Students encouraged to take green prototypes from idea to retail
Last night we were invited by House and Leisure magazine and Woolworths to the announcement of the winners of the second annual House and Leisure Green Designers at Woolworths competition at Design Indaba. Dieter Zermatten from the University of Johannesburg was awarded first prize for his storage-solution design, Play. The design transforms from a portable storage bag to a play mat. First runner up was Nolwazi Nandi from Cape Peninsula University of Technology for her throw design. She used patterns and techniques found in Xhosa handcrafts for inspiration to create her throw made of undyed natural fabric. Second runner-up was Corne Edwards from the University of Stellenbosch for her cotton vase-cover design. Corne used recycled cotton to create colourful covers for everyday vessels.
The top three each walked away with an Apple MacBook and the chance to have their products manufactured and sold at selected Woolworths stores. Dieter, Nolwazi and Corne were chosen from a group of 10 finalists whose designs are on display at this year’s Design Indaba Expo. The 10 finalists each received a R1 000 gift voucher from Woolworths.
“We have achieved our aim this year, which was to allow South Africa’s young designers the opportunity to give expression to their ecofriendly designs and also demonstrate how to develop the conceptual design into a retail product,” says Naomi Larkin, editor of House and Leisure. “This year, together with Woolworths, we have challenged the students to source appropriate manufacturers to help them turn their prototypes into reality and they demonstrated this with ease.
“Ecofriendly design is not only about creating things that will make our lives better without harming the environment, but is also about being responsible in terms of the suppliers and partners used in creating the final product,” concludes Larkin.
Students from seven different design schools participated in this year’s competition. They were mentored by some of South Africa’s leading designers including, Melissa Kerkhoff, owner of Lula Fabrics; Sally Arnold, owner of Karoostar Interiors; Lise Butler and Amanda Haupt, owners of Design Team; Richard Hart, owner of Disturbance; Kate Carlyle, owner of Mustardseed & Moonshine; Philippe Bousquet, jewellery designer; and Pierre Swanepoel, owner of Studiomas.
“Over the last five years we have taken major steps in supporting local design,” says Paul Duncan, head of design, homeware at Woolworths. “This year we are pushing the students to think further than just concept. We´re encouraging them to work where possible with our suppliers in an effort to come up with a product that has real commercial value. Good ideas are one thing; good ideas that sell product are quite another. These are the realities of retail.”
The final judging panel for this year’s awards was:
- Paul Duncan: Woolworths, head of design, Homeware
- Cecile Froehling: Woolworths, head of buying, Homeware
- Lynne Harris: Woolworths, design consultant, Homeware
- Marcel Seaman – Woolworths, brand manager, Homeware
- Ralph Jewson – Woolworths, sourcing technologist, Homeware
- Naomi Larkin – Editor, House and Leisure magazine
- Michael Baretta – Business Development Manager, House and Leisure magazine
The judges had the following to say about the winning designs:
Dieter Zermatten’s storage solution: A storage solution that’s innovative, practical and versatile, changing from portable storage bag to play mat.
Nolwazi Nandi’s throw: Ecofriendly in every respect from fabrics to dye.
Corne Edwards’s vase: This concept, in which a recyclable glass container is covered in a removable jersey knit, works as a decorative item and as en eco-conscious solution.
The 10 finalists for the House and Leisure Green Designers at Woolworths Competition were:
- Corne Edwards – Vase: ‘Cotton Vase’ – University of Stellenbosch: Visual Communication Design
- Cara Siegers – Rug: ‘Cotton On’ Design Time School of Interior Design
- Lee Chee Mee – Vase: ‘Mayk-up Vase’ – University of Stellenbosch: Visual Communication Design
- Nolwazi Nandi – Throw: Surface Design’ – Cape Peninsula University of Technology: Surface Design
- Megan Amon – Throw: ‘Tribal Autumn’ – Cape Peninsula University of Technology: Surface Design
- Jessica Hamilton – Throw: ‘Dune’ – Cape Peninsula University of Technology: Surface Design
- Dieter Zermatten – Storage Solution: ‘Play’ – University of Johannesburg: Industrial Design
- Rudi Snyman – Task Light: ‘Pet Lamp’ – Tshwane University of Technology: Industrial Design
- Koketso Komane: Storage Solution: ‘Mo Less Storage’ – University of Johannesburg: Industrial Design
- Thomas de Beer – Notepad: ‘Earthenware Notepad’ – Durban University of Technology: Graphic Design
The Design Indaba will be on at the CTICC from 26 – 28 February. Don’t miss it, it really is worth the visit there is so much local talent out there – we were really impressed!
The liveeco team
