design indaba 2020 Archives | Visi https://visi.co.za/tag/design-indaba-2020/ SA's most beautiful magazine Fri, 27 Mar 2020 06:07:44 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://visi.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/cropped-ICO-32x32-Black-1-1-32x32.png design indaba 2020 Archives | Visi https://visi.co.za/tag/design-indaba-2020/ 32 32 Design Indaba Emerging Creative: Christopher MacClements https://visi.co.za/design-indaba-emerging-creative-christopher-macclements/ Thu, 26 Mar 2020 06:00:59 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=585839 Christopher MacClements, a Design Indaba 2020 Emerging Creative, is an architect by day and an artist by night, from illustrations and graffiti to printmaking.

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INTERVIEWED BY Cheri Morris


Christopher MacClements, a Design Indaba 2020 Emerging Creative, is an architect by day and an artist by night, from illustrations and graffiti to printmaking.

We caught up with him to find out more about his architectural drawings, what inspires him and what it was like being an Emerging Creative at this year’s Design Indaba.

Where did your relationship with art, and architecture specifically, begin?

I grew up with a grandfather who is still practicing as an architect today. I would spend countless hours and late nights working alongside him during both my childhood and architectural studies. His creative influence not only inspired me artistically and architecturally, as all of his works were done by hand, but also instilled in me an ethos of discipline, drive and professionalism when it comes to the arts and architecture. This relationship with architecture was birthed by his creative input and teaching.

From an artistic standpoint, I never formally studied art at school but drew (excuse the pun) learning and creative influence from graffiti (the biggest driver), illustration, film, animation, motion and graphic design, industrial design, and the like.

Your body of work is quite varied, from graffiti to illustration. Do you have a preferred medium?

My sphere of creative influence is multifaceted and convoluted, so it really is difficult to say which medium I prefer. I would say from my current works it’s evident that spray cans, markers and ink (pens) are mostly used. I’m hoping in the future to break away from that and start experimenting with other media to diversify my artistic range and palette. It’s important to me as an artist to always strive to build my artistic repertoire – it’s just more exciting that way.

The spray can allows me to work on larger pieces at a much quicker rate, while the pen allows me to focus on smaller, more intricate works. Both are equally responsive to my creative mood.

Do you have a favourite piece of architecture?

I can’t pinpoint an exact piece of architecture that I favour, but I do have a group of architects who inspire me, namely Zaha Hadid, Thom Mayne, Renzo Piano and Tom Kundig. These particular architects inspire me because their works are not only architectural but sculptural and ingrained in experimentation too.

What inspires your architectural vision?

I believe collaborative and multidisciplinary individuals inspire me the most. Aside from architects, I am inspired by those who are pushing a strong creative and collaborative agenda in their respective fields and by works that are conceptually strong and motivated by execution; I love seeing art manifest itself through precision, detail, layering, experimentation and execution. I am also inspired most creatively in well-lit and airy environments when it comes to studio works. From a graffiti standpoint, I draw inspiration from everywhere and anywhere.

Describe the space in which you are most creative.

I am most engaged and in creative flow while alone with my headphones on – no distractions – just me and the work. I am also the happiest there. It’s a direct route between my mind and the works, almost a translation from unconscious to conscious.

If you could collaborate with any architect, who would it be and what would you create?

It would be Thom Mayne or Zaha Hadid. I would want to create some sort of architectural/contemporary-art installation that would push both architectural and artistic boundaries, blurring the lines between art, engineering and architecture. Something similar to what Studio Drift do.

What was it like being featured as an Emerging Creative at Design Indaba this year?

It was an incredibly humbling experience. The Emerging Creatives class were not only a force to be reckoned with from a design standpoint, but were all individually wonderful people who shared the same sentiments as I do regarding collaboration and hard work. The immense level of talent and passion on display was palpable. Added, the lectures and guest speakers were also something that really inspired me. I walked away from the Design Indaba with my heart full and creative hopes high; an emotionally-charged and rewarding week indeed.

Where can people purchase your prints?

People can purchase originals and limited-edition prints, or commission me, via my website: macclements.com.

What’s next for you?

I am currently in the process of building two bodies of works for exhibition. The first is a 26-piece alphabet and abstract geometric series that will build on traditional letters fused with abstracted geometries. The second is Late Night Sketch Tales iii which is a follow up to Late Night Sketch Tales i & ii – two solo, architectural, hand-styled exhibitions I hosted at Ground Art Caffe in De Waterkant, Cape Town.

Further than that, I am focusing on my graffiti and mural commission work and building a larger body of works, while experimenting with a few alternative mediums. I am also branching out into print-making and want to experiment with that.

For more information, visit macclements.com.

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Paul Cocksedge Studio’s First Project in SA https://visi.co.za/paul-cocksedge-studios-first-project-in-sa/ Tue, 10 Mar 2020 06:00:08 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=585284 During Design Indaba 2020, British designer Paul Cocksedge announced a new community-focused project he’s working on in Cape Town in collaboration with Design Indaba, local timber construction company XLAM, and engineering consultancy WSP.

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WORDS Amelia Brown RENDERS Paul Cocksedge Studio


During Design Indaba 2020, British designer Paul Cocksedge announced a new community-focused project he’s working on in Cape Town in collaboration with Design Indaba, local timber construction company XLAM, and engineering consultancy WSP.

Titled the “Exploding Bridge”, it’s the studio’s first bridge design and will span the Upper Liesbeek River in Cape Town. It will be constructed using cross-laminated timber, a more sustainable alternative to building materials such as a steel and concrete and an opportunity for the studio to continue to explore the use of wood, following on from Please Be Seated, a landmark commission for London Design Festival and British Land in 2019. The timber will be harvested from the invasive eucalyptus trees, further offsetting the negative impact.

At present, people have to cross the river on stones, which limits access for members of the community who are less mobile and means the connection between the banks is broken when the river floods. “The Upper Liesbeek River Garden is a beautiful place for the community to come and enjoy nature,” explains Paul. ” The idea for the bridge happened when we started talking about cutting down the invasive eucalyptus trees and then taking that wood and building the bridge. It’s an important symbol and a way to talk about energy, consumption and how we create structures that are in harmony with nature.”

The bridge is still in the development stage and the studio is working with engineers Leon Ras and Sebastian Dockter from WSP and building company XLAM, which specialises in creating CLT panels, a technology that was new to Paul. “Head deep in the project, I realised its potential for construction. CLT is much more eco-friendly, and we hope this bridge is a way of starting a discussion around how we can use timber in an innovative way, while still maintaining the environment.” It will be the first 100% CLT structure in the area.

As for the design, the goal was for the bridge to embody motion. “We wanted to create something that didn’t feel static. We were thinking about stacks of wood and what these would look like if they expanded outwards to create a blur of timber,” says Paul. “The final bridge is not just a crossing: The lines of timber come together to create seats, so there are lots of pause moments for people to enjoy the beautiful views.”

View more projects by the studio at paulcocksedgestudio.com and follow Paul on Instagram (@paulcocksedge).

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Local Furniture Design: murrmurr https://visi.co.za/local-furniture-design-murrmurr/ Thu, 05 Mar 2020 06:00:06 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=585204 Designer and 2020 Design Indaba Emerging Creative Mia Senekal’s brand, murrmurr, draws on scenes and textures in nature to inspire her new, locally crafted furniture collection.

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WORDS Michaela Stehr


Designer and 2020 Design Indaba Emerging Creative Mia Senekal’s brand, murrmurr, draws on scenes and textures in nature to inspire her new, locally crafted furniture collection.

How did your furniture journey start?

I’ve long wondered what form of design would truly captivate me – what I would absolutely love to work on for the rest of my life. In October 2018, I had a kind of epiphany: I decided to stop working full time and start my own furniture business. I’ve always been drawn to the details of design and furniture suited that perfectly.

How did you come to choose the moon as inspiration?

I’m in awe of nature and find most of my inspiration there. At the moment, I’m fascinated by curves. Our apartment has a balcony, and sitting outside one night I looked up at the moon in its crescent form and just knew that I needed to play with that shape. I started looking at the other phases of the moon and it all came together. It just flowed.

What are your favourite pieces?

The New Moon Couch is definitely my favourite. It was the first piece I designed that made me feel like I can actually do this. It’s beautiful and comfortable, it suits any space, and it feels almost endless with the rolling flutes. I also love the Quarter Coffee Table. I love marble – the natural beauty of it and how the unique character of the material makes each piece original.

Quarter Coffee Table

Where do you see your next collection going?

I will be building on the Moon Collection – I still have many designs inspired by the moon – and I will be focusing on marble for a while. I’ll also be bringing lights into the range.

For more information, visit murrmurr.co.za.

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Highlights From Design Indaba 2020 https://visi.co.za/highlights-from-design-indaba-2020/ Tue, 03 Mar 2020 06:00:07 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=585108 This year, Design Indaba celebrated its 25th anniversary, bringing with it a selection of inspiring speakers from across the globe. Below are just some of 2020’s many highlights.

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COMPILED BY Lindi Brownell Meiring IMAGES courtesy of Design Indaba


This year, Design Indaba celebrated its 25th anniversary, bringing with it a selection of inspiring speakers from across the globe. Below are just some of 2020’s many highlights.

Sho Madjozi

The multitalented Sho Madjozi celebrated her heritage during her opening talk, taking Design Indaba attendees on a historical journey of the xibelani, a traditional Tsonga skirt. “If history teaches us anything, it’s that culture evolves,” she says. “We shouldn’t try and museum-ify our culture, we should interact with it.”

 

Vukheta Mukhari

Civil engineer Vukheta Mukhari, has together with his team at the University of Cape Town, grown the first biobrick from human urine, something that could change the construction industry and make it more sustainable in future. Read more about this project at news.uct.ac.za.

Patrick Thomas

Graphic artist Patrick Thomas shared his work, including the Protest Stencil Toolkit, a book that contained 42 stencils and a range of protest graphics for activists to use when creating posters.

He also talked about Open Collab 2.0, a web-based tool created to enable real time collaboration between creatives. You can experiment with it here: open-collab.org.

Hanif Kara

Design and structural engineer Hanif Kara has played a role in the realisation of some of the world’s most fascinating buildings, including the Heydar Aliyev Center by Zaha Hadid Architects and The Vessel by Heatherwick Studio. Discover more here: akt-uk.com.

Heydar Aliyev Centre by Zaha Hadid Architects

The Vessel by Heatherwick Studio

Serpentine Pavilion 2016 by BIG

Bas Timmer

Philanthropic fashion designer Bas Timmer is behind the design of the Sheltersuit and the Shelterbag, two durable designs made from upcycled materials that protect the homeless from the cold. The Sheltersuit is made from windproof and waterproof materials and functions as both a jacket and a sleeping bag, while the Shelterbag is made for warmer, rainy weather conditions. A plan for the Shelterbag to be rolled out in South Africa is currently underway. Find out more at sheltersuit.org.

Video via sheltersuit.org

Sunny Dolat

“Beauty confronts us, we never really confront it,” says creative director and cultural producer Sunny Dolat. He shared his performance project Their Finest Robes, The Children Shall Return, created in collaboration with The Nest Collective, which showcased 56 looks from every country on the African continent, including São Tomé and Príncipe and the African diaspora. Follow Sunny on Instagram to view more of his work.

Video via N’GOLÁ on Vimeo

Yosuke Ushigome of Takram

Yosuke Ushigome, director and creative technologist at design studio Takram, took us through a range of projects, including OTO, an integrated health platform that displays body metrics in a visual way. According to Takram, “What is unique about OTO is not the individual components (namely, a body analyser, health tracker, weather forecast, and training plan) but how they connect to each other to create an experience that supplements your lifestyle, rather than dominating it.” We interviewed Takram’s co-founder and partner Kinya Tagawa, here. Find out more about Takram’s work at takram.com.

Olimpia Zagnoli

“Drawing for me is a way to think,” says Olimpia Zagnoli, who shared her colourful illustrations, created for the likes of The New Yorker, Prada and Uniqlo, to name a few. Read our Q&A with her here and see more of her work at olimpiazagnoli.com.

Selassie Atadika

Experiential chef Selassie Atadika aims to unite people through food and believes that “food has power”. She hosts nomadic dining experiences across Ghana. Every meal ends with her hand-crafted artisanal chocolates, made with local ingredients.

Robert Wong

One of the projects shared by Robert Wong, co-founder of Google Creative Lab, showcased a project that made use of more than 107 000 solar mirrors to create a portrait of Apollo 11 computer programmer Margaret Hamilton. See the project come together here:

Video via Google on YouTube

Lonneke Gordijn of Studio Drift

Studio Drift, a multidisciplinary design studio based in The Netherlands, shared a range of the practice’s work, including Flylight, a lighting installation designed to mimic the behaviour of a flock of starlings. See more here and discover further work at studiodrift.com.

Sunu Gonera

Award-wining Zimbabwean filmmaker Sunu Gonera shared a teaser for his first African feature-length film, 15 years in the making. Take a peek:

Riding with Sugar Teaser Trailer

15 years in the making. Dreams come true. Riding in the sweet spot. Afrofuturism. It takes a tribe. Telling our stories in our own voice. Our stories matter. We matter. Who are you?

Posted by Riding with Sugar on Thursday, 27 February 2020

 

 

Lyndon Neri & Rossana Hu of Neri&Hu

Lyndon Neri & Rossana Hu of architectural design practice Neri&Hu showcased a few of their stand-out projects, including the Tsingpu Yangzhou Retreat, the Aranya Art Center in Qinhuangdao and the New Shanghai Theatre. See more of the studio’s work at neriandhu.com.

Aranya Art Center, Qinhuangdao. Image credit: Pedro Pegenaute

New Shanghai Theatre, Shanghai. Image credit: Pedro Pegenaute

Suzhou Chapel, Suzhou. Image credit: Pedro Pegenaute

Jakob Trollbäck

Designer Jakob Trollbäck shared the communication language he was tasked to design for the United Nations’ 17 Global Goals and subsequent 169 targets to create a better world by 2030. Below the result, what Jakob likes to call The Periodic Table of Change. See more projects at trollback.com.

Mazbahul Islam

Social entrepreneur Mazbahul Islam co-founded Safewheel, a tricycle ambulance project that provides rural communities in Bangladesh with medical support. Find out more at safewheel.xyz.

Ibrahim Mahama

Artist and author Ibrahim Mahama took us through his monumental installations, which often make use of jute sacks collected from market spaces throughout Ghana. For Ibrahim, the history of architecture and materials are a big focus, as well as its relation to labour conditions in modern society. Check out our Q&A with him here.

Check Point Sekondi Loco. 1901-2030.

Paul Cocksedge

Designer Paul Cocksedge not only showcased previous work created by his studio, including a sculptural wooden bench installation in London that made use of upcycled scaffolding planks, but also unveiled a new project he’s working on in Cape Town, namely a bridge in the Upper Liesbeek River Garden. See more projects at paulcocksedgestudio.com.

Please Be Seated

Upper Liesbeek River Garden bridge

Jeanne Gang

Award-winning architect Jeanne Gang of architectural practice Studio Gang, focuses on sustainability and making cities more habitable and community-focused. See 5 stand-out projects here.

Image credit: Steve Hall / Hall Merrick

For more information about Design Indaba, visit designindaba.com.

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Winner: Most Beautiful Object in South Africa 2020 https://visi.co.za/winner-most-beautiful-object-in-south-africa-2020/ Mon, 02 Mar 2020 06:00:23 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=585074 The winner of 2020’s Most Beautiful Object in South Africa was announced on the final day of the Design Indaba Conference in Cape Town on 28 February.

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WORDS Lindi Brownell Meiring IMAGE courtesy of Design Indaba


The winner of 2020’s Most Beautiful Object in South Africa was announced on the final day of the Design Indaba Conference in Cape Town on 28 February.

This year’s accolade went to Izandla Zethu African Jewellery’s “Delicate Bracelet”. Nominated by artist and activist Blessing Ngobeni (featured here), the bracelet is hand-made from recycled corrugated iron.

“I like the fact that it’s made from corrugated iron sheet, a piece of material South Africans are very familiar with,” says Blessing. “The material got me thinking about the meaning of beauty, and how art should be honest and truthful. I like the fact that this piece has been handmade from recycled material. ‘Izandla Zethu’ means ‘our hands’ in isiXhosa, and the object inspires young people to open their eyes to existing opportunities in their immediate environment, and use their skills to help combat youth unemployment.”

Izandla Zethu, a non-profit community project based in Walmer in Port Elizabeth, prides itself on designing sustainable African jewellery and creating employment and skills development programmes for young people.

Follow @izandlazethu on Instagram to keep up to date with the brand’s work.

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Design Indaba 2020: 5 Lighting Designs by Studio Drift https://visi.co.za/design-indaba-2020-5-lighting-designs-by-studio-drift/ Fri, 28 Feb 2020 06:00:12 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=584788 Five stand-out projects that epitomise Studio Drift's mesmerising work, nature-inspired, technological installations and sculptures that aim to transform the spaces which they inhabit.

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COMPILED BY Lindi Brownell Meiring IMAGES courtesy of Design Indaba / via studiodrift.com


Studio Drift, a multidisciplinary Dutch design studio founded by artists Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta, creates nature-inspired, technological installations and sculptures that aim to transform the spaces which they inhabit.

Studio Drift will be speaking at Design Indaba 2020, running from 26 – 28 February in Cape Town. We selected 5 stand-out projects that epitomise the studio’s mesmerising work.

1. Flylight

Designed to mimic the behaviour of a flock of starlings, this installation lights up randomly, reacting to external stimuli without being pre-programmed. Made from glass tubes, the installation is inspired by the way in which birds move together when in a flock.

See how this magnificent project came together and the final result in this video:

2. Shylight

Inspired by “nyctinasty”, the process whereby certain flowers close at night, this kinetic installation folds and unfolds itself, creating an almost choreographed sense of movement. It took Studio Drift five years to perfect Shylight, each element of which is made using multiple layers of silk.

Watch the dance of the Shylights in the below video:

3. In 20 Steps

This kinetic installation, made up of 20 glass wings, is inspired by humans’ persistent desire to be able to fly. Explained on Studio Drift’s website, “In 20 Steps captures flight in a single moment. The glass emphasises the fragility of the movement, and of nature itself. The moving glass breaks the natural light in the space and reflects it in moving rays. Altogether, the glass wings give a skeletal vision, [reminiscent of] an almost pre-historic depiction of a flying creature.”

See the installation in action in the video below:

4. Fragile Future III

In a move against throwaway culture, Fragile Future makes use of dandelion seeds that are individually hand-glued to LED lights to create a sculptural installation. For this project, StudioDrift questions: “Are the rapid technological developments of our age really more advanced than the evolution of nature, of which the dandelion is such a transient and symbolic example? And how could those two evolve together?”

Image credit: Ronald Smits

See the development of Fragile Future III in the below video:

5. Ego

This large-scale woven installation is made up of more than 16km of super-thin fluorocarbon that can be controlled through the use of motors. Due to the enormity of the piece, Studio Drift had to make its own weaving loom in order to create it.

Image credit: Marco Borggreve

Here’s a sneak peek of this brand-new work of art:

See more of Studio Drift’s work at studiodrift.com. The Design Indaba Festival, where Studio Drift is speaking, runs from 26–28 February 2020. For more information, visit designindaba.com.

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Design Indaba 2020: Q&A With Ibrahim Mahama https://visi.co.za/design-indaba-2020-qa-with-ibrahim-mahama/ Thu, 27 Feb 2020 06:00:28 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=584782 Design Indaba celebrates its 25th year as a festival of creativity, and Ghanaian artist and author Ibrahim Mahama is one of the speakers set to take the stage.

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WORDS Lindi Brownell Meiring IMAGE courtesy of Ibrahim Mahama


Design Indaba celebrates its 25th year as a festival of creativity, and Ghanaian artist and author Ibrahim Mahama is one of the speakers set to take the stage.

Image credit: George Darrell (White Cube)

Based between Accra, Kumasi and Tamale in Ghana, Ibrahim Mahama is an artist whose work focuses on the history of architecture and materials, and how this relates to labour conditions in modern society.

Below is a snippet from VISI’s interview with Ibrahim. Read the full interview on page 176 in the latest issue (VISI 106).

Your work was featured at Norval Foundation in Cape Town in 2019 in the form of a monumental nine-metre-high installation of jute sacks, a material you often use. What influences your choice of materials?

These materials have been collected over the years from various market spaces in Ghana. They’ve covered buildings across the world and been touched by many hands through the commodities they have transported. I’ve always been interested in the aesthetics of objects and the meaning that comes with them. It was important for me to bring this to the Norval Foundation to establish a dialogue with the South African community and also open the work up.

How does architectural history inform your work and how does this relate to your practice of enveloping buildings in jute sacks?

The basis of my work starts with architecture. I allow the physicality of spaces to inspire the form each piece takes, regardless of the objects involved in the production of the artwork. Meaning is as important as the visual aspect.

Any exciting upcoming projects you’re looking forward to?

There are a couple of projects coming up in 2020, but I’m mostly looking forward to opening up my studio to the public, as well as my next exhibition at the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art (SCCA) in Tamale, Ghana, curated by Kwasi Ohene-Ayeh.

Follow @ibrahimmahama on Instagram to keep up to date with his latest news. The Design Indaba Festival, where Ibrahim is speaking, runs from 26–28 February 2020. For more information, visit designindaba.com.

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Design Indaba 2020: 5 Stand-out Projects by Studio Gang https://visi.co.za/design-indaba-2020-5-stand-out-projects-by-studio-gang/ Wed, 26 Feb 2020 06:00:58 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=584891 Studio Gang, led by award-winning architect Jeanne Gang, is an architectural practice focused on sustainability and making cities more habitable and community-focused.

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COMPILED BY Lindi Brownell Meiring IMAGES via Studio Gang


Studio Gang, led by award-winning architect Jeanne Gang, is an architectural practice focused on sustainability and making cities more habitable and community-focused.

Jeanne, who will be speaking at Design Indaba 2020, running from 26 – 28 February in Cape Town, was named one of TIME’s 100 most influential people of 2019. She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and an International Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Below are 5 of the studio’s stand-out projects, both completed and under construction:

Project: Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation at the American Museum of Natural History

Location: New York City, New York, USA

Sector: Cultural, education

Status: Set to be completed in 2022

Project: Writers Theatre

Location: Illinois, USA

Sector: Cultural

Status: Completed in 2016

Image credit: Steve Hall / Hedrich Blessing

Image credit: Steve Hall / Hall Merrick

Project: Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership

Location: Michigan, USA

Sector: Cultural, Educational, Office

Status: Completed in 2014

Image credit: Steve Hall / Hall Merrick

Image credit: Steve Hall / Hedrich Blessing

Project: Aqua Tower

Location: Chicago, USA

Sector: Residential, Office

Status: Completed in 2010

Image credit: Steve Hall / Hedrich Blessing

Image credit: Butler V. Adams

Project: MIRA

Location: San Francisco, USA

Sector: Residential

Status: Set to be completed in 2020

Image credit: Jason O’Rear

Image credit: Jason O’Rear

See more projects at studiogang.com. The Design Indaba Festival, where Jeanne Gang is speaking, runs from 26–28 February 2020. For more information, visit designindaba.com.

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Nominees: Most Beautiful Object in South Africa 2020 https://visi.co.za/nominees-most-beautiful-object-in-south-africa-2020/ Mon, 17 Feb 2020 06:00:48 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=584705 The nominees for 2020’s Most Beautiful Object in South Africa have been announced.

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WORDS Lindi Brownell Meiring IMAGES courtesy of Design Indaba


The nominees for 2020’s Most Beautiful Object in South Africa have been announced.

Forming part of the Design Indaba Festival programme, Most Beautiful Object in South Africa is made up of 10 objects / projects, each nominated by a local industry leader and personality, from artists and performers to fashion designers and film directors.

The winner will be announced at the Design Indaba Festival, running from 26 – 28 February 2020, in Cape Town. Last year, the award went to Houtlander for the design duo’s Interdependence Bench II.

You can vote online for your favourite at designindaba.com. The objects will also be on view at Nightscape, a ticketed after-hours event that is open to the public and forms part of the Festival.

Below, in no particular order are the list of nominees and nominators:

  • ‘Zenande’ from Zizipho Poswa’s Magodi series, a ceramic sculpture inspired by traditional African hairstyles (nominated by creative director and GQ’s Best Dressed Man 2018, Seth Shezi)

Image credit: Hayden Phipps

  • The hanging Soroban installation at FYN restaurant, a design collaboration between Tristan du Plessis and Christof Karl, inspired by the Japanese abacus (nominated by urban strategist and founder and director of Our Future Cities, Rashiq Fataar)

  • Thebe Magugu’s Dawning installation, launched at Somerset House during London Fashion Week, designed to represent South Africa and its Constitution (nominated by performer and creative director of ArteBOTANICA, Manthe Ribane)

Image credit: Hayden Phipps

  • Photographs from Tiaan Nagel’s 19/20 “Remember Who You Are” campaign, inspired by a piece of writing by Ntokozo Mbokazi (nominated by South African-born actress Jodi Balfour)

  • Robinson the raffia dog by local brand Chommies, designed to display Chommies’ hand-crafted designs (nominated by House and Leisure editor Charl Edwards)

  • The “Delicate Bracelet” by Izandla Zethu African Jewellery. This hand-made design, made from recycled corrugated iron, aims to inspire young people to use their skills to combat unemployment amongst the youth (nominated by artist and activist Blessing Ngobeni)

  • Self-portrait by Trevor Stuurman. “The image shows a creative king, someone who represents the progress African artists have made on the world stage,” says film director Sunu Gonera, who nominated the image.

  • Githan Coopoo’s sculpted earrings, hand-made jewellery that crosses the boundaries between fashion and art (nominated by textile designer and ethical manufacturer Sindiso Khumalo)

Vote for your favourite at designindaba.com and find out more about Design Indaba 2020 at conference.designindaba.com.

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Design Indaba 2020: Q&A with Design Engineer Kinya Tagawa https://visi.co.za/design-indaba-2020-qa-with-design-engineer-kinya-tagawa/ Fri, 14 Feb 2020 06:00:10 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=584298 Award-winning Japanese design engineer Kinya Tagawa, who is a co-founder and partner at design innovation firm Takram, is heading to South Africa to speak at this year’s Design Indaba conference, now in its 25th year.

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INTERVIEWED BY Lindi Brownell Meiring IMAGES courtesy of Takram / Design Indaba


Award-winning Japanese design engineer Kinya Tagawa, who is a co-founder and partner at design innovation firm Takram, is heading to South Africa to speak at this year’s Design Indaba conference, now in its 25th year.

VISI caught up with Kinya to chat about the future of design, self-organisation devices and what he’s looking forward to at Design Indaba 2020.

Your practice focuses on transformative design. What does transformative design mean to you?

I would like to focus on designing things that transform or disrupt the current framework. Such outputs might be a product or service for a company, or a more research-based, conceptual and experimental project that gazes into the future. It might also be further engagement in education or being involved in public policy creation.

What do you imagine will be the focus of design in the future?

As the integration of physical and digital spreads further to artefacts and environments, we are likely to encounter increasing mismatches and “unknowable” issues arising between humans and systems. The scale of such matters will be larger than any previous challenges the design industry has ever faced. With this in mind, designers must prepare themselves for such future societal demands.

Talk us briefly through your concept for SELFORG, a self-organisation device of the future, created to commemorate TEIJIN Limited’s 100th anniversary?

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, in the past century, the average temperature in Tokyo has increased by 3.2°C. Urbanisation is reportedly a major factor behind this “heat island” phenomenon, but severe damage to ecosystems resulting from sudden climate change has become a global problem. Together with TEIJIN, one of the world’s most renowned fibre manufacturers, we explored the potential of “fibre” in a heating future.

The scenario takes place in a future society where the “heat island” phenomenon has exploded and resulted in increased sea-level rise globally. With the receding coastlines, many waterside metropolises around the world saw their populations moving inland, causing a construction rush. Concurrently, the rising temperature nudges people to move their core “operational” times to evening hours.

In this future, through biomimetic engineering, fibre technology has widened its role in society, offering different functions to enhance our everyday lives. SELFORG is one such technology that originates from self-organisational phenomena more typically seen in nature. What if we can create synthetic fibres in a similar way to how we grow plants?

Under the concept of “fibre seeds”, we developed a series of scenarios in which such technology might thrive. What if we can grow adhesive fibres for glueing things? What if fibres can grow into garments? What if we can apply self-healing fibres to roads and other infrastructures so that they become self-sustaining?

From all of these scenarios, we envisage a “softer world” in which fibres replace metal and concrete, resulting in a safer and more sustainable world.

You can read more about this project at takram.com or at 100.teijin.co.jp.

Takram’s work extends from experimental design and installations to products and graphic design. Is there a project you’ve most enjoyed working on?

It is most rewarding to see a project achieve creative perfection (from concept to final detail level). While there is “joy” during the project, there’s also joy in seeing a project make a social impact – a pleasure that arrives after our delivery, which allows us the time to understand and appreciate the true meaning and effects of the project.

Shenu: A future water bottle concept made for dOCUMENTA(13). Project Lead: Kinya Tagawa (Takram). Concept Development: Kotaro Watanabe (Takram). Design: Kaz Yoneda (ex-Takram). Art Direction: Moon Kyungwon, Jeon JoonhoProject. Lead & Concept Development (until 2011): Motohide Hatanaka (ex-Takram).
Figure Artwork: Bryan Christie (with the addition of organ rendering by Takram). Image credit: Naohiro Tsukada.

What are you most looking forward to at Design Indaba 2020?

I’m hoping to discuss the project we’ll be presenting at Design Indaba with fellow thought leaders from around the world. I also hope that our participation and the project will open up new initiatives and opportunities for us to collaborate with others.

To see more Takram projects, visit takram.com.

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