We take for granted that cities like Milan and London – now synonymous with design weeks – have always been just that: capitals of creativity. Once a year, industry and interested types gather in global hubs like these and spend a few busy days immersing themselves in exhibitions and activities scattered across the landscape.
There are shows in old buildings featuring furniture by student designers, fancy displays at salons of the world’s best new items, fashion shows in parks, dinners at shops, talks at art exhibitions. Precincts and areas come alive with humans flocking to be part of this multidisciplinary energy.
Of course, as Margot Molyneux, founder of the upcoming and inaugural Design Week South Africa, points out, the assumption that those hotspots have always functioned as design cities isn’t actually true. “Those places have made that happen and it’s a lesson for us,” she says, adding: “It’s entirely possible to mobilise ourselves. We don’t need government to do it, and we don’t need to be in expensive convention centers and the likes either.”
This sort of community and city-centred, inclusive thinking is certainly what’s driving the event, which runs in Joburg from October 10 to 13 and then in Cape Town from October 24 to 27.
Ultimately, the project curates a calendar of events across the respective cities and across the week that highlights great design and creativity in some way. Have a look at the team’s interactive website and you get the point.
For example, on Saturday October 12, in the City of Gold, there’s a Joburg Heritage Foundation walking tour of Northcliff that will take in the architectural highlights of the suburb (we’ve done a similar one and it is fantastic). Then, across the city, there’s a studio visit at the Maxhosa Factory in Village Deep and a print-making workshop at Origin Art in Rosebank.
Also planned are cycle events, book discussions, even a fashion range launch. Local brands involved include Viviers, TheUrbanative, Kalashnikovv Gallery and the fantastic Food I Love You. The latter has teamed up with two of Joburg’s favourite creatives, Cassandra Twala and Lulama Wolf, to host Supperclub on Friday October 11, and it’s certain to be a fantastic gig.
The project is sponsored by Yoco – the local payment solution – which probably provides credit card facilities for half the businesses involved. Its little turquoise card machines, with their affordable tech and payment solutions, have enabled countless young designers and start-ups.
A creative hub
This sense of inclusivity is one that seems to permeate across Design Week. There is no entry fee to take part – would-be participants enter online and then Molyneux and her team (which includes Joburg creative powerhouse Zanele Kumalo and Young Urbanists’ Roland Postma) vet the applicants to ensure they’re of a good standard.
As Molyneux explains it: “We decided who could be part of it based on product, whether the brands had the availability to put something unique together. We didn’t want bubbles and a late opening, and we tried to include a variety of brands in different sectors to offer unusual experiences and diversity.”
Design Week South Africa hasn’t curated one specific exhibition, she adds, but rather highlights the work of others. Ultimately the idea is to connect makers but also to get communities involved.
In the case of Joburg, it’s refreshing to see such positive productivity amid the mire of political disappointment and potholes.
“Joburg has some of the finest design brands,” Kumalo is quick to point out.
Plus there’s an important economic imperative – all of this is being done by private businesses. It’s easy to forget how many people designers and related entrepreneurs employ; there are shop assistants, factory workers, junior designers, drivers – the ecosystem is vast.
“Ultimately, we also hope that South Africans, and in particular youngsters get to see that there is so much talent here and that South Africans are capable of so much,” says Molyneux.
You don’t always need to fly to Milan to see a bit of magic.
