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Conference Talks

Watch the full talks from Design Indaba's world-renowned 24-year Conference in this archive of videos going back to 2006.

From our archives: Michael Bierut on how to think like a designer
Conference Talks • Design Indaba Conference 2015 • Duration 00:39:15
Michael Bierut runs us through some of his major projects and the thought processes behind them: a rare opportunity to get into his award-winning mind.
  • Van Eijk & Van der Lubbe 00:35:31
    Designing for the bigger picture with Van Eijk & Van der Lubbe
    Design Thinking
    It’s all a matter of perception.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • 00:34:08
    Fun over function with product designer Jaime Hayón
    Architecture & Interiors / Product Design
    Whimsical Spanish designer Jaime Hayón explores materials and storytelling through products he creates with a childlike sense of fun.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Warren Du Preez and Nick Thorton Jones are London-based image makers, artists and film makers who've worked with Bjork, Alexander McQueen and Iris Van Herpen 00:48:40
    The craft of image creation with W&N Studios
    Art & Photography / Film & Animation / Music & Sound Design
    Warren Du Preez and Nick Thorton Jones are London-based image makers, artists and film makers who've worked with Bjork, Alexander McQueen and Iris Van Herpen.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Elena Arzak at Design Indaba 2016 00:27:57
    Through the eyes of a chef with Elena Arzak
    Food Design
    The restaurants of San Sebastián, Spain are home to Michelin stars and gastronomy and Arzak is no different.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • In the most creatively courageous way, London-based creative agency NB Studio wrote a play of their Design Indaba Conference Talk. Turn Table: The Anatomy of a Pitch 00:40:56
    Turn Table: The Anatomy of a Pitch
    Graphic Design & Illustration / Information Design
    In the most creatively courageous way, London-based creative agency NB Studio wrote a play of their Design Indaba Conference Talk.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • London-based creative agency NB Studio created a theatrical only-at-Design Indaba experience with a play that reveals the tensions at a design pitch 00:25:45
    NB Studio on being brave, bold and creatively courageous
    Graphic Design & Illustration / Information Design
    London-based creative agency NB Studio created a theatrical only-at-Design Indaba experience with a play that reveals the tensions at a design pitch.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Lava Lab 00:32:57
    Lava Lab on the millennial renaissance
    Design Thinking / Interaction Design
    Members of Amsterdam-based studio Lava Lab, Cecilia Martin and Klasien van de Zandschulp are risk takers with a deliberately disruptive approach to work.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Alex McDowell at Design Indaba 2016 00:38:20
    Alex McDowell on telling stories that shape the future
    Film & Animation
    A veteran of the cinematic arts, renowned designer Alex McDowell believes that storytelling has the power to influence design.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Snask at Design Indaba 2016 00:38:22
    Snask on the power of provocative branding
    Art & Photography / Creative Economy / Graphic Design & Illustration
    Stockholm-based creative agency Snask is known for rockstar-inspired, pink, provocative designs.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Chanel Cartell and Stevo Dirnberger from How Far From Home at Design Indaba Conference 2016 00:29:32
    How Far From Home on over 100 000 kilometres of creative enlightenment
    African Design / Art & Photography / Design Thinking
    South Africans Chanel Cartell and Stevo Dirnberger abandoned the comforts of home to reinvigorate their creativity.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Fred Gelli on designing an Olympic identity that connects to anyone and everyone 00:33:33
    Fred Gelli on designing an Olympic identity that connects anyone and everyone
    Design Thinking / Graphic Design & Illustration
    Co-founder of Tátil Design Fred Gelli talks about the award-winning firm’s ten design principles and what inspired the Olympic and Paralympic logo.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Basia Dzaman 00:08:42
    Basia Dzaman on the intersection of robotics and creativity
    Industrial Design
    A Polish student from the School of Form in Poznań, Poland has designed a robotic arm that reimagines the lost art of snutki.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Performance artist Francois Knoetze's trash monsters are a bleak and beautiful reflection of our consumer culture 00:07:00
    Francois Knoetze on representations of waste and consumer culture
    African Design / Art & Photography
    Performance artist Francois Knoetze's trash monsters are a bleak and beautiful reflection of our consumer culture and the waste it creates.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Sou Fujimoto at Design Indaba Conference 2016 00:24:17
    Sou Fujimoto on multi-layered and conceptual architecture
    Architecture & Interiors / Design Thinking
    Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto’s philosophical body of work explores architecture that doesn’t dictate any particular behaviour to its users.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Kazuya Kawasaki/Design Indaba Conference 2016 00:06:44
    Kazuya Kawasaki on biohacking the fashion industry
    Design Activism / Fashion & Jewellery Design
    Speculative designer and Keio University student Kazuya Kawasaki grows new materials for the fashion industry.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Benjamin Hubert at Design Indaba 2016 00:39:34
    Benjamin Hubert on how to redesign the way you work to make a bigger, better impact
    Industrial Design / Product Design
    Design by numbers. British industrial designer Benjamin Hubert shares a bit of data about his journey through the design industry.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Studio [D] Tale at Design Indaba Conference 2016 00:21:57
    Studio [D] Tale on design activism and innovation within existing systems
    Architecture & Interiors / Design Activism / Urban & Landscape Design
    Social impact designers Studio [D] Tale talk about innovating within informal economies and interventions in existing, sometimes backward, systems.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Twins Cartoon on comics as power, beauty and expression 00:23:32
    Twins Cartoon on comics as power, beauty and expression
    Art & Photography / Graphic Design & Illustration
    Identical twin brothers Mohamed and Haitham El-seht are at the heart of Egypt’s creative scene.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Tony Gum at Design Indaba Conference 2016 00:08:23
    Tony Gum on nourishing and celebrating your personal art
    African Design / Art & Photography
    Still an undergraduate, Tony Gum calls herself an “artist in learning” and talks about how she is still learning to celebrate and understand her art.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Thomas Chapman on reconnecting a fractured city 00:25:28
    Thomas Chapman on reconnecting a fractured city
    Architecture & Interiors
    South African architect Thomas Chapman is fixing the past using layers of new design.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Pia Nyakairu 00:06:41
    Pia Nyakairu on products that help form connections
    African Design / Interaction Design
    Ugandan industrial designer Pia Nyakairu shares her work on products that aid connection as part of Design Indaba’s Global Graduates programme.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Rich Mnisi Design Indaba Conference 2016 00:06:29
    Rich Mnisi on building a fresh fashion brand in South Africa
    African Design / Fashion & Jewellery Design
    South African designer Rich Mnisi shares his creative journey (catwalk included) as part of the Global Graduates selection at Design Indaba Conference 2016.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • 00:14:59
    The Venus Bushfires on storytelling and bridging the middle
    African Design / Music & Sound Design
    Helen Isibor-Epega, who performs as The Venus Bushfires, is an optimist, dreamer and musical storyteller who uses her art to build bridges across cultures.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016
  • Ng'endo Mukii uses animation to challenge perceptions. 00:18:41
    Ng'endo Mukii on the re-animation of indigenous people
    African Design / Film & Animation
    Animator Ng’endo Mukii talks about her use of animation and movement to challenge deep-seated perspectives.
    Design Indaba Conference 2015
  • Van Eijk & Van der Lubbe 00:35:31
    Designing for the bigger picture with Van Eijk & Van der Lubbe
    Design Thinking
    It’s all a matter of perception.
    Design Indaba Conference 2016

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