With 32 speakers – both local and international – set to take to the stage at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town from 27 February to 1 March next year, Design Indaba 2019 is sure to inspire new patterns of thought and creativity for the months to come. And, as incredible as all the speakers may be, these three are our must-sees.
Who: John Pawson, a British architect and designer famed for a careful, considered aesthetic that never feels clinical.
John Pawson
Why: In his expansive 30-year career, John Pawson has designed everything from Calvin Klein’s flagship Madison Avenue NYC showroom in 1995 to the serpentine Sackler Crossing bridge in London’s Royal Botanic Gardens in 2006, including everything from the perfect knife to tableware in between.
John Pawson Design Museum © Gareth Gardner
Who: Joris Laarman, an experimental Dutch designer pushing the boundaries of digital design and technology.
Joris Laarman by JL
Why: Together with his partner Anita Star, Joris Laarman established the Joris Laarman Lab in 2004. In the years since, the Joris Laarman Lab has created downloadable 3D designs to enable anyone to create their own chairs on demand and is currently in the midst of 3D-printing a stainless steel bridge in Amsterdam.
Joris Laarman’s Lab Bone Chair
Who: Mariam Kamara, a Niger-based architect with a skill for elevating the quality of life through shared space.
Mariam Kamara
Why: As an architect who takes a holistic approach to the spaces she creates, Mariam Kamara designs buildings and spaces adaptable to the changes of modern life. It’s no wonder renowned Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye has selected Kamara as one of his proteges for this year’s Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative.
Mariam Kamara’s East Entry© United 4 design
Featured images: Joris Laarman Lab Bits and Parts by JL (left) and Lab Branch image by Kukje Gallery (right) by Joris Laarman
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