Across the design industry and across the globe, we’re seeing a move: from designing pretty things to designing change. And transforming people’s lives through design is Cape Town’s World Design Capital 2014 promise.
As part of Cape Town’s bid for the 2014 designation, three case studies were identified as part of showcasing what design can do to reconnect, rebuild and reposition the city:
The Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading project increased the safety of Khayelitsha residents, helped to reduce crime and violence and upgrade low-income neighbourhoods.
Design Indaba’s 10×10 low cost housing project saw architect Luyanda Mpahlwa’s 54m² sustainable homes built from local materials and without advanced construction knowledge for around R65 000.
Tsai Design’s Nested Bunk Beds are a set of five beds that can be retracted to take up the space of a single bed, meaning families living in small homes can sleep more children without compromising play and living areas.
Hot on the heels of Design Indaba’s Your Street competition – which encouraged citizens to transform an aspect their street-level experience through the power of design – come two community-centred design awards.
The first of these is COMMON Pitch, which is “all about shining a light on the incredible people using creativity to find new solutions to the world’s toughest challenges,” says Alex Bogusky, COMMON co-founder and an Adweek’s creative director of the decade. “It only makes sense to bring this event to Africa, where creativity and enterprise are colliding in the most brilliant ways.”
In a very similar vein is the Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award, a celebration of creative solutions to problems and opportunities facing people living in urban areas in the developing world. Held previously in São Paolo, Mexico City, Istanbul and Mumbai, Urban Age has chosen Cape Town for 2012. “It is about making citizens aware that they can be the change they want and it is about showcasing Cape Town as a city that is trying to overcome urban challenges positively,” explains Wolfgang Nowak, managing director of Deutche Bank’s Alfred Herrhausen Society.
Design Indaba is known for championing emerging creative and designers who help find key solutions to society’s seemingly intractable challenges – and inspiring others to follow suit. As founder Ravi Naidoo puts it: “ … design is about …finding creative solutions to transform and improve the lives of people across the globe. Creativity can have the most material economic impact on a country and it is for this reason we are committed to our belief that a better world is possible through creativity.”
In a metaphorical representation of the global population, 99% ‘’have not,’’ compared with 1% who ’’have … in abundance’’.
Join the revolution where design is the tool – for rebuilding, reconnecting and repositioning Cape Town for the 99%, for the 21st century and beyond
For more information on the City of Cape Town’s World Design Capital 2014 [email protected].
Courtesy Creative Cape Town.