WORDS Jo Buitendach PHOTOS Suppled

Eastern Cape duo Zani Alberts and Martin Tallie are the design obsessives behind DEFT Studios, a small designer-maker studio they founded in 2020. Focused on handmade contemporary furniture, they champion thoughtful processes that ensure each piece provides long-term functional and emotional value. We caught up with them to learn more about their craft.

After completing our master’s degree in architecture, our first professional year coincided with the pandemic. We realised employment opportunities would be scarce and decided to forge our own path. Furniture design felt like a natural fit, sharing many principles with architecture. We headed to the nearest hardware store, bought a drill, and the rest is history.

Our creative chemistry stems from a shared goal and drive. We have a magical unspoken understanding, and share the same vision and values. This collaboration makes the design process seamless, with all ideas nurtured through mutual input.

We are both hands-on in the workshop every day. Martin tends to approach things pragmatically and thrives in a clean, structured environment, so he leads production. Zani, on the other hand, thrives in a bit of chaos, always seeking new opportunities and risks. She focuses on the creative projects and marketing.

DEFT sets out to “delight + excite”. We approach design playfully, craft ing each piece with intent to deliver an experience worth having and keeping.

We don’t actively seek inspiration, or force it. For us, inspiration is a by-product of doing the work and committing to our craft . Sometimes it comes from nostalgia, or from discovering new materials and techniques. We are constantly drawn to details, shapes, textures, patterns, angles, colours – endless possibilities that the eyes can see, and the hands can touch.

We always document our ideas and observations. Every so often, the urge to create something new strikes – and when it does, we revisit these ideas. This process often uncovers hidden gems amid the chaos. As designer-makers, we have a sense of which ideas are truly worth pursuing.

Over the past five years, design has been at the heart of all our decision-making. Looking ahead, we plan to focus more on operations, management and productivity within the workshop. But we would also love to embrace a more multidisciplinary creative approach, including getting involved in gallery projects and functional art – and perhaps even a return to our architectural roots.

We’re excited about the release of new pieces, and the exhibition of the first edition of the Melkman Project (which took place at ICTAF’26). A milk stool is a humble piece of practical furniture, characterised by its three legs. The Melkman was our own take on it. The Melkman Project began as a creative challenge and has grown into a playful, exploratory series – a way to experiment exploratory freely with various ideas, materials and techniques. It draws inspiration from nostalgia, life experiences, pop culture, art, food, heritage and design. Each piece tells its own story and carries a unique personality. What we love about this collection is that there’s bound to be at least one stool that resonates with you. It’s a collection for everyone. | deftstudios.co.za

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The post Inside the Playful World of DEFT Studios appeared first on Visi.

WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied

DEFT’s Melkman Project – an ongoing series – began as a way for Martin and Zani to experiment with new methods of making and designing, free from the constraints of a set brief. “We give ourselves free rein when creating – but we do it tastefully,” says the design duo.

The studio’s favourite stool, the Melkman, proved the perfect vehicle for creative exploration. The duo have translated the stool into a playful series of childhood memories and life experiences, drawing inspiration from themes such as heritage, food, pop culture, art and design.

As a result, the meticulously handcrafted stools created for the Melkman Project form a collection of fun-loving, relatable pieces. Each tells its own story and has a unique personality. The elements of the stool are altered to accommodate each narrative, yet remain constrained enough to maintain the design’s overall identity, ensuring it is always recognisable as a DEFT Melkman.

“What we love about this collection is that there’s bound to be at least one stool that resonates with you, among the options available. It’s a collection for everyone,” say the designers.

The complete collection from the Melkman Project will debut in February 2026. | deftstudios.co.za

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The post The Melkman Project by DEFT Studios appeared first on Visi.

Local conscious furniture and design brand deft. studios – founded by design duo Martin Tallie and Zani Alberts, blossomed as a response to living curiously and creatively. We chat to the dream team about their work and their collaboration with us, available through the VISI shop.

How did deft. materialise?

Deft emerged in the midst of Covid as a creative outlet & means of design exploration. We both have a  background in architecture and found the extension of design into furniture making to happen naturally. Our mutual passion for all things design & the hands-on craft of making paved the way for deft. 

What is your design aesthetic?

We’re constantly exploring new avenues of design & remain open to new concepts. We don’t tie ourselves down to a singular aesthetic, but rather a set of values & principles which we embrace throughout the processes of our work. These include simplicity, purity, longevity and a meticulous craftsmanship. If our work can spark joy in people’s everyday surroundings and not harm the environment in the process, we’re happy.

What was your process for collaborating with us?

We’ve always been avid admirers of VISI and the work they promote in their publications. The VISI collabs is an exciting platform to advocate the designs of new local designers. Our inclusion in Design Indaba’s Emerging Creatives 2021 program gave us the boost we needed to reach out to the team and propose an exclusive range of products.

When you created the hooks, what was your intention for the pieces?

To create an alternative to the ‘typical’ wall hook, leaving room to see how people would utilize it in interesting ways. It’s a simple, practical and fun addition.

VISI Collab: Organic Pebble Hooks

These organic shaped hooks are 8 – 10cm.

R230 each | VISI Shop

Buy

Is everything manufactured locally?

Yes. Everything is designed & crafted locally. We only work with local suppliers in our area which we’ve built strong relationships with. If we expect people to support our local business, our business must also support local.

Where do you see deft. going in the future?

Deft Studios was always imagined as a multidisciplinary design studio. We aim to extend our design services into the field of architecture, focusing on residential dwellings. We are constantly learning & evolving as we go. Currently, we hope to grow our team to a humble size and to remain personally engaged with customers. We will always be rooted in the slow craftsmanship of making quality, bespoke furniture pieces. 

Tell us about why South African design is so important?

Only South Africans can capture our diverse culture-led perspectives & storytelling through design – it’s unique. SA Design has gained recognition on a global landscape which proves the potential that we have as creators. Not only are we investing in our local communities but design has the potential to fuel economic growth in SA. I think we can all agree that local is honestly much more lekker. 

Looking for more design inspiration? Sign up to our weekly newsletter, here, or take a look at our Q&A with the design duo behind Kino.

The post Q&A With The Design Duo Behind deft. appeared first on Visi.

Local furniture brand Deft Studios has created limited-edition Key Holders and a range of Organic Pebble Hooks in three bright colourways, exclusively for VISI.

Martin and Zani, the design duo behind Deft Studios, draw inspiration from principles obtained through their architectural studies and apply them to their line of furniture and product designs. Their new limited edition collab with VISI on their Key Holders and Organic Pebble Hooks embrace simple geometries and clutter-free design.

The Key Holders are neat and functional wood and powder coated steel small ‘shelves’ which have been designed to help you find your keys and store away items lying around the house.

VISI Collab: Deft Studios Key Holder

These small key holders are 300x 80mm with a 50mm shelf.

*This collab is no longer available.

The Organic Pebble Hooks, made from powder coated steel, are versatile and suitable for any space in your home. They are available in three different shapes which means you can mix and match styles and colours or buy a set.

VISI Collab: Organic Pebble Hooks

These organic shaped hooks are 8 – 10cm.

*This collab is no longer available.

Both products are available exclusively via the VISI Shop in three bright, fun colourways:

• Red
• Orange
• Dark Green

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The post VISI Collab: Deft Studios Key Holders and Hooks appeared first on Visi.