Hosted by Yoco and founded by Margot Molyneux, in collaboration with Zanele Kumalo, and Roland Postma, the aim of Design Week is to celebrate local design, encourage multidisciplinary creative endeavours, inspire collaborations, and play a part in cultivating the next generation of creative leaders.
From Melville to Northcliff, Parktown to the City Centre, this event features anything and everything from architecture, fashion, urban planning, ceramics, product design, interiors, furniture, and art, and there is something for everyone.
Programme highlights
THU, OCT 10
The programme kicks off on Thursday with a walk through Rosebank's Oxford Parks as part of an ongoing attempt to design without walls.
For book lovers, there will be a presentation by Love Jozi and Johannesburg In Your Pocket at Hallmark House Hotel in New Doornfontein, where design maven Bradley Kirshenbaum will give a talk on the book, I Love You I Hate You.
On Thursday night, the Banditz Bicycle Club hosts their weekly Homies Night Ride, starting at 44 Stanley, to promote alternative modes of transport and safer streets.
Thursday also sees the opening of a collaborative exhibition with Acre Studio and KSSO at 44 Stanley. Acre Studio is an interior design studio currently based at 44 Stanley. The studio designs and custom makes interiors, furniture and products for their clients; KSSO is a Cape Town-based art studio that produces handmade artworks.
Opening at Shepstone Gardens is Objects by Kalashnikovv, an exhibition curated by Kalashnikovv Gallery that showcases a selection of unique works from local artists, designers, and crafters. The launch event is on Thursday night, and the walkabout is on Saturday morning.
Also on the calendar is the launch of the Asha Eleven team's spring collection on 4th Avenue, Parkhurst.
FRI, OCT 11
On Friday, you can join an urban renewal minibus tour with Jozi My Jozi to bear witness to some of the amazing regeneration projects currently being undertaken in the Joburg Inner City and surrounds.
Join ceramicist Justin Brett for an open studio at his home studio space in Melville on Friday and Saturday.
For budding urban designers and city enthusiasts, there is a street experiment in Bath Avenue, Rosebank, that aims to explore creative new ways to create safer streets and increase the walkability of the city.
SAT, OCT 12
For architecture buffs, the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation hosts an architecture walk in Northcliff on Saturday, which includes visits to the landmark Northcliff Ridge water tower, several notable heritage and contemporary homes, and a view of the city's Jacaranda-lined streets.
Also on Saturday is a factory tour hosted by Maxhosa Africa at their factory in Village Deep, and the launch of Lezanne Viviers' new collection at Viviers Studio in Parktown.
For a super fun Beads and Beats Workshop, join The Herd and David Krut at the Blue House in Parkwood to learn "the secret language of beads" through the Zulu tradition of love-letter making.
At 223 Jan Smuts Creative Hub in Rosebank, Romaria Knitwear and homeware brand TheUrbanative launch their latest product, a beautiful kimono.
All cyclists will be happy to hear Critical Mass Jozi is hosting a daytime cycling event from Rosebank to 44 Stanley to promote safer streets for this all-time favourite Joburg pastime.
SUN, OCT 13
The programme ends on Sunday, with a watercolour monotype workshop hosted by Bevan de Wet at Eleven Editions in Ferreirasdorp.
Buy tickets for events here.
The main themes for this year's Design Week – Sharing Space, Growing Collaboratively, Future Archives, and Game Changing – are ingeniously reflected in this expertly curated programme. To quote Kumalo: "There is a wealth of talent in this country. That is indisputable, but what stands on shakier ground are enough of the right opportunities and platforms to support and connect this talent to the right audience and partners. It is a privilege to be involved in a project that is committed to the design industry in particular, with everything that it encompasses – including those small businesses still coming up in the world and brands that continue to stand the test of time."
