{{Short description|African design conference}} {{Infobox dot-com company | name = Design Indaba | logo = Design_Indaba_logo.png | caption = Design Indaba logo | founded = {{start date and age|1995}} | founder = Ravi Naidoo | owner = Interactive Africa | url = {{URL|designindaba.com}} | registration = Optional | language = English, multilingual subtitles, transcript | company_type = | foundation = | area_served = Africa | location_city = Cape Town | location_country = South Africa | key_people = | launch_date = {{start date and age|1995}} (first conference) | current_status = Active | website_type = Conference }} '''Design Indaba''' is a trademark and brand founded and run by Interactive Africa<ref>{{cite web|title=Interactive Africa|url=http://interactiveafrica.com/|website=Interactive Africa}}</ref> in 1995 with a focus on design and under the slogan "A better world through creativity".<ref>{{cite web|title=About Design Indaba|url=http://www.designindaba.com/about-us|website=Design Indaba}}</ref> Consisting of an online publication and a series of events and creative projects, it is most widely known for its annual festival held in South Africa, in particular the flagship three-day conference hosted in Cape Town. The Design Indaba Conference is also broadcast live to various cities, most recently including Johannesburg, Durban, Nairobi, Windhoek, Kampala and Lausanne.<ref>{{cite web|title=Design Indaba Conference 2017|url=http://www.designindaba.com/events/design-indaba-conference-2017|website=Design Indaba}}</ref> It has also been referred to as the "Conference on Creativity".<ref>{{cite web|title=Design Indaba: An interview with Michael Bierut|last1=Bierut|first1=Michael|url=http://www.coolhunting.com/design/design-indaba-michael-bierut.php|website=Cool Hunting|access-date=2015-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022162105/http://www.coolhunting.com/design/design-indaba-michael-bierut.php|archive-date=2012-10-22|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==History== Design Indaba was founded with the inaugural conference in 1995, which hosted 11 speakers over two days.<ref>{{cite web|title=Design Indaba Conference 1995|url=http://www.designindaba.com/events/design-indaba-conference-1995|website=Design Indaba}}</ref> It has since grown to host over 30 speakers from all over the globe<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gordhan|first1=Suhana|title=Visit Design Indaba at least once in your life|url=http://www.bdlive.co.za/opinion/2015/03/05/visit-design-indaba-at-least-once-in-your-life|website=Business Day|accessdate=25 June 2015}}</ref> and has been named by many to be one of the best creative conferences in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=Design Indaba Guestbook|url=http://www.designindaba.com/about/conference-info/guestbook|website=Design Indaba}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Design Indaba 2015|url=http://www.primi-world.co.za/design-indaba-2015/|website=Primi World|accessdate=25 June 2015|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213417/http://www.primi-world.co.za/design-indaba-2015/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Design Indaba 2015 Day 1 Overview|url=http://www.blogilvy.co.za/2015/02/design-indaba-2015-day-1-overview/|website=Blogilvy|accessdate=25 June 2015}}</ref> In its list of top "52 Places to Go in 2014",<ref>{{cite news|title=New York Times: 52 Places to Go in 2014|work=The New York Times |date=10 January 2014 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/01/10/travel/2014-places-to-go.html}}</ref> The New York Times touted Design Indaba as "the annual visual arts spectacular" and part of the city's creative renaissance.
==Design Indaba Festival== The Design Indaba Conference is just one part of a weeklong creative festival, known now as the Design Indaba Festival.<ref>{{cite web|title=18 unmissable design events in 2015|url=http://www.creativebloq.com/graphic-design/18-unmissable-design-events-2015-21514110|website=Creative Bloq|accessdate=30 June 2015}}</ref> In its entirety the Design Indaba Festival comprises the conference, a film festival,<ref>{{cite web|title=Design Indaba Film|url=http://www.designindaba.com/film|website=Design Indaba|accessdate=15 July 2015}}</ref> a series of exhibitions including the annual Emerging Creatives programme<ref>{{cite web|title=Design Indaba Emerging Creatives|url=http://www.designindaba.com/projects/emerging-creatives|website=Design Indaba|accessdate=8 August 2017}}</ref> , and various music events and other performances.<ref>{{cite web|title=Design Indaba Festival|url=http://www.designindaba.com/festival|website=Design Indaba|accessdate=15 July 2015}}</ref> The main event takes place in Cape Town, most recently at the Artscape Theatre Centre, and various cities in Africa and Europe also host a simulcast of the conference and peripheral exhibitions and events.<ref>{{cite web|title=Design Indaba Conference & Simulcast|url=http://www.designindaba.com/about/design-indaba-conference-simulcast|website=Design Indaba|accessdate=15 July 2015}}</ref>
==Design Indaba Conference== The Design Indaba Conference has been held in Cape Town since 1995, biannually until 2001, and annually since then. Speakers at the conference represent a broad spectrum of design and the creative industries, with a focus on international thought leadership and innovative problem solving,<ref>{{cite web|title=Web Conferences Roundup: Events from Around the Globe|url=http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/10/21/web-conferences-roundup-events-from-around-the-globe/|website=Smashing Magazine|accessdate=30 June 2015}}</ref> in keeping with the company ethos of "A better world through creativity". Alongside professionals from traditional design disciplines such as architecture, product design, graphic and communication design, fashion, furniture design, design thinking and design education, the programme of recent years has included chefs, musicians, visual artists, filmmakers and founders of creative businesses on the list of Design Indaba speakers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Design Indaba speakers|url=http://www.designindaba.com/profiles/speakers|website=Design Indaba|accessdate=15 July 2015}}</ref> Together the three-day Cape Town conference and simulcast host 4,500 people.<ref>{{cite web|title=18 unmissable design events in 2015|url=http://www.creativebloq.com/graphic-design/18-unmissable-design-events-2015-21514110|website=Creative Bloq|accessdate=30 June 2015}}</ref>
== Design Indaba Do Tank == Largely funded by the Design Indaba Trust<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2015-06-04-eight-of-cape-towns-best-street-artists-on-instagram|title=Eight of Cape Town's top street artists on Instagram|last=Loots|first=Debbie|work=The M&G Online|access-date=2018-04-24|language=en}}</ref> and independent sponsorships, Design Indaba Do Tank<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/life/arts-and-entertainment/2018-02-16-design-indaba-returns-to-showcase-innovation/|title=Design Indaba returns to showcase innovation|access-date=2018-04-24|language=en-US}}</ref> consists of projects and initiatives designed for the greater good. These include the Your Street Challenge,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://elledecoration.co.za/design-indabas-your-street-challenge/|title=Ravi Naidoo on Design Indaba's 'Your Street Challenge'|date=2011-07-29|work=Elle Decoration|access-date=2018-04-24|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622083727/http://elledecoration.co.za/design-indabas-your-street-challenge/|url-status=dead}}</ref> the 10x10 Low-Cost Housing Project,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2008/02/26/sand-bag-houses-by-mma-architects/|title=Sand-bag houses by MMA Architects {{!}} Dezeen|date=2008-02-26|work=Dezeen|access-date=2018-04-24|language=en-US}}</ref> Another Light Up,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oprahmag.co.za/live-your-best-life/giving-back/%27another-light-up%27-project-aims-to-light-up-khayelitsha|title='Another Light Up' Project Aims to Light Up Khayelitsha - O, The Oprah Magazine|website=www.oprahmag.co.za|language=en|access-date=2018-04-24|archive-date=2014-03-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310141435/http://www.oprahmag.co.za/live-your-best-life/giving-back/%27another-light-up%27-project-aims-to-light-up-khayelitsha|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sonop<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://ontrack.co.za/latest-news-sonop-primary-school-gets-a-solar-powered-upgrade/|title=Latest News: SONOP Primary School gets a solar powered upgrade! - On Track|date=2017-03-08|work=On Track|access-date=2018-04-24|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714123815/http://ontrack.co.za/latest-news-sonop-primary-school-gets-a-solar-powered-upgrade/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Arch For Arch monument in honour of Archbishop Desmond Tutu.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/vandals-target-tutu-arch-for-arch-monument-in-cape-town-20180316|title=Vandals target Tutu 'Arch for Arch' monument in Cape Town|work=News24|access-date=2018-04-24|language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.designindaba.com Design Indaba's Website] *[http://www.interactiveafrica.com Interactive Africa's Website]
Category:Online publishing companies Category:Business organisations based in South Africa Category:Conferences