Design Joburg 2022 kicks off in May

Now in its fourth year, Design Joburg is a showcase of interiors and design, fashion, architecture and sustainable design practices in South Africa.
Image supplied: Trevor Stuurman of Cote D'ivoire
Image supplied: Trevor Stuurman of Cote D'ivoire

Design Joburg is on from 19 to 21 May 2022 at the Sandton Convention Centre, while the fringe event - Design Joburg Collective (which will include industry walk-arounds, trend talks and networking events) kicks off on 17 May and will be live in nearby décor and design districts Kramerville and 44 Stanley.

A host of South Africa's top creatives including multi-award-winning designer Rich Mnisi, award-winning contemporary multimedia visual artist, Trevor Stuurman, industry icon Maira Koutsoudakis, creative director Natura .co-Lab Manthe Ribane Liebmann and Cocoon Lifestyle founder Bilala Mabuza - all hailing from Johannesburg - will be taking part in Design Joburg.

The Creative Panel driving this year’s collaborations and highlights include some of the city’s finest creative minds including Trevor Stuurman, Manthe Ribane Liebmann, Mabuza and ideas synthesiser Sir Abner Makgamatha. Collectively they’re driving collaborations and highlights and have pooled their resources to create a deeply immersive experience that embraces technology and tech innovations, sustainable design practices, explorations and a post-pandemic response to the world as we know it.

As much a cerebral as a social event, Design Joburg is an opportunity to grab a glass of bubbly, mingle with local talents and fellow cognoscenti and get up close and personal with some of the most exciting and stimulating creative endeavours happening in the décor and design arenas right now.

Must-see and do’s at Design Joburg

The Design Theatre will be a space to pause and catch up on fascinating and eye-opening design-focused talks, both from local shapeshifters and commenters and international mavens, who will be broadcast via the Design London platform. Mabuza will lead the curation of this engagement space.

Headline sponsor Sanlam Private Wealth is presenting a showcase of brand-new work by female creatives Mpho Vackier from The Urbanative, Imiso Ceramics’ Zizi Poswa and Candice Lawrence from Modern Gesture.

Image supplied: Manthe Ribane Liebmann will take part in Design Joburg 2022
Image supplied: Manthe Ribane Liebmann will take part in Design Joburg 2022

The Architects’ Gallery is a showcase of some of the country’s finest architectural projects. This year, however, the introduction of a three-dimensional immersive element will bring each of the buildings in the gallery to life.

Always a hit with visitors, the Hendrick’s Gin Bar returns using the iconic gin’s signature blend of 11 botanicals as its design cue.

Once Again, the show’s restaurant will be a focal point and an immersive space where design, architecture and food converge.

The Retail Corridor is a dedicated space where visitors can take a slew of locally designed lust-haves home with them – from cushions to ceramics and of course a phone full of images to mull over for further at-home inspiration.

Into the metaverse: Virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and other cutting-edge digital technologies are amongst the key features at Design Joburg 2022, with visitors being treated to an immersive trip into the metaverse, a series of expert talks, architecture, interior and design, as well as life in general.

Image by Themba Mokase: Sir Abner Makgamatha will be a speaker at the Design Theatre
Image by Themba Mokase: Sir Abner Makgamatha will be a speaker at the Design Theatre

Architectural Tours: This year’s programme includes designer-led in-person building tours of iconic buildings including The Bank in Rosebank designed by Daffonchio Architects and The Leonardo in Sandton, designed by Co-Arc International Architects. The tours will have a brand-new VR component that will allow visitors to experience buildings from the inside without even leaving the gallery.

Tickets can be purchased here.

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