It was by far one of the best openings I’ve been to – small, not pretentious and good food (made in awesome small clay ovens).

Henry (and Eve who are the designers behind Casamento) used to work on film settings and it really shows – the layout, composition and selection of products showcased were wonderful.

There was such an array of South African design. Bamboo lights by Weyers Marais, Bulb lights by Porky Hefer, furniture from Peddersen+Lennard, ceramic cows, a standing light laser cut out of cork, artworks, …and spot the Wren bags resting on the cabinets.

Being a bad blogger, I forgot my camera so I grabbed Jeremy’s iphone and shot away. I am sorry the quality is not great but I thought it was more important to show you why you really should go and take a look at Casamento’s Pop Up shop and showroom. I’ve always been a fan of Casamento’s work but this….all together….is a real treat.

Here are some key points that I picked up from her presentations that I think are seeds worth planting in either your head or heart, watered, and left to grow into fantastic ideas or whatever they might be.

1. Togetherness. Families are working together and groups of people are coming together. This is obvious in some ways, for example with social networking, but in another it is surprising becuase many people thought that lifestyles would become closed and people isolated. However, we are reacting differently by wanting (and needing) to be with people and have ‘real’ relationships to those who matter. The individual is ‘giving himself to the group’.

The MOST BEAUTIFUL item at the Design Indaba (in my opinion) are these hanging lights designed and made by Jeremy’s cousin, Stuart Douglas & Co.

2.Another interesting change linked to relationships is the importance of grandparents to grandchildren. This relationship has never been as strong as it is today because children and grandparents have the time to spent together whereas mom and dad are too busy working and growing their careers to develop as deep a relationship. The influence of grandparents on the younger generation is increasing.

Lights made from cotton string and jute twine by Moonbasket.

3. Li and another amazing presenter, Bruce Nussbaum, spoke about how “taking things, remaking things and making things beautiful” is what we do and want. The consumer no longer wants to just consume, we want to “create beauty and share it”. Li clarified what we define as beauty today:

Materials: Brushed metal (ie, not shiny and bling but glamorous). Lots and lots of natural wood combined with ceramics and leather. Feathers. Minimal with texture.

Lights designed by David Krynauw.

Colour: Soft, tender but colourful neutrals. (Oh, and yellow is going to be the new pink apparently).

Shape: Chubby. Voluptuous. Simplicity.

Ceramics by Wonki Ware.

In conclusion, this is the image (drawn in a moment at the presentation in my notebook) that is left with me from Li’s presentation:

Now I am not an architect and am not particularly an architectural fan but Alejandro really had me on the edge of my seat. He introduced us to his career in quite an intense way and I kept having to re-read his words to allow them to sink in and by that time he had already progressed onto his next strong statement. Trying to listen, comprehend and follow I scribbled some key phrases down (not much I know) …

He asked, why does low-cost housing depreciate in value and how can these kind of houses be built, 1. within the budget provided by the government, to 2. be an asset to the home owners and 3. help them better their living standards? This is a problem that is very real in South Africa and RDP houses as we call them, are like match boxes in a bigger match box piece of land. It also never takes long for this piece of land to be rented out and built on and before you know it, there is no space, just extended shack rooms with 7 families living there.

I was desperate to find out how he solved this very difficult and real problem. He asked why build a half-good house? Rather, quite literally, build a good half house. His logic is that this way they can build on to half a good house as they can afford to. He took the money given by the government and invested a large portion of it into the land becuase position is important to those who have to use public transport.

He then took the remaining money and put it into the structure of the building as opposed to the finishes. When the tenants were asked if they would prefer a bath, shower or hot water they all choose a bath. They have never had hot water so that was not a necessity and in a bath they can do their washing, wash the children and use it for a variety of other things. The insides of these homes were barren. Really, the bare necessities.

The other really amazing feature about these homes is that they were built with a ‘temporary wall’. This allowed the home owner to build onto the house when they could, without damage to the existing structure.

It was an amazing project that completely blew me away. The creative thinking was so complex and the outcome so simple it was in every way what I would call awesome design. I hope some Alejandro homes get built in South Africa.

Zurina and Fatima (my two sample machinist from left to right below) came to see the bags in their lime light.

The ‘vertical draws’ that were build by Cape Town Timbers for this show worked very well. My space was a meer 2×1m which meant that I have to be creative in order to sell and replace with stock. The idea ‘behind’ these draws was that they had shelves. I could pull out a vertical plank or “drawer” and take the products from behind whilst still maintaining a facade that was easily transportable, affordable and did not distract from the product.

The surface of the plank or “drawer” was sand blasted by Millroy Artysands. Some of them came out very beautifully but unfortunately this got a bit lost by the flat light in the exhibition hall. It was also very difficult to take a photograph to show you the raised grain.

Those highlighted with green mark the goals that are in process of becoming a reality and those highlighted with yellow mark those which have been achieved exactly.

I think my biggest achievement from 2009 is the one which has just happened > I have been given a spot as an Emerging Creative at the Design Indaba 2010. Out of the blue last Friday I got an email informing me that I have been given a stand at the exhibition! I am SO excited about this space even though my to-do-list is running off the page at the moment becuase the event is in 3 weeks time.

Note to self: Must add ‘make 2010 goal list’ to the to-do-list.

To give you some insight into the art pieces I will drop few key words: phenomenology

embodiment

perception and representation

self reflection

They are inspired by traditional body adornment of African women in tribes such as the Kaleri, Ga’anda, Nuba, Maro, Mbaye and Zaire. Geisha’s from the Japanese culture with their blank white faces and painted red lips were also very inspirational. Overall, I think Hesere has produced something very special.

Photographs taken at the CPUT Design Exhibition 2009.

The Graphic Design floor always makes one smile, laugh and reflect on some very serious issues. I smiled and laughed at the poster above about Lorieres and Boeries (for those of you who are not familiar with the Lourie Awards click here and for those of you who do not know what a Boerie is, click here).

The third year students presented themselves and their work in the form of one large poster. Some of my favourites are below.

On a more serious note, this poster and carry bag (see below) really made an impact on me.

The illustration work always bowls me over. I wish I create characters and draw stories.

Photographs taken at the CPUT Design Exhibition 2009.

Monday is the opening of the  Cape Peninsula University of Technology (or in short, CPUT) Faculty of Informatics and Design (or in short, Design) exhibition. It is an amazing event with floors filled with creativity. There is Industrial, Surface, Jewelry, Fashion, Graphics, Architecture, Photography … you name it, if it has something to do with Design, its going to be there.