In search of the perfect gift? Not only can you visit VISI’s online shop, where you’ll find a range of locally designed buys, created exclusively for VISI, we’ve also rounded up a list of 33 more gift options for you to browse and buy online. Happy shopping!

1. Cat & Carnations A5 Art Print R250, Andrea Liang at KNUS

2. Victoria Luxury Gin Classic Pink Gin (750ml) R459, Yuppiechef

3. Emerson Pot Spring Range R290, Plantify

4. MSock5 R250, MAXHOSA AFRICA

5. Coco Balm R110, OrchidBloom for Jimnojean

6. Beyond Your Years A4 Print R480, Amy Ayanda

7. The Khaya Leather Waistbag – Scatterbrain Print R2 290, Valoyi

8. Pier Carafe Set R349, Country Road

9. Hand-painted Mini Purse (Spring) R250, Ilundi

10. The Prettiest One Digital Collage (Edition 1/3) by Balekane Legoabe R1 950, StateOfTheArt

11. Net Bags R1 150, Mia Mélange

12. Irotemari Glass Flower Pot R400, WAZA

13. Secco Festive Gin Infusions R149, Yuppiechef

14. Chilli Infused Olive Oil (200ml) R89.99, Woolworths

15. Moon Bag (Flare) R495, Sealand

16. Rest A3 Print R380, Ishaarah Arnold

17. Wellbeing Happy Waxfill Candles R99.99 – R159.99, MRP Home

18. Suntory Whisky Toki R399, Makro

19. Lemon Slice Pillow Cover R565 – R640, Skinny laMinx

20. Ouroboros Earrings R1 450, Pichulik

21. Hemp Face Cleanser (200ml) R195, Goodleaf

22. Palm Pendant R150 – R255, Ghost Goods

23. U Mug R279, Le Creuset

24. Faatimah Mohamed-Luke X MRP Home Colab Beach Blanket R299.99, MRP Home

25. 5-Pack Chocolate Slabs R240, Honest Chocolate

26. Miir Wide Mouth Bottle (590ml) Artist Series: PJ Offner, R950, Just Like Papa

27. Tote Bag R390, Sama-Sama

28. The Droplet Earrings in Yellow Gold with Agate R2 900, Dear Rae

29. Instant Vortex Air Fryer (5.7L) R2 599, Instant Pot

30. Pill Hanging Pot Plant Holder (ceramic pot included) R799, Native Décor

31. Stem Green Handles Laptop Sleeve R520, Zana

32. Planter/Storage Basket R385, The Joinery

33. Nutribullet Pro 1000 R3 199, Makro

Find more gift ideas at shop.visi.co.za.

The post 33 Great Gift Ideas appeared first on Visi.

Looking for a special gift this Father’s Day? Here are 25 options you can choose from online, from chopping blocks and charcoal soap to portable speakers and locally produced brandy.

1. MiiR Wide Mouth Bottle from R650, Just Like Papa

2. Barstow Black Round Leather Watch R3 399, Fossil at Watch Republic

3. Tall Shade Black & Gold Empire Pendant R2 900, Hoi P’loy

4. Delicious Monster Hanging Plant R550, Opus Botanical Studio

5. Ultimate Ears Wonderboom Speaker R1 499, Homechoice

6. bread+butter XO Bourbon Cask Finish Brandy R550, Pienaar & Son Distilling Company

7. Porg Pie Bird R365, Le Creuset

8. Crystal Green Sunglasses R2 150, Ray-Ban at Sunglass Hut

9. Aeri Tea Towel (pack of 3) R249, Country Road

10. Dorper Pinotage 2017 R195, Publik

11. Charcoal Soap R150, Africology

12. Bleu de Chanel Eau de Parfum Spray (50ml) R1 535, Woolworths

13. CHOOB M_Breeze Duffel Bag R1 895, Sealand

14. Preserving: Conserving, Salting, Smoking, Pickling by Ginette Mathiot (Phaidon) R539, Yuppiechef

15. Tanzania Coffee R80 – R320, Bean There

16. WYWH Tote Bag R420, Stiebeuel

17. Round Oak Chopping Block R1 599, Laid Back Company at Yuppiechef

18. Edo Cats Craft Beer Glasses (set of 3) R750, WAZA

19. Compact Arcade Game R299.99, Typo

20. 70% Dark Chocolate R50, Honest Chocolate

21. Bloukrans Pot Plant Holder (ceramic pot included) R599, Native Decor

22. Treasure Map Socks R120, Feat. Sock Co.

23. Opinel Collectors’ Tray of 10 Stainless Steel Knives R1 725, Just Like Papa

24. Chef’s Apron R525, Mungo

25. Tokyo Carafe R250, Woolworths

The post 25 Father’s Day Gift Ideas appeared first on Visi.

Cape Town-based designer and illustrator Ruschka du Toit talks to us about botanical inspiration, the female form and who she’d most like to collaborate with in SA.

How would you describe your artistic style?
Nostalgic, naïve and authentic.

What do you most enjoy about painting the female form?
Painting the female form in ink has some sort of magical effect on my state of being, both in the moment and on a deeper emotional level – it is very therapeutic, almost meditative. I think this simple act of painting a subject that I often struggle with helps me to confront my insecurities and find healing.

Which local artist would you most like to collaborate with, and why?
Elsabé Milandri – it would be a dream to learn from her! I love her style and way of mark making. Her work is emotive – it feels free and intuitive – something I really resonate with and strive to achieve in my own work.

Your work often depicts scenes from nature, whether it’s a scene from your mother’s garden, flowers or plants. Where do you draw botanical inspiration from?
It is usually the shape and lines that a leaf makes or the colours of a flower that makes me want to create an impression of it. Inspiration often finds me. Like the sidewalk poppies I painted – they caught my eye on a walk through my neighbourhood. And the painting of the pink chair in my mother’s garden was from a photograph I took in a moment that felt very nostalgic to me.

Apart from painting, you freelance as a designer. Which branding project have you most enjoyed working on, and why?
I really enjoy working with Pichulik on their seasonal campaigns. We have developed a very organic and intuitive design process. It also helps working with people who continuously inspire you with their creativity. I also recently worked on the branding for my husband, Anthony Gird, and his team’s new venture, The Botanical Bar. I designed their logo and painted some beautiful indigenous botanicals with plenty of creative freedom. Working with people who value my skills and trust me with their brand is the most enjoyable and rewarding.

What do you have lined up for 2018?
I hope to paint more and perhaps create a body of work that I can exhibit.

For more information, visit ruschkadutoit.com and check out her latest work on Instagram.

The post Artists We Love: Ruschka du Toit appeared first on Visi.

We decided to scour a few local online shops to find a snug selection of autumn-ready buys – for you and your home – from socks, rugs and throws to kettles, board games and scarves.

Just don’t forget to add the Autumn Issue of VISI to your shopping list too!

1. Msock5 R200, MaXhosa by Laduma

2. Monopoly Mzansi R449, Toy Adventures

3. Tile Print Tassel Scarf R160, Woolworths

4. Cinnamon Scented Candle R229, H&M

5. Chunky Ribbed Throw R550, Woolworths

6. Yellow Step Rug R1 999, Superbalist.com

7. Small Triangle Mug & Saucer R225, Love Milo

8. Handwoven Diamond Pouffe R1 995, Weylandts

9. Zen Kettle in Cotton R1 400, Le Creuset

10. Blackwater Noir MMXII R185, Publik

11. Arikara Scatter R749, Hertex Fabrics at Superbalist.com

12. Honest Hot Chocolate R120, Honest Chocolate at Faithful To Nature

The post Autumn Is Here: 12 Buys For The New Season appeared first on Visi.

Looking for the perfect gift to spoil your mom this Mother’s Day? Here are 15 great Mother’s Day gifts you can find online. Happy browsing!

1. Kluster Angular Cuff R1 750, Kirsten Goss

2. Honest Artisan Chocolate Raw Chocolate Slabs R55 each, Faithful To Nature

3. Classic Round Sunglasses in Mid Brown R220, Spree.co.za

4. Porridge Soap (100g) R39.50, Lush

5. Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook R383, Yuppiechef.com

6. Burberry Body Intense Eau de Parfum Spray (85ml) R1 595, Red Square

7. Anita Watch R2 499, Skagen at Watch Republic

8. Betsy Matt Metallic Handbag R1 999, Paul’s Boutique at Superbalist.com

9. Graham Beck Brut Rosé 2009 R210, Graham Beck

10. Stig Tea Towels R130 each, Skinny laMinx

11. 4Summer Hill Bath & Body Duo R600, Crabtree & Evelyn

12. 26cm Soup Pot R2 374, Le Creuset

13. Yellow Specks Coin Purse R150, Zana

14. Fountain Phalaenopsis Orchid R349.99, Woolworths

15. Limited Edition Lou Harvey “Beatrice” Wonderbag R550, Wonderbag

The post 15 Great Mother’s Day Gifts appeared first on Visi.

The new Spier Secret Courtyard pop-up in the Cape Town city centre is seasoned with some of our favourite ingredients: design, wine, food and creative collaboration. You can even make friends for life!

An official World Design Capital 2014 project, the Spier Secret Festival that happens annually in October decided it couldn’t wait that long to start the party. They launched a temporary bar slash restaurant slash creative project space in a dreamlike courtyard space they uncovered on Wale Street – where designer Liam Mooney’s shop used to be, alongside Honest Chocolate and Commune.1 Gallery.

“The name Secret is not an elitist thing at all,” explains organiser Hannerie Visser of HV Studio. “It’s really about being generous, giving people a platform and sharing secrets – like chefs have secret recipes and ingredients. It’s a space where people can share that information.”

For the next three months, the space will host Secret Dinner nights on Thursdays, live music evenings on Fridays and outdoor movie showings on Saturday. A full range of Spier wine at cellar prices – including a very sneaky Chenin Blanc slushy – as well as Devil’s Peak ale and Dear Me snacks – such as buchu-and-chilli flavoured peanuts – are served.

The Secret Dinner nights, as in previous years, promise to push the limits of experiential eating with people like Caro de Waal engineering a few Food Jams, Thingking and Soma (both of whom are featured as reasons to love SA design in our WDC2014 edition) teaming up to make an interactive chocolate factory, and even a jazz and curry, among other surprises. The cool kids from Yoh! are also collabing with Honest Chocolate for a movie night.

“The best feedback we always get from the Secret dinners is that people say they come and don’t know anyone, but make friends for life,” Hannerie goes on. “It’s because a certain type of person comes – someone who loves and is passionate about food and wine, as well as being adventurous. So they’re like-minded.”

The space itself is also testament to this spirit of like-minded passion, collaboration and experimentation. Inspired by the original geometric tile pattern of the courtyard and the massive old-school copper bar behind it, interior designer Hendrik Coetzee worked with the Kinsmen Collective and Renée Rossouw  to incorporate geometric and copper elements throughout.

Architect and pattern-extraordinaire Renée’s “half-square” wall installation uses triangular tiles from Spier Architectural Arts stuck on a hand-drawn geometric grid to recall and play on the courtyard pattern.

Primarily graphic designers, Kinsmen did the corporate identity including the logo, menus and copper-and-black tessellated vinyl window decal. Particularly fun are their perforated paper placemat-slash-doilies that guests can fold into all sorts of shapes and creations.

Hendrik himself got resourceful with Spier wineboxes, which he painted copper inside and turned into pendant-style lamps. He also built tables for the courtyard from the boxes, and display units for the shop, which sells wine, cook books and other goodies. To go with the tables, Thingking made tripod stools that strap boxes as a seat onto copper-painted frames.

Guests can even watch pictures from their phone dry on the wall! Bridging the physical and digital social divide, 250 Gram is printing guests’ Instagram pictures tagged with #spiersecret. The poloroid-style prints are then hung on the wall to be claimed when you leave – quite uncanny watching one’s phone come to life! 

Running for only three months in the build up to the Spier Secret Festival in October, Hannerie reassures that there are more exciting (secret for now) events on the cards. The festival itself will run over three days this year by incorporating the WDC2014 Food Indaba on the first day, which will have speakers focused on sustainability and food economy, followed by the more food design orientated speakers on the second day and the market on the third.

Visit spiersecret.co.za for more information and the programme and follow @SpierSecret on Twitter for updates and spontaneous last-minute additions.

The post The secret is out appeared first on Visi.

Who are you?

My name is Sarah Benjamin, I design and hand-make ceramics under the name Sessi Bee. 

Where do you live?

I live in Cape Town with my Capetonian fiancé. Cape Town is the most exciting place I have ever lived. There is so much potential to be creative and surround yourself with creative minded people here. 

What do you do?

I make semi-functional bowls with different characters inside.  I have also designed a new range of ceramic lamp bases based on a few characters that feature in my bowls. I also teach classes at the Barbara Jackson School of Ceramics in Green Point. 

How did that happen?

Through a lot of play. 

Who are some of your favourite designers? 

I love the ceramics Michael Chandler has made for Merchants Cafe, the new ceramic range by Skermunkil and the new Shlos product, Exquisite Cups. 

Should form follow function or should function follow form?

In my case, function follows form. My design ethic is that an object must be playful and intriguing while also being functional.  

What do you covet most at the moment?

A set of gold dripped cups by Skermukil and dining room chairs by James Mudge.

In your view, does South Africa have a unique design language?

Yes, I was blown away when I first visited Cape Town and saw all the unique, vibrant design.  There are so many young creatives who have dedicated themselves to putting South Africa on the design map. 

What would you decree if you were appointed Minister of Design in the national government? 

I would decree that design should always be original and where possible, handmade. 

Do you consider yourself an artist?

I consider myself a maker-of-things. 

Your favourite building in your city?

Honest Chocolate and Commune 1 Art Gallery are both located in my favourite building in Cape Town. When you walk between the shop and the gallery, there is an old courtyard with beautiful old brick walls and mosaic tiles. 

How awesome are you really?

I am an awesome collector of things! I have a weakness for buying ceramics and art works that I love. 

www.facebook.com/SessiBeeCeramics

More of VISI’s fresh talent featured at www.visi.co.za/fresh

The post Maker of things appeared first on Visi.

Read in English.

Die Woodstock Exchange, Kaapstad se kookwater nuwe ontwerpbestemming, huisves nou amper al die Moederstad se koelste jong ontwerphandelsmerke onder een dak. Sydelle Willow Smith vertel die storie in haar foto-essay.

Ná ’n grootskaalse bou-en-breekprojek wat ’n jaar geduur het, het die Woodstock Exchange laasmaand stil-stil (en nieamptelik) sy deure oopgemaak, amper asof hy die Moederstad uitdaag om nié notisie te neem nie. Maar toe hulle ’n week voor Kersfees die papier afpluk van die nuwe vensters op straatvlak om die blinknuwe, supergroot Superette-eetplek te onthul, was die spreekwoordelike kat uit die sak.

Gewilde Kaapse ontwerperhandelsmerke soos Pedersen + Lennard, Honest Chocolate, Dark Horse, Thingking, Lady Bonin’s Tea Parlour en Word of Art neem die grootste deel van die grondvloer in beslag, terwyl die eerste verdieping spog met nog ontwerpers en galerye. Die res van die sentrum bestaan uit kantore, onder meer dié van Google en die Bandwidth Barn.

As handelsruimte volg die Woodstock Exchange in die spore van Europa, waar ontwerpers in dieselfde ruimte produkte ontwerp, vervaardig en verkoop – dit gee klante die geleentheid om die ontwerpers te ontmoet, te sien hoe produkte gemaak word en om dan iets eksklusiefs saam huis toe te neem. As ontwerpbestemming sluit die tweede fase van die ontwikkeling in die installasie van verskeie groot kunswerke, vertel die ontwikkelaar Nick Ferguson.

Die sentrum wat voorheen as die Woodstock Industrial Centre bekend gestaan het, is regtig lieflik herontwerp en opgeknap in ’n styl wat ’n mens nywerheidsjiek sal noem – die volmaakte tuiste vir ’n skeppende gemeenskap wat hul beste voet voor gaan sit tydens die Moederstad se jaar as die 2014 Wêreldontwerphoofstad.

Wees egter gewaarsku die parkeerplek is taamlik skraps, en ons beveel aan jy gaan maak eerder ’n draai op jou fiets. Die hele projek is uiters fietsvriendelik met onder meer hope fietsrakke en die Starling and Hero Bicycle Café, en daar is boonop openbare storte ingerig om die huurders aan te moedig om die speke te laat sing werk toe.

Woodstock Exchange, Albertweg 66, Woodstock, woodstockexchange.co.za

The post Woodstock raak nywerheidsjiek appeared first on Visi.

Lees in Afrikaans.

VISI also visited the super-sized new Superette at Woodstock Exchange, see more here.

The hottest new design destination in Cape Town, the Woodstock Exchange now houses almost every hip young design brand under one roof. Sydelle Willow Smith tells the story in this photo essay.

Just last month, after a year’s worth of construction the Woodstock Exchange hush hush, unofficially threw open its doors, almost daring Cape Town not to notice. However when the paper came down from the new street-level windows to show a relocated and super-sized Superette diner, just a week before Christmas, the cat was out the bag so to speak.

Popular Cape Town design brands such as Pedersen + Lennard, Honest Chocolate, Dark Horse, Thingking, Lady Bonin’s Tea Parlour and Word of Art have taken up most of the ground floor. The first floor features more designers and galleries, while further up are offices including that of Google and the Bandwidth Barn.

As a retail experience, it takes its cue from Europe, where designers work, produce and retail in the same space giving customers the opportunity to meet the designers, see how it’s made and take home something exclusive. Further, as a destination, the second phase will be the installation of large-scale artworks, says developer Nick Ferguson.

Beautifully designed and refurbished in an industrial chic aesthetic, the building previously known as the Woodstock Industrial Centre is upbeat and announces an optimistic creative community that will put their best foot forward during the 2014 World Design Capital.

However, be warned, parking is very scarce and we highly recommend cycling. Not only is the entire project extremely bicycle friendly with lots of cycle racks and the on-site Starling and Hero Bicycle Café, but they’ve even built public showers to encourage tenants to cycle to work.

Woodstock Exchange, 66 Albert Road, Woodstock, woodstockexchange.co.za

VISI also visited the super-sized new Superette at Woodstock Exchange.

The post Woodstock goes industrial chic appeared first on Visi.

There is no brief and creatives are encouraged to let their imaginations run wild. First prize is a R2 000 Loom voucher plus an Honest Chocolate hamper, and two runners-up will each receive a R1 000 Loom voucher plus Honest Chocolate hamper.

Deadline is Thursday 23 August at 2pm, so better get cracking!

A Joburg-based men’s multi-brand fashion store, Loom specialises in a handpicked selection of cult-status brands including Comme des Garçons, Fred Perry, Denim Demon and APC. From day one, Loom has stocked and shared a special relationship with South African artisan chocolatiers Honest Chocolate.

Together Loom and Honest have produced a special chocolate for the occasion: 72% cacao with a hint of cayenne pepper, cinnamon and vanilla. This unique variant will be sold exclusively at Loom and is limited to an edition of 365 slabs to represent Loom’s first year of trade.

To enter, download the chocolate wrapper dieline here. The blue block in the template represents the chocolate – this block should contain all the important elements of your design. The pink lines represent the edge of the wrapper. Artwork from the blue block may spread all the way to the pink lines. Do note that artwork outside of the blue block will not be clearly visible once the chocolate is wrapped. Ensure that the top “Loom x Honest” logo and bottom “Raw Organic Cacao” logos are visible – do not tamper with the placement of these logos.

Once you have filled the blank wrapper with your creative juice, submit your entry in JPEG format (300dpi no bigger than 1 MB) to andrew@antanna.com (subject line: “Loom x Honest”). Include your full name, cell number and email address. Don’t forget to keep a copy of your entry in PSD format on your computer. Multiple entries are welcome, but each entry needs to be sent in a separate email.

For any queries email or call Andrew on Tel: 021 422 2545.

The post Chocolate wrapper competition appeared first on Visi.