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Black patent leather shoes and wide-leg pants stand on a deep red carpet, conveying a sense of elegance and sophistication.

Capitec handmadeAFRICA Pavilion

Resume

Year

2023

Client

Capitec Bank

Project

Platform

Categories

Strategy & Creative Direction Complete rebrand from Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair to Capitec handmadeAFRICA Creative concept and vision for the platform Travelling format concept and strategy Integration into Decorex Africa 2025 as the Capitec handmadeAFRICA Design MRKT Brand & Identity New visual identity and graphic design Typography and typeface direction Editorial positioning and tone of voice All branded collateral and applications Curation: Selection and curation of 40+ continental makers Continental maker research and outreach Buying direction Production & Build Stand design and build Merchandising and display direction Spatial layout and experience design Programming & Events Event production across multiple cities Travelling format execution Programming and activation Communications Press and communications strategy Social media direction and content Public-facing language and editorial content

Credits

Alan Hayward — co-curator Garreth van Niekerk — co-curator Klara van Wyngaarden — exhibition design Taurai Tavatake — branding design Heather Reid — branding and pamphlet design Bianca Jacobs — branding design Woke Africa — partnerships Bronwyn Coppola — media and press BambiZulu — Chela Broom Sizwe Sama Sibisi — tapestries LRNCE (Morocco) — ceramic plates Roxas (Morocco) — functional sculptures Xammi Namibia — ceramics Leatile Mosime (Botswana) — Tswana furniture Bombisa — paper sculptures Sylvester Zanoxolo Mqeku — sand cast ceramics Kind Kid — art toys African Robots & SPACECRAFT — Hot Mesh Maya Luminaire d'Afrique — lighting collaboration with BambiZulu, Beauty Ngxongo, Ngwenya Glass

A curated pavilion presenting ten continental makers under the theme The Future of the Handmade — framing African craft not as heritage preservation but as a dynamic, evolving language of innovation, identity and self-expression. Presented at 100% Design Africa, Cape Town, and Johannesburg, as a dedicated exhibition space within the continent's largest design fair.

Input

An opportunity to present handmadeAFRICA not as a market but as a curated exhibition — giving each maker the space, language and context to present their work as serious contemporary design. A thematic framework that could hold ten very different practices under one coherent argument.

Output

Ten makers across ceramics, textiles, furniture, sculpture, lighting and art toys. The first collaborative object commission — the BambiZulu x handmadeAFRICA Chela Broom. The Luminaire d'Afrique — a multi-partner lighting collaboration bringing together BambiZulu, master weaver Beauty Ngxongo, Ngwenya Glass and specialist manufacturers. A fully designed and published catalogue, gift bag, press packs. A thematic exhibition that argued, in the heart of Africa's biggest design fair, that the handmade is the future of African luxury.

Two men in dress shirts stand against a striped background. One adjusts his tie, both look thoughtful and focused, conveying a professional tone.
Two men in dress shirts stand against a striped background. One adjusts his tie, both look thoughtful and focused, conveying a professional tone.
A young man in a white shirt and tie sits on the floor, surrounded by scattered papers. He looks down at a document, appearing focused and pensive.
Young man in a formal outfit with a striped shirt, grey tie, and black coat. The tone is serious and professional, emphasizing subdued elegance.

"Capitec has always believed in creative problem-solving. By backing African designers and small businesses, we're helping to grow our creative economy and share our stories with the world."

"Capitec has always believed in creative problem-solving. By backing African designers and small businesses, we're helping to grow our creative economy and share our stories with the world."

Asha Patel

Head of Brand and Communications, Capitec Bank

Man in a white shirt reclines in a chair on a red carpet, talking on the phone. Scattered papers surround him, conveying stress or disarray.
Man in a white shirt reclines in a chair on a red carpet, talking on the phone. Scattered papers surround him, conveying stress or disarray.
A person in business attire lies amidst scattered papers and folders on a red carpet, holding a phone receiver. The scene conveys chaos and stress.
A person in business attire lies amidst scattered papers and folders on a red carpet, holding a phone receiver. The scene conveys chaos and stress.
A man in a grey shirt sits in a dim office, gazing seriously at a computer screen. Blinds and office supplies create a focused and professional atmosphere.
Person in a dark shirton a phone call, seated at a desk with papers, exudes a thoughtful, focused demeanor. Background shows dark horizontal blinds.

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A person in a red coat with earmuffs and large sunglasses smiles while lying on snow, arms outstretched, conveying joy and warmth in a winter setting.