themselves: milliner Crystal Birch, art director Mokoena Kobeli and furniture designer Siyanda Mbele.
As part of the programme, 40 of the finalists will exhibit their work at the Design Indaba Festival in Cape Town, while 10 will showcase at a concurrent satellite exhibition in Johannesburg.
Here are the top 50 for 2020:
- Designer, engineer, artist and researcher Andrew Earl
- Interior and furniture designer Anele Vezi of Vezarra
- Jewellery designer Anke van der Linden
- Artist Ayanda Khumalo
- Fashion designer Berna Buys
- Artist, poet, philosopher and visual communicator Bernice Manni
Bernice Mannie
- Visual artist and photographer Bontle Juku
- Illustrator Brendon Kevin Pitt
- Architect and graffiti artist Christopher MacClements
- Artist and creative Courtney Hodgson of Kiffkak
- Furniture designer Dane Fair of Aisling
- Crochet artist Diana Seboke Zitha
- Sculptor Dora Prevost
- Artist Duduzile Mnguni
- Designer Fazlin Hoosain of Collectic Interiors and Collectic Living
Lotus side table by Fazlin Hoosain
- Designer Fezokuhle Dimba of Love Hate Designs
- Designer Ghilian Chevelu of Illucid
- Ideation student and designer Jessica Le Roux
- Illustrator and pointillist artist Karabo Dire
- Graphic designer and illustrator Kaya Siqongile Gwebu
- Interior and furniture designer, fine artist and photographer Kehumile Mate
- Fashion designer Keshia Smith
- Photographer and visual artist Koketso Kutloano Matobako
- Visual artist Lebogang Mogul Mabusela
Lebogang Mogul Mabusela
- Artist Leigh Le Roux
- Jewellery designer Lené Swartz
- Designer Lethabo Cleo Morake of Moraka Interiors
- Photographer and journalism student Luchwayito Vena of Gemnivision
- Fashion designer Luvo Mahangu of Highly Unlikely
- Fibre artist Makhosazane Sekgwama of Rosa Handmade
- Furniture designer and manufacturer Marcus van der Hoven of Takk Studio
- Digital artist and designer Mark Modimola
- Interior and furniture designer Mia Louise Senekal of murrmurr
murrmurr by Mia Senekal
- Interior and furniture designer Mmamotsatsi Masike
- Illustrator Morena Moletsane
- Product designer Nombuso Nomzamo Khanyile of Afrikan Passion Designs
- Visual artist, sculptor and eco-feminist Pholile Hlongwane
- Mechanical engineer and fashion designer Phumelela Malinga
- Streetwear designer Robyn Agulhas
Robyn Agulhas
- Handbag designer Samkelisiwe Mhlongo
- Photographer Sello Stephen Johnson
- Textile design graduate Siphelele Ntombela
- Furniture designer Sipho Khwebula of Khwebula Arts
- Furniture designer Siyanda Magaba of Magaba Designs
- Fashion designer Takudzwa Dlamini of Taku Dlamini
- Furniture and homeware designer Tanisha Neill
- Graphic designer and illustrator Tannah Renou
- Jewellery designer Thabang Mamabolo of Mamabolo Jewellers
- Designer Tlhalefang Moeletsi of Mebala
- Ceramicist Viola Greyling of Viol Art Greyling
The three-day Design Indaba 2020 Festival takes place from 26 to 28 February at The Artscape Theatre, Cape Town. To find out more, visit designindaba.com and follow @designindaba on Instagram.
