2008 | Phumani Pet Hippo

In 2008 I was employed as a industrial designer to add to the existing range of Phumani Pets produced by Phumani Paper. Phumani Paper was established in 1999, as a partnership between South Africa's Department of Science and Technology and the University of Johannesburg. The driver behind the project was Prof Kim Berman from the Department of Visual Art at UJ, whose vision for Phumani was to create a series of hand-papermaking manufacturing units in extreme, rural poverty nodes in seven of South Africa's provinces. Phumani assisted in the creation of more than 250 jobs and the implementation and mentoring of 15 small hand-papermaking enterprises in communities severely affected by unemployment and HIV/Aids. It is unfortunately not longer operational. Overview: Phumani's handmade paper was crafted from locally available, natural resources and waste products. These include the bi-products from sugar-cane harvesting in KwaZulu-Natal, agri-waste produced from Free State mielie husks, invasive ... Read More

2005 | Singing Tiger Paraffin Stove

The Singing Tiger paraffin stove designed by Phil Oosthuizen and myself was awarded as the winner of the Paraffin Safety Association of Southern Africa’s (PSASA) National Safe Paraffin Stove Design Competition 2005. The main aim of the competition was to create awareness and improve the safety of paraffin stoves in Southern Africa. The design feature that was most commended in the Singing Tiger design was its separation of the burner and cooking tripod, which meant that while someone was stirring food there was less of a chance that the stove could be knocked over and cause a fire. The basic operating principles of the Singing Tiger are as follows: Stove, cookstand and two insulated pillows are packed in a fire-resistant cookbox for retail. The pump and pressure control cap are removed to fill the stove with paraffin into the funnel shaped filling nozzle. i. Replace pump and pressure control cap ... Read More

2005 | ICSID Interdesign Sustainable Rural Transport

Usually hosted by an ICSID (International Council of Societies of Industrial Design [now the World Design Organization] member society, an ICSID Interdesign is a forum in which mid-career designers from different countries and cultures work together with local experts for an intensive two-week period, exploring design issues of national, regional and global importance. Interdesign workshops focus on subjects of international significance and are aimed at providing innovative and appropriate solutions through co-operative problem-solving. Ultimately, these solutions should be implemented to make a real difference to the region in which the Interdesign has taken place. The emphasis is on understanding local cultures and actively engaging local communities in helping to find meaningful, realistic answers. Overview: The Interdesign 2005, endorsed by  ICOGRADA (International Council of Graphic Design Associations) and the South African Department of Transport, came about after the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) Design Insitute [closed in 2019] received a request from the North-West provincial government ... Read More

2002-2004 | Espresso Cup, Saucer & Spoons

From 2002 until 2004 I worked with cermic artist Eugene Hön to help realise his concept for an Afrikan inspired espresso cup, saucer and spoon set. Overview: During a visit to the Wits Art Gallery Eugene was inspired by the beautiful forms of Zulu spoons and hats. As a means to explore Afrikan style, he reiterperate these objects into an expresso cup, saucer and spoon set intended for a Western market. I was employed by Eugene to reinterpret his sketches into the CAD environment, which enabled us to 3D print and investment cast the spoons in silver (intended to be produced in stainless steel for production), and 3D print the espresso cup and saucer for their ceramic production. Eugene Hön's personal website can be visited at https://eugenehon.com/ Outcomes: A ceramic expresso cup and saucer, two versions of espresso spoons and a sugar spoon.

2001-2003 | African Style in Product Design

After completing my Bachelors in Industrial Design, from 2000-2003 I undertook a research Masters in Industrial Design titled "Developing New Stylistic Possibilities for African Product Design Inspired by African Cultural Heritage." It was the first Masters study in Industrial Design in South Africa, and was undertaken at the Technikon Witwatersrand under the supervision of the late Phil Oosthuizen, Department of Industrial Design, and co-supervison of Phil du Plessis, Department of Industrial Design and late Marialda Marais, Department of Fine Arts. Overview: The research project endeavoured to explore and develop notions of ‘contemporary African design’. The project focused on chair design with particular reference to the Senufo articulated chair from the Ivory Coast. In order to frame the practical research the separate histories of Western chairs and African chairs were examined for common ground. Ideas of cultural identity and style as a means of communicating an African identity to the West ... Read More