Design Indaba
Product Design in Cape Town

Design Indaba drives a better world through creativity with conferences, expos, magazines and projects that improve the quality of living in Cape Town and the world.

Designer Directory Our database of African and international creatives and companies making waves in the design world. Design Indaba is committed to a vision that is built on the belief that creativity will fuel an economic revolution in South Africa. As such, Design Indaba is a celebration of design in a country iconic of the triumph of the human spirit. Proof that even the most intractable problem can be neutralised by the will of the people, resurgent South Africa is a beacon to the world. Design Indaba typifies this can-do spirit through its belief in design and how it can help solve the problems faced by an emerging economy. With the right support, a better future can be designed. Besides the flagship conference and expo, Design Indaba has grown into a multitiered experience that incorporates an extensive range of elements such as events, publications, education, training, business, development and community initiatives. Design Indaba was born from the upsurge of confidence in South Africa’s post-1994 future with a vision that the creative shall inherit the earth. Our continent’s natural resources are both a blessing and a curse, having led to insufficient investment in human capital. But Interactive Africa realised that if we looked to our own competencies and attempted to nurture the industries in which we operate, South Africa would be successful. Design Indaba's primary aim therefore is to advance the cause of design as a communication fundamental, a business imperative and a powerful tool in industry and commerce, awakening and driving a demand for investment in intellectual capital. It will take a generation to begin to see a turnaround. Investing nearly two decades in this vision, Design Indaba has championed the creative revolution. Encouraging local creativity to go global, for ten years Design Indaba Expo provided a commercial platform for South African designers to showcase local goods and services to the global market through influential international buyers. This has now evolved into national brands and institutions like MBOISA and Emerging Creatives and this online platform at designindaba.com, which showcases the best of South African design alongside the best global creative work. Besides the flagship Conference and Expo, Design Indaba has grown into a multitiered experience that now incorporates other events, media, education, training, activism, advocacy and business development.