It's All Systems Go for Design Indaba Expo 2015

Expect African design and innovation at this year's 2015 Design Indaba Expo and Conference. 

Launched in 1995 and built on the belief that creativity will fuel an economic revolution in South Africa, it is the only creative platform that welcomes all aspects of creativity and provides creators with a platform to showcase their designs. The 2015 Design Indaba is looking for exciting, inspiring developments in any field of design that are gaining significant traction in Africa and impacting the way in which people live and work.

The aim is to focus on solutions that are tailor-made to conditions in Africa in any industry where design has played a role. It is open to the public from Friday 27 February to Sunday 1 March 2015 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). 

A call for entries has been sent out for the following exhibitions and programmes:

1) 2015 Africa is Now Exhibition:

Following the success of the 2014 Africa is Now exhibition, we are putting out a call for emerging, established and unexpected design from across Africa. This exhibition marks the shift of Design Indaba's vision to increasingly focus more on Africa and try to open dialogue and trade within the creative community with our neighbours to the north. There were five themes in the exhibition:

• Africa is Sharp!
• Africa is Tradition
• Africa is Urban
• Africa is Resourceful
• Africa is Tradition Reinvented

2) Take Two: Second Life of Objects Exhibition:

All designers breathing new life into old things are invited to be part of an exciting new exhibition on the second life of objects. 

If you are able to see the potential of a new object within the bones of the old, submit your design to be included in the Take Two exhibition at Design Indaba Expo 2015. This is the opportunity to exhibit your work at the largest curated design festival on the African continent.

The focus of this exhibition is specifically on furniture and functional home accessories including lights, lamps, chairs, stools, ottomans, tables, storage, vases, bowls or soft furnishings.

Deadlines for entries: 31 October 2014.

3) Design Indaba’s Emerging Creatives programme:

The programme picks the most talented emerging young South African designers, artists, photographers and innovators to exhibit their work on the Design Indaba Expo floor alongside some of the country’s foremost creatives. 

As an Emerging Creative you’ll have the opportunity to meet local and international buyers, market your products and services to the public, learn from your more established peers and network with one another.

Read more about the Emerging Creatives programme.

Deadlines for entries: 31 October 2014.

2015 Design Indaba Innovation Award

Remember, as a 2015 Design Indaba Expo exhibitor you are also eligible for the Innovation Award.

The award recognises designs that push the boundaries through product design, material application or production processes and comes with a R50 000 cash prize courtesy of Adams & Adams. 

Apply for this exciting award before 15 January 2015. 

Kindly Note

Make sure you upload low-res images of the work you are proposing for the exhibition.

If you don’t have Internet access, you can post your submissions to:

For more information on all of these please consult the Design Indaba website.