South African décor design

A precious Ardmore design being completed.

© Chris Marais

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There’s a little shop in Cape Town’s city centre that embodies much of what South African décor design is about. It’s called African Image, and walking inside is like entering a busy, creative hive.

African Image sells décor objects, designed and created by South Africans and Africans beyond our borders, in our townships and our studios. Much of the design originates ‘out of the box’, displaying innovative new directions and exciting ideas. It’s all a mix of function, colour, whimsy and fusion – and much of it would look quite marvellous in your living room.

Speak to South African décor designers and they’ll tell you it’s an exciting time to be working in this country. They predict that environmental awareness is going to play a bigger role in how décor is designed and utilised.

But they also say that pure enjoyment, design ‘for the fun of it’ will also start manifesting more in home décor pieces. There will be more and more technology in South African homes, and therefore a greater need for décor design to make those techno-devices more user-friendly and easier on the eye.

Décor design in South Africa is displayed in many locations: exclusive game lodges, fine city hotels, country lodges, wine estates – and in our homes. Collectors travel through Africa – and locally – to pick up pieces that complement their work. Collectives of crafters are all over the country, working on specific decor lines to bring to market.

Much of what is produced will 1 day be highly prized, both locally and internationally. Take, for instance, the case of a KwaZulu-Natal Midlands studio called Ardmore. Their supremely African – and downright funky – furniture and ceramic sculptures have become collectibles over the past decade. Their pieces regularly go on show at museums and exhibitions in countries that include South Korea, Germany, Turkey and Finland.

Then there are the initiatives between South African designers, African designers and offshore sponsors. Design Network Africa (DNA) is a collaboration between some of Africa’s finest designers and is backed by the Danish Centre for Culture and Development. One of DNA’s local leading lights is the writer and décor design guru, Adam Levin.

A creative studio called Source, a leading exporter of Southern African design, was also critically involved in the DNA initiative.

‘The importance of DNA is the extraordinary high standard of beautiful contemporary work, which is set to revolutionise the perception of African design in the global marketplace,’ says Trevyn McGowan of Source.