WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied
Design duo Nikhil Tricam and Nindya Bucktowar, have been named as the Nando’s Hot Young Designer Talent Search 2022 winners.
After an intensive judging process, the winners of the Nando’s Hot Young Designer (HYD) Talent Search were revealed on 26 October at the Basha Uhuru youth festival at Con Hill, Johannesburg. Winners Nikhil Tricam and Nindya Bucktowar are the powerhouse design duo behind Kalki Ceramics, a design studio based in Durban specialising in bespoke handcrafted ceramic tiles.
For their winning entry, they looked to South African flora and desert landscapes for inspiration. Their Cactus Server draws on the duo’s combined experience in ceramics, product design and architecture to create a rich and textural functional art piece.
READ MORE: Nando’s HYD Announces Top 10 Finalists for 2022
“Utilizing Kalki Ceramics tiles in unique glazes reminiscent of fynbos, succulents and flowers endemic to South Africa, the Cactus Server blends contemporary form with organic materials and motifs to create a uniquely South African design,” says Nikhil.
The Cactus Server was chosen from over 120 entries into the fourth iteration of the Nando’s HYD competition, which saw young designers from across the nation answer the call to conceptualise a condiment unit to display the brand’s acclaimed Peri Peri sauces.
Being named as winners of the Nando’s HYD 2022 will open up new business opportunities for Kalki Ceramics including having the design brand’s piece prototyped and included on the Nando’s Portal to Africa, an online ordering and purchasing platform utilised by interior design studios locally and globally to source South African designer items to include in Nando’s restaurants around the world. The winners will also receive ongoing mentorship and development support from the Clout/SA team designed to help fast-track their progress in the industry.
For more information on Nando’s HYD 2022, visit clout-sadesign.co.za/.
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