Twenty youngsters from across South Africa have been selected from more than 340 entrants as participants in the prestigious Design Indaba Emerging Creatives programme for 2023.
The purpose of the programme, which is supported by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, is to refine skills and equip participants with tactics to elevate their work to a higher standard and promote it in the marketplace.
For 18 years, the Design Indaba Emerging Creatives platform has successfully launched the careers of gifted creatives, including fashion designer Thebe Magugu, furniture designer Mpho Vackier, jewellery designer Katherine-Mary Pichulik, designer and illustrator Daniel Ting Chong and milliner Crystal Birch, and scores of others.
The curator of this year’s edition is Neo ‘Nene’ Mahlangu, a former Design Indaba Emerging Creative who has successfully paved her way as both an artist and an entrepreneur. Mahlangu hand-picked the 20 participants from a diverse range of backgrounds and artistic disciplines, including photographers, filmmakers, illustrators, fashion designers and artists. ‘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 Creatives talent shining in this year’s selection. It’s clear that the future of creativity in our country is in capable hands.’
The 2023 inductees are:
Christi-Lee du Plessis
Edward Thomas Wakefield
Jessie Zinn
Johnny Allison
Kamil Adam Hassim
Khumo Mohloli Morojele
Mignonne Busser
Naledi Modupi
Nokukhanya Justine Zungu
Oteng Hope Kopiso
Otsile Rorisang Moumakoe
Princia Matungulu
Qeren Fourie
Rejoice Simphiwe Kunene
Riley Axon
Rucita and Viveka Vassen
Sandra Leigh Nagel
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.
