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:

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.

The post Highlights From Design Indaba 2020 appeared first on Visi.

After three inspiring days, the annual Design Indaba Festival has come to a close.

This year’s conference, which once again brought together speakers from across the globe, was packed with amazing examples of design ingenuity, great ideas and stellar performances. Here are just a few of the many things that stood out.

NM Type

María Ramos and Noel Pretorius of type foundry NM Type always wanted to create a typeface inspired by dance. This led them to dancer Andile Vellem, whose movements they tracked and reinterpreted to create a unique font. Aptly called Movement, the font is available to download for free at nmtype.com/movement.

Nicole Nomsa Moyo

This award-winning Design Indaba Global Graduate took us through her thesis, UKUBUTHA, a project that focuses on uplifting communities through the creation of waste-to-energy systems. You can read more about her internationally recognised thesis here.

Keenan Wyrobek

The founder of Zipline, the world’s first drone delivery service, together with the Zipline team based in Rwanda, took us through how the largest drone delivery network in the world delivers life-saving blood to remote areas. The drones have flown over one million kilometres and have delivered over 17 000 units of blood so far. Find out more at flyzipline.com.

Image credit: flyzipline.com

Dave Hakkens

Designer Dave Hakkens, whose project Precious Plastic we featured here, has made the blueprints for his plastic recycling machines available for free online, giving anyone interested in recycling plastic the instructions to build their own and create new upcycled objects. Here’s how it works:

Video credit: davehakkens on YouTube

Dong-Ping Wong

Architect and founder of design firm FOOD shared the + POOL project, a floating pool designed to filter the river water that surrounds it. See more about this project at pluspool.org.

Image credit: Family New York, Courtesy of Friends of + POOL

During his talk, he attempted to design a city in 15 minutes, drawing a blueprint live in collaboration with renowned fashion designer and Louis Vuitton artistic director Virgil Abloh, who Dong-Ping video called during the talk.

Dong-Ping Wong of @food_new_york and @virgilabloh are attempting to design a city in 15 minutes. For Virgil, as designers we should be able to examine what we want in modern cities. #designindaba pic.twitter.com/QdudsDBqCC

— VISI Magazine (@VISI_Mag) February 27, 2019

IKEA ÖVERALLT Collection

Launched at Design Indaba, IKEA’s ÖVERALLT collection, which we featured here, sees the Swedish brand collaborate with designers, architects and artists from five African countries, including Issa Diabaté, Selly Raby Kane, Laduma Ngxokolo, Renee Rossouw and Sindiso Khumalo. While there are no plans at this stage to stock the collection in South Africa, it will launch in existing IKEA stores globally in May 2019.

ÖVERALLT bench in stained solid Eucalyptus. Designer: Naeem Biviji and Bethan Rayneri and Mikael Axelsson.

ÖVERALLT easy chair in Birch plywood. Designer: Issa Diabaté and Kevin Gouriou. Cushion cover: Laduma Ngxokolo.

Rodrigo García González

Making packaging disappear is a goal for this inventor, designer, architect and engineer of Skipping Rocks Lab. One of the firm’s projects is Ooho!. It stores liquids in edible, sustainable and biodegradable packaging made from seaweed extract. Find out more here.

Pascale Theron

This Design Indaba Global Graduate is interested in the use of feathered fabrics. Using ostrich feathers as thread, the textiles she creates are breathable, washable and lightweight, making them an ideal interior fabric, perfect for throws, wall hangings and curtains. Her aim is to create a new industry that not only gives back to the community of Oudtshoorn, but also allows ostriches to live their full lifespans.

Ane Crabtree

For costume designer Ane Crabtree, who is behind the design of the iconic attire in the hit series The Handmaid’s Tale, it’s important not to let others put you into little boxes, unless it’s the ones you create yourself. Read our Q&A with her here.

Image credit: Nathan Cyprys

John Pawson

Architect and designer John Pawson CBE, known for his calm, simple spaces, took us through his immense body of work that spans three decades, including the Design Museum in London and a monastery in the Czech Republic.

Image credit: Gareth Gardner

Mariam Kamara

Mariam Kamara is an architect and founder of Niger-based architecture and research firm atelier masōmī. She shared a range of her practice’s projects, including a renovated mosque and a market, both located in Dandaji. Find a snippet of our Q&A with her here. You can read the full interview in VISI’s 100th issue.

Image credit: Maurice Ascani

Wanuri Kahiu

The Nairobi-born film director, World Economic Forum cultural leader and founder of media company AfroBubbleGum shared her work, including the internationally acclaimed film Rafiki, which has sadly been banned in Kenya. Watch the trailer below:

Video credit: IndieWire on YouTube

Mirjam de Bruijn

This Design Indaba Global Graduate is behind the design of Twenty, a sustainability-focused project that focuses on reducing the amount of water used in household products, thereby reducing the amount of packaging used, as well as CO2 emissions as a result of transport. The idea is to provide these products in capsule or powder form, only adding the water later.

Image credit: Femke Rijerman Video credit: Mirjam de Bruijn on YouTube

Tshepo Mokholo

Architect and designer Tsepho Mokholo, a Design Indaba Global Graduate and former Design Indaba Emerging Creative, who now works for architecture firm MASS Design Group, shared the Ruhehe Primary School project in Rwanda. The school was designed with improving learner outcomes top of mind.

Image credit: massdesigngroup.org

Yuri Suzuki

This designer, artist and musician, who believes sound is a strong communication tool, designed Sonic Playground, an interactive installation at the HIGH Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia, that transmits sound in fun, engaging ways.

Image credit: yurisuzuki.com

Adebayo Oke-Lawal

Nigerian fashion designer Adebayo Oke-Lawal, who is behind the brand Orange Culture, firmly believes that fashion can be used as a tool for social change (read more about the brand here). He gave us a sneak peek of his A/W collection:

Image credit: orangecultureeng on Instagram

Tin&Ed

Creative directors Tin&Ed are known for their digital projects, but this restaurant space they designed, inspired by spirals, caught our attention.

David Droga

Founder and creative chairman of creative and strategic agency Droga5 believes great ideas can break down walls. He shared some of the work Droga5 has created, including a clever ad campaign for Tourism Australia. Playing off as a trailer for a sequel to 1986 film Crocodile Dundee, the ad was actually created to drive an interest in tourism. Here is a shortened version of the mock trailer:

Video credit: Australia on YouTube

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

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Design Indaba held its annual Conference from 21 – 23 February 2018, featuring a group of 34 inspiring speakers from around the world, all leaders in their respective fields, from product design, architecture and film to graphic design and fashion.

Here is a selection of just some of the inspiring things we saw and heard about during the three-day festival of creativity in Cape Town.

Sunu Gonera

Zimbabwean filmmaker Sunu Gonera wants to “take the light of Africa to the world”, to take the stories of Africa to the world. He shared his award-winning Khuli Chana One Source music video for Absolut during his talk, as well as the video for One Source LIVE for Absolut, which focuses on African superheroes. It came as no surprise that he received a standing ovation.

Video credit: Khuli Chana on YouTube

Video credit: Absolut SA on YouTube

Aleksandra Gosiewski

This talented New York-based fashion designer, one of Design Indaba’s Global Graduate speakers, in this case hailing from the Fashion Institute of Technology, is a founding member of Algiknit. This research group creates fibres from kelp. Would you believe these sustainable sneakers are actually made using a combination of kelp and biopolymers?

Image via: designindaba.com

Zach Lieberman

American artist Zach Lieberman, who loves visuals that make your brain work a little harder, creates artworks using code. He posts a new sketch on Instagram every day, just like the one below.

Pebble push #openframeworks

A post shared by zach lieberman (@zach.lieberman) on Feb 23, 2018 at 10:30pm PST

Image credit: Zach Lieberman on Instagram

Tomo Kihara

Tokyo-based playful interventionist and design researcher Tomo Kihara, one of Design Indaba’s Global Graduate speakers, wants to popularise the practice of street debating, which involves collecting public opinions in exchange for spare coins. You can read Tomo’s research here. Those struggling with financial difficulties can buy the product for free, with the design going up to 50 Euros.

Image credit: streetdebater.com

Edel Rodriguez

Some of the more recent work of artist and activist Edel Rodriguez has seen him create a series of memorable (and controversial) works relating to Donald Trump’s presidency, including the below magazine covers for TIME.

Image credit: edelrodriguez.com

Morag Myerscough

London-based multidisciplinary designer Morag Myerscough is known for her colourful creations and bold use of typography. She even created a giant installation on the Artscape’s Piazza as part of the Design Indaba Festival, seen below. Her advice: “You all need to remember to play. Embrace the unknown.” Read our Q&A with Morag here.

Bright and beautiful We’re still mesmerised by @moragmyerscough’s colourful installation at @designindaba.

A post shared by VISI Magazine (@visi_mag) on Feb 23, 2018 at 3:59am PST

Lonny van Ryswyck of Atelier NL

Dutch product designer Lonny van Ryswyck is one of two designers behind a very interesting project called A World of Sand. The studio is calling on people across the globe to send them a sample of sand that Atelier NL will then melt into glass, revealing the specific attributes and colours of the sand from that region. The results, seen below, are amazing. You can submit your sample here.

Image credit: Teun van Beers via ateliernl.com

Thomas Heatherwick

This London-based architect and designer, behind the spectacular Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town, shared both his earlier work, including a pavilion created 26 years ago and the 16-storey-high Vessel project in New York, currently under construction.

Vessel

Vessel

Image credit: heatherwick.com

Alexander Groves and Azusa Murakami of Studio Swine

This British artist and Japanese architect create beautifully designed artworks from unusual materials, including chairs from bits of plastic found on beaches to cabinets made out of aluminium foam (you can read more about the duo’s work here). Their latest project is called New Spring, an interactive tree-like sculpture that uses technology to produce “blossom” bubbles.

Video credit: Studio Swine on Vimeo

Dr William Mapham

Another standing ovation came for Dr William Mapham, who is behind the creation of Vula, an app that assists healthcare workers in rural areas by connecting them with specialists across the country. You can read more about this project here.

Amna ElShandaweely

For Egyptian fashion designer and activist Amna ElShandaweely, changing the world through design and art is paramount. A recent collection, entitled Cairo Punk (seen below), is a proud reflection of her culture.

Image credit: Amna ElShandaweely

Peter Veenstra

Landscape architect Peter Veenstra of LOLA Landscape Architects revealed a plan, hatched in conjunction with Design Indaba and bamboo architectural specialist Olav Bruin, to transform Luthuli Plaza in Cape Town into an green urban space, running all the way from the Cape Town taxi rank to the Artscape. The transformation includes the Dome of Plants, a structure made using natural materials, filled with indigenous flora. And how will this Dome be watered, you ask? By using purified urine from those working in the Civic Centre.

Image credit: designindaba.com

Antón García-Abril and Débora Mesa of Ensamble Studio

Spanish architects Antón García-Abril and Débora Mesa took us through the studio’s work. We featured 5 of their most striking designs, including their Structures of Landscape project, here.

Structures of Landscape

Image credit: Iwan Baan

Mark Kamau

Kenyan user experience and human-centered designer Mark Kamau, whose philosophy is to design with, not for, wants to bring internet access to the three billion people living without it, through the power of the BRCK microserver (read more here). “Africa cannot afford de-contextualised design,” he says. “The stakes are simply too high.”

Tom Dixon

Celebrated British designer Tom Dixon, renowned for his lighting, furniture and product designs, as well as his interior projects, marked the start of his three-month tour around the world at Design Indaba. His impressive body of work includes the MELT pendant light, created in collaboration with Front, which is now available locally at Créma Design.

Image credit: cremadesign.co.za

Tony Brook

Creative director Tony Brook from SPIN design studio in London took the audience through his range of strong brand identities, including the slick new look for the iconic nightclub Ministry of Sound.

Image credit: spin.co.uk

Ini Archibong

Switzerland-based Global Graduate Ini Archibong, founder of Design by Ini, creates products layered with a deeper meaning. A stand-out example of his beautiful work includes the Jadis Lighting Sculpture from his collection entitled In The Secret Garden. The sculptural piece was named after a character in C.S. Lewis’s fantastical children’s book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Image credit: Piotr Niepsu

Alejandro Aravena

Pritzker Prize-winning Chilean architect Alejandro Aravena designs with social impact in mind. We featured 5 of his studio, Elemental’s, striking designs here.

Image credit: Christobal Palma

Johannes Torpe

Danish designer Johannes Torpe, creator of the slick Bang & Olufsen store below, is also behind the proposed Red Mountain Resort in Iceland, a 150-room hotel with 20 separate bungalows that includes an art track featuring pavilions created by five local artists.

Red Mountain Resort

Red Mountain Resort

Image credit: johannestorpe.com / Ikonoform (Red Mountain Resort)

Natasha Jen

Ahead of her talk at Design Indaba, which dealt with the concept of design thinking, we chatted to this New York-based graphic designer and partner at Pentagram about her journey. Read the full interview here.

Identity system for Flour and Salt Bakery

Image credit: Natasha Jen on Behance

Es Devlin

Famed set designer Es Devlin believes in creating visual voices. She’s designed stages for a range of superstars, from Kanye West, Beyoncé and Adele to U2 and Miley Cyrus.

Kanye West’s Yeezus US Arena Tour set

Image credit: esdevlin.com

The Conference ended on a high, with the announcement that the main gallery at Zeitz MOCAA has officially been named after the late legendary cultural icon Hugh Masekela.

What a gorgeous end. We’ve just announced that the @zeitzmocaa has officially named its main gallery after the late, great Hugh Masekela. In a tribute to Bra Hugh, his sister Barbara and nephew joined us on stage, followed by a performance of #ThumaMina by his band and Tshepo Tshola. ?? Long live the legend. ?: @jonx

A post shared by Design Indaba (@designindaba) on Feb 23, 2018 at 9:21am PST

Image credit: Design Indaba on Instagram

For more information about the 2018 Design Indaba Festival, visit designindaba.com.

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On Saturday 20 May, two groups of VISI readers got the opportunity to explore the brand-new Silo Hotel in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront.

The Silo Hotel, run by The Royal Portfolio, is currently featured in our Autumn Issue. Guests were taken on a tour through the Thomas Heatherwick-designed building by the owner of The Royal Portfolio, Liz Biden. Guests were treated to 360-degree rooftop views from the 11th floor, where you’ll find a bar overlooking the harbour, Table Mountain and Lion’s Head and a glass-walled swimming pool.

Apart from a selection of deluxe rooms and the two-storey family suite, readers gained access to both the Penthouse Suite and the Royal Suite, boasting the hotel’s most luxurious amenities, including massage rooms, walk-in wardrobes and private dining rooms.

Guests were also treated to delicious snacks and Graham Beck bubbly, as well as goodie bags, which included the latest issue of VISI and a bottle of Graham Beck Gorgeous Pinot Noir Chardonnay.

Keep up to date with our latest tours here.

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“It’s not about how valuable things are. It’s about enjoying things,” explains Otto de Jager about creating his beautiful home. #VISIGreatSpaces #ontour #decor #design #architecture #interiors #spaces

A photo posted by VISI Magazine (@visi_mag) on Apr 16, 2016 at 1:43am PDT

The tour began with a story about Joburg-based Otto’s home away from home and an insightful explanation into his design style and aesthetic. The 103-year-old Victorian semi detached home underwent an interior facelift, transforming it into his dream home, a serene haven free of wifi, television and other modern-day distractions.

“Each article speaks for itself,” says homeowner Otto de Jager of his house and decor. We love the details seen throughout this magnificent Green Point home. #ontour #VISIGreatSpaces #greatspaces #decor #design #interiors #spaces #outandabout #details

A photo posted by VISI Magazine (@visi_mag) on Apr 16, 2016 at 1:33am PDT

Guests were given the chance to ask Otto questions, mingle, snack on exquisite cakes and sip on Graham Beck Brut while experiencing the space.

A #VISIGreatSpaces tour wouldn’t be complete without a glass of @grahambeckbubbly. #bubbly #wine #grahambeck #ontour #outandabout #refreshing #bubbles #delicious

A photo posted by VISI Magazine (@visi_mag) on Apr 16, 2016 at 2:24am PDT

Guests also took home a trendy goodie bag made by Helen Melon, including the latest issue of VISI (VISI83) and alternating bottles of either Graham Beck Gorgeous or Graham Beck Brut.

Watch what went down:

Keep up to date with upcoming VISI Great Spaces tours at visi.co.za/visi-events.

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Between the sea of countless chairs that typically characterise a visit to the world’s largest design festival, Milan Design Week, three trends spoke to VISI’s passions.

Smart Stone Kitchens

Kitchens were king in Milan this year, not least because of the biennial EuroCucina exhibition at the Salone del Mobile, where the undeniable star of the show was a sink that disappears when not in use. The sink was part of the Tuler responsive kitchen by Offmat, an experimental kitchen project of Italian design studio Marmo Arredo, which also featured concealed stovetops. Indeed, more than just finishes or lifestyles, the new kitchen was barely visible – what Miele’s conceptual installation named the Invisible Kitchen.

Powered by digital technologies, projection mapping and gestural controls, the result is sculptural forms free from messy details and buttons. Rebooting the kitchen with the aid of Caesarstone, Tom Dixon said that he wanted to get away from a “series of equipment” arranged to “hug the walls”. The result is four kitchens based on sculptural forms and the elements – water, air, earth and fire. Using cutting-edge equipment from Electrolux, he also introduced newfangled means of cooking: blasting, vacuuming and large-scale steaming.

Italian food designers Arabeschi di Latte interpreted these modes into black pancakes, freshly dehydrated fruit and roots and aromatic stock with frozen leaves. Similarly peculiar food was served at Lexus’s Anticipation installation. Chef Yoji Tokuyoshi served an aperitif of fish broth, agar agar and mandarin, as well as a nasturtium leaf with a spot of prune, shiso leaves and blueberry relish. Miele too served sweet potato ice cream – the recipe for which can be found here.

Going just beyond the kitchen, the Sapienstone Smart Slab Table by Reed Kram and Clemens Weisshaar for Iris Ceramica includes facilities to heat and cool food.

Kids Design Is Growing

From Kartell to Marcel Wanders for Cybex, design for kids and babes made a big splash, not to mention at least three rocking horses – by Front for Gebrüder Thonet Vienna, Nendo for Kartell and Alvin Tjitrowirjo from Indonesia.

“What a challenge to design a collection for babies, so we thought maybe we should design it for parents,” said Wanders about the Cybex range of embroidered rockers, high chairs, bouncers and toys inspired by his iconic Monster chair. “Going from a couple to a family is already quite a lifestyle change, so maybe you don’t have to change your whole apartment.”

Kartell’s easy-to-wipe plastic is a natural fit for children’s furniture, and it has explored this territory tentatively before. This year however it launched a complete kids collection, including a building block table and series of racing cars (which we featured as a recent Pick of the Week).

Kaleidoscopic Colours

The hue of this year was undoubtedly every shade of pastel pink – pretty on the money for Pantone’s Rose Quartz Colour of the Year. Vitra’s Soft Modular Sofa showed how to snuggle into the colour, while Formafantasma showed that it works just as well in hard-edged minimalism at the Lexus Anticipation exhibition.

What the show-wide palettes of dirty pastels really achieved however was to make the unapologetically rich velvety reds and kaleidoscopic geometric patterns pop out even more. On the red front, Fabio Novembre showed a round leather-clad interior in the Rooms: Novel Living Concepts exhibition at the Triennale Museum, while the Mindcraft exhibition of Danish design spun in a crimson set of turning decks.

A celebration of Ron Arad by Moroso and Javier Mariscal, Spring to Mind included an installation of red chairs in a mirror room. Mirrors, red and geometrics also featured in the Scarlet Splendour collection at Rossana Orlandi, with its striking vanity table. Also at Orlandi, KIGI from Japan showed its Mirror Cup and Saucer.

Patricia Urquiola teamed the salmon and red in her exquisite stained glass collaboration with Federico Pepe for Spazio Pontaccio – Credenza. In her debut as creative director for Cassina, Urquiola further showed her finesse for colours and patterns.

The result of 10 years of research by Hella Jongerius, the Vitra Colour and Material Library drew the crowds. Besides the swatches, an installation of furniture turned into wheels, dropped jaws.

To find out more about this year’s Milan Design Week, visit salonemilano.it. Browse the gallery above to view some of our favourites.

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On Saturday 27 February 2016, a sold-out crowd of VISI readers headed to The Potato Shed and WORK | SHOP | NEW | TOWN in Newtown, Johannesburg for the start of another exciting VISI Great Spaces tour.

Readers gathered in the restaurant and craft brewery, joining VISI deputy editor Annemarie Meintjes and multi-award-winning interior architect and CEO of the LIFE Group of Companies, Maira Koutsoudakis, who spearheaded the design of the establishment. Maira wowed the crowd with historical stories about the space (The Potato Shed is 104-years-old) and took readers through her design process. She stressed that everything starts with an idea, but to be successful, you have to deliver.

Guests also got to walk around the beautiful market space that is WORK | SHOP | NEW | TOWN, a retail precinct that’s packed with over 100 proudly African brands.

Readers were treated to refreshing Graham Beck bubbly, as well as delicious snacks, including mouth-watering red-bun mini burgers and green mielies in ash, before leaving with a handmade VISI goodie bag with the latest issue of VISI, a bottle of Graham Beck and a copy of the 2016 edition of SA Décor & Design.

Want to join us on our next tour? Here’s all the info you need.

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The VISI Great Spaces tour of W Design’s new home studio in Pretoria focused on designing for spatial flexibility.

The tour, which was held in association with Saint-Gobain, was also a great example of how to make the most of a small stand, something many guests were eager to ask architects Johan Wentzel and Grete Van As about, as well as VISI deputy editor Annemarie Meintjes.

As readers sipped on Graham Beck Brut and nibbled on scrumptious cakes, they were able to fully experience the interesting veld garden, as well as the elevated main living space of the studio, which offers great views beyond the stand walls.

Guests left with the latest issue of VISI and a bottle of Graham Beck Brut.

We have more tours coming up! Book your spot right here.

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On Saturday 14 March 2015, we celebrated collaboration and great South African design at our second VISI Great Spaces tour at the Nando’s Central Kitchen in Joburg, in association with Saint-Gobain.

Upon arrival, guests were treated to Graham Beck Brut, orange juice and a selection of delicious Nando’s snacks, before the tour kicked off with VISI deputy editor Annemarie Meintjes, Kirsty Niehaus from Nando’s and renowned interior designer Tracy Lee Lynch.

Walking around the Nando’s space, guests were given access to all parts of this proudly South African brand, including boardrooms, lounge areas, as well as the kitchen itself, with the tour ending at the rooftop bar.

The conversation during the tour covered everything from the brand’s design philosophy to the sourcing process Tracy used when designing the space. There is a wide range of South African design seen throughout the Central Kitchen, which is in line with the brand’s stance on corporate support of the local art industry.

Guests headed home with the latest issue of VISI and a bottle of Graham Beck MCC.

Want to join us on our next VISI Great Spaces tour? Keep an eye on this page.

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