INTERACT / ABOUT

CREATIVITY CAN

A BETTER WORLD THROUGH CREATIVITY

Africa by Mirco Ilic

Since 1995, Design Indaba has been committed to a vision that is built on the belief that creativity will fuel an economic revolution in South Africa.

As such, Design Indaba is a celebration of design in a country iconic of the triumph of the human spirit. Proof that even the most intractable problem can be neutralised by the will of the people, resurgent South Africa is a beacon to the world. Design Indaba typifies this can-do spirit through its belief in design and how it can help solve the problems faced by an emerging economy. With the right support, a better future can be designed.

By attracting the world's brightest talent, Design Indaba has become a respected institution on the creative landscape and one of the few global events that celebrates all the creative sectors - graphic design, advertising, film, music, fashion design, industrial design, architecture, craft, visual art, new media, publishing, broadcasting and performing arts sector. Besides the flagship conference and expo,Design Indaba has grown into a multitiered experience that incorporates an extensive range of elements such as events, publications, education, training, business, development and community initiatives.

CREATIVITY INSPIRES

DESIGN INDABA CONFERENCE

With a focus on international thought leadership, the Design Indaba Conference has become one of the world’s leading design events and hosts more than 40 speakers and 2 500 delegates.

Independently curated with a focus on case studies and ingenious problem solving, rather than simply eye-catching portfolios, conference alumni are contemporary industry pacesetters.

In 2005, the Design Indaba Conference was awarded the EIBTM award for Best Conference in the World, and won Best Live Event at the Loerie Awards 2007.

CREATIVITY SELLS

DESIGN INDABA EXPO

The Design Indaba Expo was inaugurated in 2004 and provides a commercial platform for the finest South African designers to leverage goods and services to the local and global markets. It also introduces the most influential international buyers to the finest South African creative products and encourages export.

As the only local platform that welcomes advertising, architecture, craft, décor, film, fashion, graphic design, interior design, jewellery, new media, publishing, product design, and visual media under the same roof, Design Indaba Expo is a celebration of diversity.

CREATIVITY STIMULATES

DESIGN INDABA MAGAZINE

The quarterly Design Indaba magazine was launched in 2001 and serves to spread the impact and values of the Design Indaba Conference and Expo throughout the year, reaching people who are unable to attend, reinforcing fraternity within the creative industries as well as increasing local consumer awareness of high-quality design.

In alignment with the mother event, it offers an inclusive view of design, featuring disciplines including fashion, architecture and animation to product, interior, industrial and jewellery design. The Design Indaba magazine is the only African magazine to win the Best Design for New Magazine Award at the Folio Show in New York and won gold again in the Open Category in 2005. In 2009 it was included in Colophon's Top 100 Most Innovative Magazines in the World.

CREATIVITY ELEVATES

Clinton Friedman's Subtraction

DESIGN INDABA TRUST

The Design Indaba Trust was launched as a not-for-profit company that aims to extend design exposure and training to young people across the creative sectors. We believe that the greatest barrier to entering creative industries for many is simply a lack of knowledge about it.

The lack of educational opportunities are a major structural impediment to transforming South Africa into a centre of design excellence, therefore The Design Indaba Trust awards bursaries to previously disadvantaged youth that enable them to further their studies.

CREATIVITY ENLIGHTENS

DESIGN INDABA WORKSHOPS

The Design Indaba has a special interest in the development of young designers in South Africa.

Throughout the year, the organiser of Design Indaba, Interactive Africa, hosts workshops across the country at selected tertiary institutions in order to help develop young designers in South Africa. During highly interactive five-day themebased workshops, participating lecturers and students have the opportunity to work and interact with leading international and local designers on a specific brief. Some of the designers that have taken part in this initiative include Malcolm Garrett, Oscar Peña, Ilse Crawford, Paula Sher, Vince Frost, Hjalti Karlsson and Jan Wilker.

The end product is always a tangible piece of work that is produced, such as a brochure, book bag or posters. The workshops are funded by Design Indaba and its partners, at minimum cost to the institution and students.

CREATIVITY INFLUENCES

THE YOUNG DESIGNER SIMULCAST

In order to increase accessibility, the Young Designer Simulcast caters to emerging designers, students and young designers (under the age of 25), by offering a live broadcast from the main plenary session to a second auditorium, at a reduced rate. This intervention is in keeping with the Design Indaba philosophy of accessibility, as we strongly believe that the more people exposed to innovative, creative, out-of-the-box thinking, the more significant the impact of creativity and design to the economy

CREATIVITY EXPANDS

THE DESIGN INDABA EXPO
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

While the Design Indaba Expo is largely a showcase of the best, established South African designers, Design Indaba has ensured that emerging designers are also represented through the Emerging Creatives sector programme sponsored by the Design Indaba Trust.

Design Indaba sources emerging designers through various educational institutions, schools, non-governmental -organisations, informal organisations and a general industry call. Entries submitted are subjected to the scrutiny of the Design Indaba curator panel, which determines the final number that will enjoy the opportunity of showcasing work on the floor.

Additional edification is provided in the form of promotion to ensure these up-and-coming designers receive as much exposure as possible. The emerging creatives are tracked and further assistance in the form of networkingand support is provided to enable development.

CREATIVITY ENHANCES

SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS
FOR DESIGN INDABA EXHIBITORS

Seminars and workshops are presented on the Design Indaba Expo floor as part of the value-add to the Design Indaba exhibitors. The topics range from the latest international trends (presented by the Design Indaba Conference speakers) to understanding the business of exporting, intellectual property rights management and other topics relevant to the small business creative.

CREATIVITY PROVIDES

DESIGN EDUCATION AT SCHOOLS
Together with two of the official sponsors to Design Indaba – Woolworths and Sappi – Design Indaba is the creative platform in the Making A Difference Through Design initiative, which promotes design education at a school level . The intention of the programme is to promote design education and employment opportunities at school level.

CREATIVITY WORKS

ADVOCACY

As the Design Indaba institution has grown, it has taken a leadership position in South Africa, driving advocacy programmes to promote the creative industries among business, government, academia and civil society.

Creative Industries: The Sleeper in South African Economy is a document compiled by Design Indaba and was briefed to cabinet ministers and the Office of the President it and inspired the formation of a government task team that plotted a way forward in creating a coherent, cohesive national strategy for the creative industries. As a result the creative industries sector is one of nine sectors that have been earmarked by the government to form part of an accelerated growth strategy aiming for a 6% GDP growth rate.

Through advocacy, Design Indaba hopes to expand South Africa’s global reach by increasing the international delegate base, promotion of South Africa for tourism development, encouraging export of South African design goods, and being part of the process of growing the creative industry towards sustainable job creation and development.

CREATIVITY UPLIFTS

DESIGN INDABA 10X10
LOW-COST HOUSING PROJECT

Launched at Design Indaba 2007, the 10x10 Low-Cost Housing Project challenged 10 handpicked local architectural teams, supported by 10 international alumni from previous Design Indaba Conferences, to provide innovative and dynamic design solutions for the low-cost housing sector.

The inaugural $100 000 Curry Stone Humanitarian Design Prize went to MMA Architects for their sand-bag solution to Design Indaba's challenge. The international prize is awarded annually to recognise breakthrough design solutions with the potential to improve our lives and the world we live in.

Sustainable, energy-efficient design, construction and operation techniques have been incorporated. The design principles will be encapsulated in a manual to be presented to the Minister of Housing, so that they can be added to the low-cost housing database, as well as be provided as architectural open source available to all.

CREATIVITY ENCOURAGES

DESIGN INDABA 10X10 INDUSTRIAL PROJECT

The Design Indaba 10x10 Industrial Project matches 10 local manufacturing Companies with 10 design groups (made up of local and international designers) to collaborate, design and manufacture new products for export.

All companies involved have distinct competencies in a variety of niches such as injection moulding or sheet metal work. As suppliers to bigger manufacturers, these companies often become buried in the value chain.

The 10x10 industrial projects aim to give these companies new scope and a sizeable morale boost by producing their own marketable products. The trickledown effect includes increased exports and job creation.

Design Indaba