Von Seidels proud to be a supporter of upcoming design talent in South Africa.
As the foremost platform for contemporary design in Africa, the Guild Group facilitates international collaborations, presents ground-breaking exhibitions and exports and retails design products. Through its multiple brands, the group’s mission is to revolutionise African design in the global marketplace.
The Guild Group also runs various programmes offering practical business support and creative input to aid in growing the African design industry. One such initiative is the Design Foundation, an independent, not-for-profit body created to make an immediate difference to the South African design industry.
Since 2012, the Design Foundation has hosted the Design Foundation Awards, an event that aims to highlight and celebrate South African design talent annually. The awards have become highly respected accolades in the South African design industry, honouring success in design, commerciality, manufacture and innovation, while also recognising the potential in South Africa’s future stars.
Acknowledging achievers in this industry not only places a spotlight on what design businesses are capable of, but also allows those outside the industry to start placing more value on the commercial viability, social impact and strategic importance that design can have on economic success and global identity.
Last year, Von Seidels partnered up with the Guild Group and the Design Foundation to sponsor and present the Future Found Award.
The Future Found Award recognises a young designer who has shown innovation and already achieved a degree of excellence with limited resources. The aim of this award is to assist young designers to put the necessary infrastructures in place, improve their visibility and output, and support design and production development.
The Von Seidels-sponsored prize included a contribution towards the production of the winning design item, as well as intellectual property consultations with Von Seidels for a year.
Christine Strutt, on behalf of Von Seidels was delighted to present the award to Thabisa Mjo for her exquisite Tutu 2.0 Pendant Light.
Thabisa Mjo is a young, upcoming designer and the Creative Director of interior and product design firm, Mash.T Design Studio. She has been making waves since the winning Nando’s Hot Young Designer Talent Search in 2015.
By Stephanie Zietsman, Trademark Department
