Design Indaba has announced the Emerging Creatives Class of 2023, with some talented fresh up-and-coming names to keep your eye on.

Selected from more than 340 entrants across South Africa, 20 emerging creatives have been selected as participants in the renowned Design Indaba Emerging Creatives programme for 2023.

Started by Design Indaba with the Department of Arts and Culture in 2005, the programme provides a platform for young creatives to showcase their talent and be exposed to all of the inspiration and innovation the festival has to offer. Past finalists include award-winning fashion designers Laduma Ngxokolo, Thebe Magugu and Rich Mnisi, amongst others.

The curators of this year’s line-up are all previous Emerging Creatives themselves: milliner Crystal Birch, art director Mokoena Kobeli, furniture designer Siyanda Mbele furniture designer Mpho Vackier, jewellery designer Katherine-Mary Pichulik, designer and illustrator Daniel Ting Chong.

The curator of this year’s edition of the programme is Neo ‘Nene’ Mahlangu, another former Design Indaba Emerging Creative who has gone on to successfully pave her way as both an artist and entrepreneur. ‘It’s an honour to be part of this encouraging process, and it has reinvigorated my own inspiration,’ she says.‘I’m thrilled to see the calibre of Emerging Creative talent shining in this year’s selection. It’s clear that the future of creativity in our country is in capable hands.’

Hand-picked by Mahlangu, the 20 participants hail from a variety of diverse backgrounds and artistic disciplines, including photographers, filmmakers, illustrators, fashion designers and artists. The 2023 inductees are:

• Christi-Lee du Plessis
• Edward Thomas Wakefield
• Jessie Zinn
• Johnny Allison
• Kamil Adam Hassim
• KhumoMohloliMorojele
• Mignonne Busser
• Naledi Modupi
• Nokukhanya Justine Zungu
• Oteng Hope Kopiso
• OtsileRorisangMoumakoe
• Princia Matungulu 
• Qeren Fourie 
• Rejoice Simphiwe Kunene
• Rucita and VivekaVassen
• Sandra Leigh Nagel
• Sandra Wilken (Riley Axon) 
• Shamyra Moodley
• Tebogo Selepe
• Thembi Mthembu 

To help advance the Class of 2023, Mahlangu will be presenting a bespoke masterclass on business development, a workshop built on ‘the 5 Bs’ designed to guide the future changemakers on their paths: brilliance, bravery, business skills, branding and brand building. In addition, all the participants will be profiled on Design Indaba’s channels – its website, social media and weekly newsletter – which are followed by design leaders from across the globe. 

For more information visit designindaba.com.

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Each of the 60 artists, as curated by Design Indaba’s founder Ravi Naidoo, were invited to contribute a work that captures the colour and character of their home country. The theme pays homage to the history of powerful stories told by Africans through the medium of colour: A kaleidoscopic navigation tool is used to explore art; each colour telling a unique story, expressing a multilayered tapestry of emotion and experience.

The multidisciplinary mix of artists includes Algerian photographer Ramzy Bensaadi, fashion designer Bisrat Negassi from Eritrea, filmmaker Archange Kiyindou “Yamakasi” from the Republic of Congo and visual artist Ngadi Smart from Sierra Leone.

The initiative also includes the launch of over 4000 images and videos and 20 carefully curated exhibits from Design Indaba’s extensive archive. Award-winning initiatives like Sheltersuit, Arch for Arch and Emerging Creatives are extensively profiled online for the first time.

Not to be missed are new works by some of the most important creatives continent, including Fozia Ismail, who was a featured creative on Serpentine Gallery’s Creative Exchange programme; Mayada Adil El Sayed, who represented Sudanese women at the Generation Equality Forum; and Lady Skollie, the winner of the 10th FNB Art Prize.

Explore “Colours of Africa” here.

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In the spirit of refreshing Capetonian’s love for life in the city, Beefeater has partnered with Design Indaba and ‘I love the Dough’ in Cape Town to build an eco-friendly Parklet.

One of the grim consequences of COVID-19 was the particularly hefty impact on the hospitality and restaurant industries over the last two years, and in order to help rejuvenate the Mother City’s happening hub of Bree Street in the wake of lockdown, a unique parklet has just been launched to welcome curbside patrons.

Located in front of trendy pizza hangout I Love The Dough, the new public-minded parklet is the result of a fruitful collaboration between Design Indaba, Beefeater Gin SA and I Love The Dough – together, they have formed a powerful trio that has propelled this space through the necessary city council support.

“Beefeater Gin’s brand purpose is to ‘refresh your love for life in the city’ and we were looking for meaningful ways to help rebuild the hospitality industry while reconnecting with our brand community in their beloved city spaces in the aftermath of the pandemic,” says Marketing Portfolio Head, Grant Hendricks. He adds that the brand has had an ongoing relationship with I Love The Dough who share the brand’s desire to make an impact in their community. 

In response to a concept and commission by Design Indaba and launched on 19 October, International Gin and Tonic Day, the parklet has been designed by former Design Indaba conference speaker, Thomas Chapman, of award-winning architectural firm Local studio.

About the Parklet

The parklet stands out from predecessors by its pioneering use of Cross Laminated timber. Design Indaba specified a Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) process, using timber harvested from alien vegetation in support of the city’s mission to clear water-draining plant life from catchment areas. In this instance, the wood was harvested from eucalyptus, which is endemic to south eastern Australia. Removing alien vegetation from the landscape of the Western Cape will help restore billions of litres of water in the years to come.

In addition to its water restorative benefit, cross laminated timber is being heralded as the building material of the future. As a material, the timber begins as a nett negative carbon emitter and acts as a carbon store during the parklet’s lifespan. The construction processes lends itself to off-site assembly with 80% of the build taking place in a factory reducing the need of transportation and disruptions to the local community. Fabrication for the parklet was provided by Cape Town-based company XLAM. The timber gives the finished space a striking appearance whilst embracing sustainability and greening by bringing a moment of civic landscaping and magic to what would otherwise have been bare tarmac.

“It is incredible to see how Thomas and his team have completely transformed an urban pavement into an urban oasis. What was once merely a parking spot is now a testament to the power urban design interventions can have on city improving city life. We’re elated to see our mantra ‘a better world through creativity’ realised in an impactful way. We look forward to seeing people out and about on the streets and enjoying the parklet – after all that’s what it’s for!” says Design Indaba Founder, Ravi Naidoo.

I Love The Dough and Beefeater

“It is amazing to see what the partnership with the world’s most awarded gin, Beefeater, has allowed us to achieve with our unique convivia landmark. What a pleasure to see people sitting outside our parklet and enjoying the warm days and balmy evenings here. Over the summer months the sun sets later and later and it will stay light outside right up until 9pm, which means you can enjoy an extended sundowner session or supper whilst hanging out in the parklet,” says I Love The Dough Director, Marco Picone.

This fresh contribution to the Mother City’s already substantial appeal is not to be underestimated. It is said that cities that welcome and encourage urban life and interaction through community spaces are better cities to live in, offering an improved quality of life for both residents and visitors.

It was in this spirit that Beefeater Gin came on board as partner to the project to mark the significance of International Gin and Tonic Day, a tradition that both partners will continue to celebrate throughout its partnership. It also follows that the parklet makes for a prime spot to sit back, unwind and sip on the World’s Most Awarded gin while enjoying the late spring/early summer season.

People watching, mountain gazing, lazing, taking in a slice or two of pizza, and enjoying the ever-changing vista of street life… what’s not to love?

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Calling all emerging creatives: submit your work for Design Indaba’s Emerging Creatives programme for 2023.

In its 18th year of conception, the programme has proven a robust talent support structure for each group of young architects, fashion designers, illustrators, furniture designers, jewellers, graphic designers, filmmakers and multi-disciplinary mavericks from across South Africa.

The Class of 2023 will be featured on the designindaba.com platform, receive educational and mentorship opportunities, a year of national and international media exposure and, generally, an unparalleled wealth of invaluable industry information. 

Thus far, the Emerging Creatives programme has helped launch the careers of lauded young designers such as LVMH prize-winning fashion designer Thebe Magugu; furniture designer and owner of TheUrbanative Mpho Vackier, who won the Stewardship award at 100% Design South Africa 2022; globally-known ceramicist Andile Dyalvane; acclaimed milliner Crystal Birch and multidisciplinary artist Atang Tshikare. 

The Design Indaba Emerging Creatives programme is made possible with funding support from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and Design Indaba. Says Design Indaba founder Ravi Naidoo: “We’ve had the privilege of seeing numerous stellar talents emerge and shine ever more brightly over the years as their careers develop. We’re extremely proud to have been part of this process to catalyse the advancement of creative individuals within the broader industry here in South Africa and we’re grateful to our partners for helping to make this possible.”

Submissions for 2023 will close on 30 November 2022. Submit your entry here or take a look who made the Design Indaba Emerging Creatives 2022 list.

For more information, visit designindaba.com.

Looking for more design inspiration? Sign up to our weekly newsletter, here.

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Of more than 380 entries, just forty creatives have been selected to participate in South Africa’s most prestigious and critically-acclaimed creative developmental programme.

Supported by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the programme is one of the country’s longest-running emerging talent support structures – one that provides South Africa’s future generation of designers with a platform, support, education and mentorship. Ultimately, the goal is to hone talent and provide participants with strategies to take their work not only to the next level but to market as well. Throughout its many years of successful talent nurturing, it has helped launch lauded young designers such as Mpho Vackier, Russell Abrahams, Daniel
Ting Chong and Crystal Birch, to name a few.

The Class of 2022 was selected by curators Lukhanyo Mdingi and Ditiro Mashigo – renowned fashion designers who were also once Emerging Creatives themselves. Both were impressed by the high quality of this year’s submissions and sought “innovation in design-led problem-solving and an honest point of view from South African emerging design talents on issues of climate change, socioeconomics and equality” when choosing inductees.

The 2022 inductees are:

1. Luke Rudman
2. Charity Vilakazi
3. Julia Duduzile Mohanoe
4. Kutlwano Monyai
5. Mona-lisa Mthethwa
6. Nandipha Yanta
7. Nuraan Khan
8. Lumka Jordaan
9. Naomi Zwane
10. Amy-Leigh Braaf
11. Daniella Kilpatrick
12. Katlego Magano
13. Lundi Mlonyeni
14. Mbangiso Mabaso
15. Mishaal Gangaram
16. Moeko Karabelo Selebalo
17. Mohau Moholane
18. Njabulo Maseko
19. Riyaadh Ismail
20. Samkelo Boyde Xaba
21. Sibusiso Feni
22. Siyabonga Mtshali
23. Sizani Baloyi
24. Thulani Kubeka
25. Fernando
26. Kyle Kemink
27. Fikile Sokhulu
28. Drew Kendall Haller
29. Nkululeko Mthembu
30. Tsepiso Lekganyane
31. Noxolo Thando Masuku
32. Lindiwe Irene Rethebile Gugushe
33. Mikhailia Petersen
34. Thando Ntuli
35. Lehlogonolo Khaas
36. Lauren Gericke
37. Leila Walter
38. Akshar Maganbeharie
39. Arron Moos
40. Buhle Nkalashe
    

The Class of 2022 will benefit from masterclass sessions with international and local experts, like UK-based Artsthread, documentary video sessions and dedicated personal profiles on designindaba.com. VISI readers can meet the young designers of 2022 via the extended virtual exhibition at Design Indaba and via Design Indaba’s socials.

For more information, visit designindaba.com.

Looking for more on local design, decor and art? Here’s what happening at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair in 2022.

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Calling all emerging illustrators, architects, jewellers, multidisciplinary artists, graphic designers and furniture designers: submit your work for Design Indaba’s Emerging Creatives programme for 2022.

The programme, founded in 2005, is one of the country’s longest-running emerging talent support structures – one that provides South Africa’s future generation of designers with a platform, support, education and mentorship. Throughout its many years of successful talent nurturing, it has helped launch lauded young designers such as Mpho Vackier, Laduma Ngxokolo, Katherine-Mary Pichulik and Rich Mnisi, to name a few.

2022’s addition will see fourty mavericks from across South Africa showcase their work on the digital Design Indaba platform. The final selection will be made by two curators, fashion designers Lukhanyo Mdingi and Ditiro Mashigo, both of whom are former Emerging Creatives.

While the format of the programme has gone wholly digital because of shifts caused by the pandemic, it still offers the same level of support and opportunity in the form of newly expanded online workshops hosted by industry experts. Once a designer is selected as an Emerging Creative, they will be featured on the designindaba.com platform and receive a year of prolonged national and international media exposure including online video, web articles and social media posts.

Submissions for 2022 will close on 30 October 2021. Submit your entry here.

For more information, visit designindaba.com.

Take a look who made the Design Indaba Emerging Creatives 2021 list.

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This year marks 16-years of supporting up-and-coming talent for the Design Indaba Emerging Creatives programme. The class of 2021 is made up of 40 rising stars across various disciplines who’ve been especially selected from over 200 submissions.

The 2021 Design Indaba Emerging Creatives programme has taken on a new format. This cycle will consist of an extended virtual exhibition and individual online profiles on their website, documentary and videography.  Added to that, you can look forward to masterclasses by international and local experts, as well as Design Indaba’s Google Arts and Culture presence, which’ll be launched soon.

This digital celebration is in honour of the new announced group of creatives who’ve been especially selected for this year’s class. This programme is a collaboration between the Design Indaba and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture with the aim of growing and supporting young talent in South Africa. Apart from the vast amounts of skillshare and opportunities that artists can look forward to gaining, it has become a platform to launch careers as we’ve seen over the years. Some of the Design Indaba Emerging creatives who’ve gained local and international traction for their work include the likes of MaXhosa by Laduma Ngxokolo, Thebe Magugu, Rich Mnisi, Katherine-Mary Pichulik of Pichulik, Neo Mahlangu and Andile Dyalvane,

“We are extremely committed to this programme, and especially now, what with the economic impact of COVID-19, it is vital that we continue to support our youth and aid their entry into the local and global marketplace so that their stars can truly shine. Young talent, with so much potential, needs all the help it can get – and so we are thankful to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture for providing support for this programme,” says Design Indaba founder Ravi Naidoo.

Here is the Design Indaba Emerging Creatives class of 2021:

Fashion
– Azola Tanzi
– Mashoto Tshoga
– Nikiwe Dlova
– Aria van Rooyen
– Tristan Shaun Henry
– Lunga Mzimba

Visual Art
– Lerato Lodi
– Akhona Mbange
– Alizwamazizi
– Boikanyo Mashigo
– Brad Jackson
– Chelsea Robin
– Danielle Jordaan
– Gerald Genie
– Mboma
– Pule Magopa

Graphic Design
– Caleb Pillay
– Clinton Myeni
– Ntobeko Nxumalo
– Tebogo Mapomane
– Mncedisi Faltein

Jewellery
– Babalo Rozani
– Zulu Mien by Nicola Robertson

Film and Photography
– Boitumelo Thindiza
– Fiona Davhana
– Lithemba Nziweni
– Zenhlanhla Myeni Lovarism
– Kgothatso Malatjie
– Nhlakanipho Mashinini

Illustration
– Hilde Franzsen
– Tebogo Lethuba
– Lethabo Mmalerato Huma
– Buhle Qabaka

Interiors
– Kaya Design Hub
– Ontlametse Molefe

Furniture
– Deft by Zani Alberts and Martin Tallie
– Magrietha Labuschagne
– Elizabeth Louisa van der Merwe

Ceramics
– Clement Maenetja

Stay up to date with the latest from the Design Indaba by visiting their website and following them on Instagram. 

Looking for more? Take a look at who made last year’s list.

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Design Indaba and the Department of Arts and Culture celebrated 16 years of the Emerging Creatives programme earlier this year, which gives 50 talented young designers a chance to show their work at the event. We caught up with furniture designer Siyanda Magaba to find out about his furniture inspirations and plans for the future.

You launched your own furniture design brand while you were still at university. When did you know you wanted to be a furniture designer?

The idea to start Africular came about in 2019. I started it not just as a furniture design brand, but as an interior design brand, with space planning, conceptual design and installation services attached. I completed my first interior project for fashion brand LSL, which encouraged further interest in learning and exploring practical skills. I have always been a “do it” type of person, and I see my company as a tool to educate myself in every aspect of the design industry.

Tell us about your collection.

Africular is a movement towards creating eco-efficient furniture that’s inspired by geometric African patterns. The brand is influenced by the principle of creating for a purpose and crafting unique, unpredictable characters in furniture design. Exploring and learning by doing is my design mission. Believing and looking past limitations to achieve new possibilities is the foundation of the brand. The current collection consists of four pieces, which differ slightly from one another as a result of the behaviour of the materials and the condition of the reclaimed timber. The signature V-like cutout represents the African zigzag pattern known as the “path of the ancestor”, which is an expression of the ups and downs we face in life on our path to achieving our goals.

Africular Ottoman

Biggest inspiration?

My grandfather, who taught me about hard work and determination. He inspired me to be who I am today through his knowledge and wisdom. I am also heavily inspired by the philosophies and craftsmanship of [Bauhaus school founder] Walter Gropius.

Do you have any upcoming plans you can share with us?

My plan for 2020 is to expand on the knowledge and skills I’ve obtained through my varsity years and while running my design business. The Africular project is meaningful to me – the mission is to break the boundaries of inaccessibility to African-inspired designer furniture. I plan to evolve the Africular collection to create more functional and aesthetically pleasing furniture, and create more opportunities for accessibility.

Follow Siyanda at @magaba_designs on Instagram.

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From flatpack cabins and whimsical photography by Teresa Freitas to a guide on mythical cryptids, these are the top VISI picks of the week series – week 346.

1. Hello Wood Studio’s Self-Assemble Kabinka Cabin

International brand Hello Wood Studio’s Kabinka Cabin is a compact and versatile design, perfect for a retreat space or home extension. Celebrating the “tiny house movement”, the Kabinka cabin is available in four sizes, ranging from 12m² to 20m². The cabins can be built easily – either arriving flatpacked for self-assembly or Hello Wood Studio can do the work of putting it together for you.

Image credit: hellowood.eu

2. Pillow Chairs by Ash NYC

Will Cooper, Chief Creative Officer at Ash NYC, is behind the design of the Pillow Chair, inspired by the Italian Riviera in the 1960s. In classic primary colour stripes, these comfy poolside chairs are made from a custom poly-blend fabric that allow the seats to keep their shape.

Image credit: ashnyc.com

3. Herb Lester’s Cryptid World

From horned jackalopes and sea serpents to mysterious cats, Herb Lester’s latest fold-out guide highlights the world of strange animals, also known as cryptids. These mythical and unexplained creatures are all illustrated and documented in this fun guide, written by cryptozoologist Dr Karl Shuker. 

Images courtesy of herblester.com

4. Design Indaba Poster Collabs

Design Indaba has launched a new online store where you can purchase bespoke Design Indaba merchandise, collaborations and products by creatives from around the globe, like these limited-edition Design Indaba posters. There are 30 to choose from! Take a look at Design Indaba Emerging Creatives 2021.

Images courtesy of designindaba.com

5. Teresa Freitas’s Photographs

Lisbon-based photographer and content creator Teresa Freitas posts dreamy imagery on Instagram, featuring the places she’s visited and the surrounding architecture. She says she loves subverting familiar motifs into something less tangible and more cinematic.

Image credit: @teresacfreitas on Instagram

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Design Indaba and the Department of Arts and Culture celebrated 16 years of the Emerging Creatives programme earlier this year, which gives 50 talented young designers a chance to show their work at the event. We caught up with Joburg-based fashion designer and mechanical engineer Phumelela Malinga to find out more about his career transition and inspirations.

From mechanical engineering to fashion: what made you decide to make the jump?

Fashion was always embedded in me. When I was growing up, my mother wouldn’t let me leave the house without properly coordinated outfits. I studied mechanical engineering, so fashion took a back seat – but I like to believe I was the coolest engineering student in my class! What really catalysed the jump from engineering to fashion was the lack of variety of prints, cuts and colours in men’s retail departments. Walking through the women’s section always left me asking, “Why is there so much variety?” I noticed this gap and set my sights on filling it.

What do you love most about creating?

It’s empowering. There’s just something about starting the day with nothing and ending it with something tangible that excites me. What I love most about it is the journey of constantly surprising myself with my increasing ability and interest in a topic.

What does your brand BY PHUME stand for?

In addition to creating high-quality customer experiences, the BY PHUME brand is a youth-driven movement. It focuses on empowering the youth by creating a network that stems from a common place of interest. We believe in the talent and potential of the youth, and we nurture that through collaborations and engaging content.

Biggest inspiration?

I think when local talent Thebe Magugu recently won the prestigious LVMH Prize, it was massively inspiring. He was the first African designer to achieve this kind of global recognition. That gives young designers such as myself great confidence, because the world is finally acknowledging the talent that we know we’ve always had. I am inspired and motivated to add a chapter to African fashion history.

Do you have any upcoming plans you can share with us?

The brand’s focus for 2020 is ready-to-wear apparel. In many ways, first impressions last, and since we are a new brand, we want to set up a strong foundation for the future. We will also be working on expanding our footprint locally and internationally.

Follow BY PHUME on Instagram to keep up to date with the brand’s latest news.

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