The 21st annual Design Indaba conference starts in Cape Town tomorrow and I am so excited that I can’t imagine how I will be able to sleep tonight. I have been privileged enough to go to the conference 5 times in the last 6 years and I always leave there with the most incredible sense of not only limitless possibility, but also great responsibility. As a designer, it is my responsibility to curiously look at the world around me and see what I can change for the better, to make a difference and the theme for the 2015 conference is exactly that: Make. Change. We can all use creativity to make the world a better place.
The Design Indaba inspires and empowers people to create a better future through design and creativity. With a focus on international thought leadership, Design Indaba Conference has become one of the world’s leading design events and they have been doing just that since1995.
The aim of the conference is to showcase creative solutions to our world, more than just impressive portfolios. The event does not only feature designers but also artists, architects, entertainers, philosophers, chefs, musicians, photographers and many other creative disciplines. There are certainly also a few job descriptions that you have never even thought of like Transdisciplinary Designers – I can’t wait to find out what that is!
The Cape Town conference forms part of the bigger Design Indaba Festival and runs over 3 days, featuring 25 inspiring speakers from across the globe. This year’s line-up includes contemporary graphic design icon Michael Beirut, product designer Hella Jongerius, chief philosophic officer of Burning Man Larry Harvey and Nando’s co-founder Robbie Brozin. There are various auxiliary music and film events across the city as well – for a full list click on the graphics below.
Li Edelkoort will be hosting her annual Trend Forecast – always a very enlightening event – on Saturday 28Feb so be sure to book your tickets for that now! The conference ends with the Design Indaba Expo from 27Feb to 01Mar featuring the best creativity that Africa has to offer. Some of our favourite creatives like ArtVraat Design, Lauren Fowler, Victoria Verbaan, Liesl Trautman and Siyanda Mbele are all showcasing their work, so don’t miss the opportunity to see them all under one roof.
The Emerging Creatives program is a wonderful platform for young designers to showcase their work, and this year the talent is incredible. I will be looking forward to seeing what these 40 young creatives are doing at the Expo.
The conference is already sold out but the recordings of the speakers will be available to watch later this year on the Design Indaba website so you don’t have to miss out. Or if amazing shopping and soaking in creativity is more your thing, visit the expo at CTICC from this Friday.
We live in a designed world, and great design only makes things better for everyone.
click the image to watch the TV ad for the Design Indaba Make. Change. 2015 Campaign.
I will be sending snippets from the expo via our social media channels, so follow us to stay in the loop!
