Local artist and designer Baba Tjeko and art director, illustrator and designer Lauren Colin Mitchell (aka Curious Lauren) recently teamed up with Stella Artois to create “Wet Paint”, an art installation-cum-social experiment that aims to prove that social distancing needn’t be anti-social.

As part of the experiment, eight locally-made benches by Pedersen+Lennard have been placed in easy-to-spot locations around Gauteng, including Menlyn on Main in Pretoria, Mall of Africa Waterfall Park in Midrand and Sandton Gautrain forecourt.

In the middle of each bench is a brightly painted mural, created by either Baba Tjeko or Curious Lauren, as well as a hand-written “wet paint” sign that hovers above – even long after the paint has dried. Through this mischievous placement of “wet paint” signs, people are encouraged to sit alongside, yet apart from each other – bringing to life the message of social distancing that is often easily forgotten.

See how the experiment came together in this short video:

Love this installation? Check out “Together Apart” – another social distancing-inspired installation by Curious Lauren for Stella Artois.

The post Wet Paint: A Social Experiment in Social Distancing by Baba Tjeko and Curious Lauren appeared first on Visi.

Conceptual designer Katlego Tshuma has been announced as the winner of the 2020 Nando’s Hot Young Designer (HYD) Talent Search.

His winning design – the Sangu Bench – is a reinterpretation of traditional African grass mats. “The Sangu Bench is inspired by the organic forms found in the movement and shape of the traditional grass mats which have been used across various African cultures as carpets, mats, screens and room dividers,” says Katlego. 

In its third iteration, The Nando’s HYD competition had a plethora of entries from across South Africa, with the brief to design a bench that encourages social distancing and is adaptable for life after the pandemic. “Throughout the research and design of the bench, I kept true to the brief by creating areas that allow for two people to sit and still maintain social distancing,” explains Katlego. “I created isolated areas on a bench by incorporating the traditional mat as a divider and back support.”

“We embarked on a very thorough judging process, which included an initial round of local SA design industry specialists and senior Nando’s design-focused team members,” says Tracy Lynch, Creative Director of the Nando’s Design Programme. “Katlego came out tops because he had the highest total points, which means that the majority of the judges recognised the brilliance of this piece. From my perspective, Katlego won because his design was one of the most unique, jaw-droppingly beautiful, brave pieces of design entered.” 

The local panel of judges included Thabisa Mjo of Mash T Design Studio and Mpho Vackier of The Urbanative, who were jointly awarded Designer of the Year at the 2019 100% Design South Africa Awards; VISI Editor Steve Smith; VISI Editor-at-Large Annemarie Meintjies; Creative Director Tracy Lynch of Studio Leelynch and the Nando’s Design Programme; Editor Malibongwe Tyilo of the Nando’s Design Programme; Art Director Jo Skelton of the Nando’s Design Programme; Michael Spinks, Property and Development Director for Nando’s; as well as the international Heads of Design for Nando’s UK, USA, Canada and Australia.

Read more about the other 11 finalists and their 10 designs, here. For more information about Nando’s HYD Design 2020, visit clout-sadesign.co.za.

The post Winner: Nando’s Hot Young Designer Talent Search 2020 appeared first on Visi.

The 2020 Nando’s Hot Young Designer (HYD) finalists have been announced, as part of the brand’s biannual search for up-and-coming talent.

The aim of the competition (in its third iteration) is to celebrate young creatives and provide a platform for them to showcase their designs and help launch their careers.

The brief for this year was to create a unique bench that adheres to the notion of social distancing, while being both aesthetically pleasing and inviting.

A panel of eight judges included Thabisa Mjo of Mash T Design Studio and Mpho Vackier of The Urbanative, who were jointly awarded Designer of the Year at the 2019 100% Design South Africa Awards; VISI Editor Steve Smith; VISI Editor-at-Large Annemarie Meintjies; Creative Director Tracy Lynch of Studio Leelynch and the Nando’s Design Programme; Editor Malibongwe Tyilo of the Nando’s Design Programme; Art Director Jo Skelton of the Nando’s Design Programme; and Michael Spinks, Property and Development Director for Nando’s.

This year’s submissions featured such a high standard of work that there was a tie for one of the places, while another entry came in from two jointly responsible designers, leaving the total number of finalists at 12, instead of the usual 10.

Below, in no particular order, are this year’s finalists:

• Anele Vezi
• Bebe Donnolly
• Christian Botha
• Darren Myburgh
• Jan de Wet & Jeanne Scholtz
• Katlego Tshuma
• Mimi Roberts
• Ngwako Matloha
• Sipho Twala
• Siviwe Jali
• Thando Nxelewa

The overall winner will be announced at Constitution Hill after the finalists attend a mentorship event in November 2020, where leading designers will share their tips, skills and insights.

For more information, visit clout-sadesign.co.za.

The post Nando’s Hot Young Designer Finalists 2020 appeared first on Visi.

Up-and-coming designer Khosi Leteba is behind the design of the Bodulo Bench, created in collaboration with Wiid Design and Nando’s Clout.

The bench is a striking interpretation of Basotho culture, with the influence evident in the patterned illustrations and curvature of the design. When conceptualising the bench, Khosi drew on his heritage and ancestry, keeping culture, architecture and agricultural practices top of mind.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBlBlL4J2P8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Initially part of a trio, the bench forms part of the larger Bodula collection, which Khosi pitched at the inaugural Clout Industry Days Fired Up by Nando’s at 100% Design South Africa 2019. His work caught the attention of the judges, including Tracy Lynch of Nando’s Clout and Studio Lee Lynch, and prototyping for the Bodulo bench began.

Tracy thought that designer Laurie Wiid van Heerden of Wiid Design would be the ideal collaborator for the project, where he brought in his distinctive cork furniture style to complement Khosi’s design.

The final piece is a fusion between tradition and contemporary design and will be available globally through the Nando’s Portal To Africa.

For more information, visit clout-sadesign.co.za.

The post Khosi Leteba’s Bodulo Bench In Collaboration With Wiid Design and Nando’s Clout appeared first on Visi.

Minimalist metal furniture is getting its time in the sun and these trend-defying classics are as comfortable to sit in as they are beautiful to gaze upon.

1. Circo Furniture Series

German designer Sebastian Herkner found inspiration for his Circo furniture series in the traditional travelling circuses of Colombia. The handcrafted designs, which feature powder-coated steel tubular frames and colourful recycled plastic wicker, are produced by Colombian artisans in a small factory for Ames. As a result, all of the items in the collection reflect the spirit and traditional craftsmanship of Colombia.

2. Acapulco Chair

Named after the coastal town of Acapulco in Mexico, the hot destination for the jet set in the ’50s and ’60s, the Acapulco chair has a slightly pear-shaped tubular frame and brightly coloured vinyl cord body. First produced in the 1950s, it is an icon of Mexican design and has given rise to a plenitude of replicas.

3. Fermob Luxembourg Collection

The Luxembourg range of outdoor furniture, originally created in the workshops of the Paris parks department in 1923 for the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris, has become a legend in its own right and is still manufactured for the city’s public gardens. The entire Fermob Luxembourg Collection range has the same distinctive lines and forms, combining the lightness and resistance of aluminium with the comfort of curved seat slats.

4. Buit Outdoor Furniture

Buit (that’s not a typo) is a new line of outdoor furniture in aluminium mesh designed by Mayice Studio for the family-owned Spanish design brand Gandia Blasco. The Madrid-based Mayice Studio, founded by architects Marta Alonso Yebra and Imanol Calderón Elósegui, works with local craftsmen and women to execute their designs.

5. The Palissade Hot Galvinised Bench

The Palissade Hot Galvinised bench, designed by the French brothers Rohan and Erwan Bouroullec for the Danish design company HAY, is made with standard tubes of steel – round for the frame and rectangular for the seat slats. The hot-dip galvanised steel range was developed to supplement their existing Palissade collection of outdoor furniture.

The post 5 Minimalist Metal Furniture Designs appeared first on Visi.

From a cute design that creates sculptures shaped like cats and a mesmerising library in Helsinki to street artists celebrating the life and vision of Dr. Maya Angelou and an installation promoting dialogue, these are the top VISI picks of the week series – Week 291.

1. Oodi Central Library in Helsinki

This striking building, featuring a curved wooden facade made using local materials, is home to the new Helsinki Central Library. Designed by ALA Architects, the library had already welcomed its one millionth visitor in March 2019 – it was completed in December 2018.

Image credit: Tuomas Uusheimo

Image credit: Tuomas Uusheimo

Image credit: Tuomas Uusheimo

Image credit: Iwan Baan

Images courtesy of v2com-newswire.com

2. Neko Cup by h-concept

Yuka Morii of Japanese design brand h-concept has created a cat-shaped bucket that lets you make little sand or snow sculptures that look like napping cats. Made from biomass plastic (a combination of bamboo and scallop shells), they also function as a cute decor object when not in use.

Images via spoon-tamago.com

Maya Angelou Mural Festival

Organised by Branded Arts, street artists from across the globe, including JR, Shepard Fairey, and renowned South African artist Faith XLVII, came together to create a series of wall murals at the Dr. Maya Angelou Community High School in Los Angeles, in tribute to the iconic poet.

Rabi of Cyrcle and JR. Image credit: @wiseknave

Shepard Fairey. Image credit: Jon Furlong for @obeygiant

Faith XLVII. Image credit: @staticmedium

HUGE. Image credit: @wiseknave

Shawn Michael Warren. Image credit: @staticmedium

Images via news.artnet.com

The Best Weapon Bench

Designed by architecture and design firm Snøhetta, in collaboration with Hydro and Vestre, The Best Weapon is a “peace bench” that was unveiled on Mandela Day on 18 July at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. The installation, which will be on the plaza until September, is according to Snøhetta, a symbol of dialogue and diplomacy. Nelson Mandela’s quote, “The best weapon is to sit down and talk” is engraved on the surface of the bench.

Images via snohetta.com

New Matte Black Ceramics Collection From Carrol Boyes

Carrol Boys has released a matte black bone china collection, based on the original Sketchbook range. The collection includes mugs, bowls, platters and plates and is available in store and online.

Images via carrolboyes.com

Find more like VISI picks of the week series – week 291 here.

The post VISI Picks Of The Week Series – Week 291 appeared first on Visi.

1. ASHANTI OCCASIONAL CHAIR: Natural rope puts an organic spin on this Hans Wegner-inspired design.

2. BALL STOOL: Made from Indonesian Munggur wood, each stool is a ball cut in half and then put back together and finished by hand.

3. BEAUTIFUL IMPERFECTION LINEN ARTWORK: Hand-dyed by legendary fabric designer and artist Isobel Sippel, each piece in this range is unique.

4. BIBA ROUNDED MIRROR: Designed by Kenneth Cobonpue, the design is based on the colours of spiders and insects.

5. BOLD SOFA: West Coast chic or East Coast classic? You decide. As long as you relax while doing it.

6. BURNT TEAK ROOT COFFEE TABLE: This table represents what Weylandts stands for: organic rawness in a bold, contemporary design.

7. COCO BEAD CHANDELIER: Natural coconut shell beads are transformed into a statement piece of layered light.

8. VINTAGE BENI OUARAIN RUG: Our traditional 100% wool rugs from the Berber tribes of Morocco is the epitome of understated sophistication. And because it’s hand-knitted, each one is unique.

9. EDGAR CHAIR #1: Inspired by Borge Morgensen’s Spanish Chair, Chris Weylandt’s father Edgar created this chair for himself. In his memory, we replicated it and started selling it to the public.

10. HAND-CARVED SIDEBOARD: Inspired by ethnic patterns, this contemporary classic is chiselled to perfection from dark-stained oak.

11. HIMBA SIDEBOARD: Inspired by traditional Kuba cloth, the design was developed by hand before being meticulously printed on stained oak.

12. KAI ARC FLOOR LAMP: Handmade natural material details and innovative lightweight construction come together in this piece inspired by the traditional Chinese lantern.

13. MARCONI SOFA: The quintessential Weylandts leather sofa. Bold shape. Reverse stitching and raw edges. Made to last.

14. SHANGHAI CHAIR: Based on the iconic designs of Hans Wegner, this is mid-century Danish modernism with a distinct Weylandts touch.

15. SOLO DAYBED: This affordable classic has recently been given an even sleeker update. Available in an urban flint colour or full-grain leather.

16. SPATI 4-POSTER BED: Simple, clean lines and sturdy construction have made this one a contemporary bedroom classic.

17. SPINDLE BENCH: Our iconic version of the traditional leather riempie bench.

18. TABA DINING TABLE: Powder-coated cement and steel combine to form the ideal dining table for small urban spaces.

19. WING CHAIR: Rattan woven around a sturdy steel frame, this statement piece ignores the boundary between inside and outside furniture.

20. EASY LIVING MODULAR SOFA: Created in five separately sold components with one goal in mind: extreme comfort.

The post 20 Years of Weylandts appeared first on Visi.

Cornel and Marlize De Jongh have launched a range of furnishings under the brand Huijs, as well as a bespoke design and space planning service.

There has been a great deal of excitement in the De Jongh household since their beautiful home was featured in the Jun/Jul 2016 issue of VISI. Most notable was the birth of Cornel and Marlize’s first child, a beautiful boy named Uys. But there is another birth that deserves celebration: the launch of the couple’s very own decor brand, Huijs.

The range is a reflection of Cornel’s passion for designing and making things, a talent that – despite his full-time job as a biomedical engineer – he has always pursued in his spare time. The couple’s home, a study in restful, contemplative design, is peppered with pieces that were conceived and created by Cornel, making the launch of an own brand a logical next step.

The initial Huijs range consists of benches, firewood holders, wine racks, boot stands and bar stools in poplar or French oak and mild steel, with leather accents.

The pieces reflect the couple’s preference for simple geometry and natural materials. All the designs and the actual making are left up to Cornel, and Marlize, a trained speech therapist, weighs in on concepts and designs.

“Our dream is to offer a complete range of homeware – furniture, decor, linen – and that everyone who sees it would want to know where they can get it,” says Cornel.

For more information, visit huijs.co.za.

The post Local Furniture Range: Huijs appeared first on Visi.

The benches that Laurie Wiid van Heerden of Wiid Design makes in collaboration with other creatives are some of his most sought-after creations.

For this bench, Laurie collaborated with Gerick Terblanche, an artist with a love of nature and natural history. Called Fauna and Flora, the bench is a celebration of South African plant and animal life. We caught up with the two of them.

How did the collaboration come about?

Laurie: Years ago, when I first moved to Woodstock, Gerick and I shared a small studio space. I have always admired his talent and patience, so I asked him if we could work on a new piece together.

What influenced your artistic choices?

Gerick: Travel is as much of an obsession of mine as being in nature, where most of my inspiration comes from. And South Africa is probably one of the most incredible places to travel through when it comes to the diversity of plant life and animals. If I am not in my studio, you will find me in the middle of nowhere, taking photographs to use as references.

What were some of the challenges?

Gerick: Painting on steel! I had to adapt to a whole new technique because of the ridiculously quick drying time and the way acrylic paint reacts on steel.

How long did it take?

Laurie: It took seven to eight months for Gerick to paint the bench, and I would say four to five weeks for the steel fabrication, making this bench truly a one-off collector’s item.

See more Wiid Design pieces here.

The post Cool Collab: Wiid Design X Gerick Terblanche appeared first on Visi.

Benoni-based furniture design and manufacturing company Neil Grantham Studio (NGS) presents Skinny Pipes, an intriguing bench featured in Southern Guild’s A New Wave exhibition.

Skinny Pipes forms part of the latest range from NGS and its form has an almost irregular presence that is made up of a seemingly random arrangement of steel pipes. The appealingly unsystematic approach to the visual aesthetic of the bench aims to intrigue people and challenge them to question the learned and structured perception of how things should be versus how they can be – not only with benches, but with everything else in life, too.

“Ultimately my aim is to begin the process of this interaction long before you physically feel the product,” says Neil. “I want you to notice it from across the room and be moved immediately. I want the product to pull you towards it and engage with you on a sincerely connected level.”

Skinny Pipes‘ bespoke mild steel composition with an oxidised patina finish makes for a distinct aesthetic and lures engagement with its reddish hues of brown and subtle greens. The roundest part of the pipes merge elegantly with the Rhodesian Teak plugs & mono-coat seal. Although it is intended for indoor use only it can be customised for outdoor use too.

View more of NGS’s designs at neilgstudio.com.

The post Skinny Pipes by Neil Grantham Studio appeared first on Visi.