House and Leisure magazine and Woolworths announced the winners of the second annual House and Leisure Green Designers at Woolworths competition at Design Indaba on 25 February 2010.
Dieter Zermatten, from the University of Johannesburg, was awarded first prize for his storage-solution design, Play. The design transforms from a portable storage bag to a play mat. First runner-up was Nolwazi Nandi from Cape Peninsula University of Technology for her throw design. She used patterns and techniques found in Xhosa handcrafts for inspiration to create her throw made of undyed natural fabric. Second runner-up was Corne Edwards from the University of Stellenbosch for her cotton vase-cover design. Edwards used recycled cotton to create colourful covers for everyday vessels.
The top three each walked away with an Apple MacBook and the chance to have their products manufactured and sold at selected Woolworths stores. Zermatten, Nandi and Edwards were chosen from a group of 10 finalists whose designs were on display at this year’s Design Indaba Expo. The 10 finalists each received a R1 000 gift voucher from Woolworths.
“We have achieved our aim this year, which was to allow South Africa’s young designers the opportunity to give expression to their eco friendly designs and also demonstrate how to develop the conceptual design into a retail product,” says Naomi Larkin, editor of House and Leisure.
“This year, together with Woolworths, we have challenged the students to source appropriate manufacturers to help them turn their prototypes into reality and they demonstrated this with ease. Eco friendly design is not only about creating things that will make our lives better without harming the environment, but is also about being responsible in terms of the suppliers and partners used in creating the final product,” concludes Larkin.
Students from seven different design schools participated in this year’s competition. They were mentored by some of South Africa’s leading designers including: Melissa Kerkhoff, owner of Lula Fabrics; Sally Arnold, owner of Karoostar Interiors; Lise Butler and Amanda Haupt, owners of Design Team; Richard Hart, owner of Disturbance; Kate Carlyle, owner of Mustardseed & Moonshine; Philippe Bousquet, jewellery designer; and Pierre Swanepoel, owner of Studiomas.
“Over the past five years we have taken major steps in supporting local design,” says Paul Duncan, head of design, homeware at Woolworths. “This year we are pushing the students to think further than just concept. We're encouraging them to work where possible with our suppliers in an effort to come up with a product that has real commercial value. Good ideas are one thing; good ideas that sell product are quite another. These are the realities of retail.”
The final judging panel for this year’s awards was:
· Paul Duncan: Woolworths, head of design, Homeware
· Cecile Froehling: Woolworths, head of buying, Homeware
· Lynne Harris: Woolworths, design consultant, Homeware
· Marcel Seaman: Woolworths, brand manager, Homeware
· Ralph Jewson: Woolworths, sourcing technologist, Homeware
· Naomi Larkin: Editor, House and Leisure magazine
· Michael Baretta: Business Development Manager, House and Leisure magazine
The judges had the following to say about the winning designs:
Dieter Zermatten’s storage solution: A storage solution that’s innovative, practical and versatile, changing from portable storage bag to play mat.
Nolwazi Nandi’s throw: Eco friendly in every respect from fabrics to dye.
Corne Edwards’s vase: This concept, in which a recyclable glass container is covered in a removable jersey knit, works as a decorative item and as an eco-conscious solution.
House and Leisure magazine and Woolworths announced the winners of the second annual House and Leisure Green Designers at Woolworths competition at Design Indaba on 25 February 2010.
Dieter Zermatten, from the University of Johannesburg, was awarded first prize for his storage-solution design, Play. The design transforms from a portable storage bag to a play mat. First runner-up was Nolwazi Nandi from Cape Peninsula University of Technology for her throw design. She used patterns and techniques found in Xhosa handcrafts for inspiration to create her throw made of undyed natural fabric. Second runner-up was Corne Edwards from the University of Stellenbosch for her cotton vase-cover design. Edwards used recycled cotton to create colourful covers for everyday vessels.
The top three each walked away with an Apple MacBook and the chance to have their products manufactured and sold at selected Woolworths stores. Zermatten, Nandi and Edwards were chosen from a group of 10 finalists whose designs were on display at this year’s Design Indaba Expo. The 10 finalists each received a R1 000 gift voucher from Woolworths.
“We have achieved our aim this year, which was to allow South Africa’s young designers the opportunity to give expression to their eco friendly designs and also demonstrate how to develop the conceptual design into a retail product,” says Naomi Larkin, editor of House and Leisure.
“This year, together with Woolworths, we have challenged the students to source appropriate manufacturers to help them turn their prototypes into reality and they demonstrated this with ease. Eco friendly design is not only about creating things that will make our lives better without harming the environment, but is also about being responsible in terms of the suppliers and partners used in creating the final product,” concludes Larkin.
Students from seven different design schools participated in this year’s competition. They were mentored by some of South Africa’s leading designers including: Melissa Kerkhoff, owner of Lula Fabrics; Sally Arnold, owner of Karoostar Interiors; Lise Butler and Amanda Haupt, owners of Design Team; Richard Hart, owner of Disturbance; Kate Carlyle, owner of Mustardseed & Moonshine; Philippe Bousquet, jewellery designer; and Pierre Swanepoel, owner of Studiomas.
“Over the past five years we have taken major steps in supporting local design,” says Paul Duncan, head of design, homeware at Woolworths. “This year we are pushing the students to think further than just concept. We're encouraging them to work where possible with our suppliers in an effort to come up with a product that has real commercial value. Good ideas are one thing; good ideas that sell product are quite another. These are the realities of retail.”
The final judging panel for this year’s awards was:
· Paul Duncan: Woolworths, head of design, Homeware
· Cecile Froehling: Woolworths, head of buying, Homeware
· Lynne Harris: Woolworths, design consultant, Homeware
· Marcel Seaman: Woolworths, brand manager, Homeware
· Ralph Jewson – Woolworths, sourcing technologist, Homeware
· Naomi Larkin: Editor, House and Leisure magazine
· Michael Baretta: Business Development Manager, House and Leisure magazine
The judges had the following to say about the winning designs:
Dieter Zermatten’s storage solution: A storage solution that’s innovative, practical and versatile, changing from portable storage bag to play mat.
Nolwazi Nandi’s throw: Eco friendly in every respect from fabrics to dye.
Corne Edwards’s vase: This concept, in which a recyclable glass container is covered in a removable jersey knit, works as a decorative item and as an eco-conscious solution.
