South Africa is set to host a new design week this October that will be split between Cape Town and Johannesburg to provide a platform for the cities’ local design scenes.
Founded by fashion designer Margot Molyneux, Design Week South Africa will see each city host four days of exhibitions, installations and events.
The festival hopes to build on the legacy left by Cape Town’s global design conference Design Indaba, hosted by the design platform of the same name, which has not been held since the coronavirus pandemic.
“It was an incredible initiative and addition to our city, and the local design community at large,” Molyneux told Dezeen. “It has certainly left a gap.”
“I don’t see Design Week South Africa as an answer to this void, rather my hope is that it is a continuation of their good work and the growth generated,” she added.
“South Africans are a resilient and creative nation, and with the belief that there is still so much more for us to show the world, Design Week South Africa was born.”
The design week will kick off with four days of events in Johannesburg, the country’s largest city, on Thursday 10 October, while Cape Town will pick up the baton two weeks later from 24 October.
Designers, makers and brands are invited to participate via an open call, with each city set to host a different programme.
“We are busy navigating just how different, as the two cities are quite different in many ways,” Molyneux said.
Furnituremakers Ex Hotel and Haldane, jewellery label Pichulik and fashion brands Uni Form, Lezanne Viviers and Artclub & Friends are among the participants locked in for this year’s edition, sponsored by South African fintech company Yoco.
The aim is to include a wide spread of disciplines including interior, product and furniture design alongside architecture and urban planning.
“South Africa is fortunate enough to have so much creativity and ingenuity, despite the sometimes tricky working conditions,” said Molyneux, who is organising the event with arts editor Zanele Kumalo and Roland Postma of the Young Urbanists.
“We believe that these city-wide events will help to showcase a new wave of local creatives and inspire the next generation, without the barrier to entry often experienced with traditional conventions and showcases.”
In other design event news, design platform Alcova recently expanded into Miami, launching at the city’s art week, while Design Miami has launched a Paris edition.
Graphics created by Hoick for Design Week South Africa.
Design Week South Africa will take place in Johannesburg from 10 to 13 October and in Cape Town from 24 to 27 October 2024. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.
