Design Indaba’s Emerging Creatives programme has announced its 2023 class of talented young creatives from South Africa.

From over 340 entries, 20 participants were selected to refine their skills and receive support to elevate their work to a higher standard and promote it in the marketplace. This programme has a track record of launching successful careers, including Thebe Magugu and Mpho Vackier.
The purpose of the programme, which is supported by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, is to refine skills and equip participants with tactics to elevate their work to a higher standard and promote it in the marketplace.
For 18 years, the Design Indaba Emerging Creatives platform has successfully launched the careers of gifted creatives, including fashion designer Thebe Magugu, furniture designer Mpho Vackier, jewellery designer Katherine-Mary Pichulik, designer and illustrator Daniel Ting Chong, milliner Crystal Birch, and scores of others.

The curator of this year’s programme is Neo ‘Nene’ Mahlangu, another former Design Indaba Emerging Creative who has hand-picked the 20 participants from a diverse range of backgrounds and artistic disciplines, including filmmakers, fashion designers, artists and illustrators.
‘It’s an honour to be part of this encouraging process, and it has reinvigorated my own inspiration,’ she says. I’m thrilled to see the calibre of Emerging Creative talent shining in this year’s selection. It’s clear that the future of creativity in our country is in capable hands.’
To help advance the Class of 2023, Mahlangu will be presenting a bespoke masterclass on
business development, a workshop built on ‘the 5 Bs’ designed to guide the future change-makers on their paths: brilliance, bravery, business skills, branding and brand building.

In addition, all the participants will be profiled on the Design Indaba’s channels – its website, social media and weekly newsletter – which offers them global exposure, so the contestants will be able to follow in their footsteps.
Follow @designindaba or visit their website www.designindaba.com for more information on this year’s class of young creatives to watch.