Design Indaba Emerging Creatives 2021

WORDS Celeste Jacobs

This year marks 16-years of supporting up-and-coming talent for the Design Indaba Emerging Creatives programme. The class of 2021 is made up of 40 rising stars across various disciplines who’ve been especially selected from over 200 submissions.

The 2021 Design Indaba Emerging Creatives programme has taken on a new format. This cycle will consist of an extended virtual exhibition and individual online profiles on their website, documentary and videography.  Added to that, you can look forward to masterclasses by international and local experts, as well as Design Indaba’s Google Arts and Culture presence, which’ll be launched soon.

This digital celebration is in honour of the new announced group of creatives who’ve been especially selected for this year’s class. This programme is a collaboration between the Design Indaba and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture with the aim of growing and supporting young talent in South Africa. Apart from the vast amounts of skillshare and opportunities that artists can look forward to gaining, it has become a platform to launch careers as we’ve seen over the years. Some of the Design Indaba Emerging creatives who’ve gained local and international traction for their work include the likes of MaXhosa by Laduma Ngxokolo, Thebe Magugu, Rich Mnisi, Katherine-Mary Pichulik of Pichulik, Neo Mahlangu and Andile Dyalvane,

“We are extremely committed to this programme, and especially now, what with the economic impact of COVID-19, it is vital that we continue to support our youth and aid their entry into the local and global marketplace so that their stars can truly shine. Young talent, with so much potential, needs all the help it can get – and so we are thankful to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture for providing support for this programme,” says Design Indaba founder Ravi Naidoo.

Here is the Design Indaba Emerging Creatives class of 2021:

Fashion
– Azola Tanzi
– Mashoto Tshoga
– Nikiwe Dlova
– Aria van Rooyen
– Tristan Shaun Henry
– Lunga Mzimba

Visual Art
– Lerato Lodi
– Akhona Mbange
– Alizwamazizi
– Boikanyo Mashigo
– Brad Jackson
– Chelsea Robin
– Danielle Jordaan
– Gerald Genie
– Mboma
– Pule Magopa

Graphic Design
– Caleb Pillay
– Clinton Myeni
– Ntobeko Nxumalo
– Tebogo Mapomane
– Mncedisi Faltein

Jewellery
– Babalo Rozani
– Zulu Mien by Nicola Robertson

Film and Photography
– Boitumelo Thindiza
– Fiona Davhana
– Lithemba Nziweni
– Zenhlanhla Myeni Lovarism
– Kgothatso Malatjie
– Nhlakanipho Mashinini

Illustration
– Hilde Franzsen
– Tebogo Lethuba
– Lethabo Mmalerato Huma
– Buhle Qabaka

Interiors
– Kaya Design Hub
– Ontlametse Molefe

Furniture
– Deft by Zani Alberts and Martin Tallie
– Magrietha Labuschagne
– Elizabeth Louisa van der Merwe

Ceramics
– Clement Maenetja

Stay up to date with the latest from the Design Indaba by visiting their website and following them on Instagram. 

Looking for more? Take a look at who made last year’s list.