WORDS Amelia Brown IMAGES courtesy of Clout
Nando’s has announced its call for entries for the third Hot Young Designer Talent Search – and this year’s design brief is for restaurant waiting benches.
The first two competitions focused on pendant light fittings and pattern designs, and 2020’s theme takes into consideration COVID-19 and its impact on public places. “This year, as Nando’s looks at how restaurant design will change in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, we’re asking designers to examine the waiting benches [for takeaway orders] that you’ll find at every Nando’s restaurant,” explains Tracy Lynch, Creative Director of the Nando’s Design Programme.
Bench by Sifiso Shange.
“We’re asking what these benches should look like in the age of social distancing, and whether they can be easily adapted once we can safely sit together once again. We’re calling on all aspiring furniture designers to design a show-stopping bench, a reminder of the resilience of the African spirit, and a celebration of Southern Africa’s ever-evolving and eclectic design aesthetic.”
Bench by David Krynauw.
The winning bench design will be prototyped and manufactured for Nando’s restaurants, as well as possible inclusion on the Nando’s Portal to Africa (read more about the platform here and how it’s championing local design), which enables exposure to a global market, and its designer will be offered a year-long mentorship from Nando’s Design Team and partners.
Bench by Neil Grantham.
A previous Hot Young Designer (HYD) winner includes Thabisa Mjo, whose winning pendant, the Tutu 2.0 Light, went on to be named as Design Indaba’s Most Beautiful Object in SA in 2018.
To find out more and submit your designs, visit the Clout entry portal here. You may enter more than one design. Entries close on 11 August 2020. Stay up to date on HYD 2020 and other design news from Nando’s by following Clout on Instagram (@clout_sadesign).
