Creative Cape Town, in partnership with Cape Town Design Network and VISI Magazine, launched a unique series of events entitled ‘Meet the Makers: Design Studio Tours’ during the 2011 Creative Week, 9-18 September.
‘Meet the Makers: Design Studio Tours’ offered attendees a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the inner workings of some of Cape Town’s premier design studios. Those who participated had the opportunity to see projects in progress, demonstrations, and learn about different studios’ culture and methodologies.
“F_ _ _ the Box” at Fusion
The week kicked off in in the Cape Quarter on Monday, 12 September with a tour of Simon Croft’s stunning furniture design studio, Fusion, followed by a stop at the industrial design headquarters of the renowned …XYZ and finishing the day at the ethereal space of graphic design studio Room 13.
Andy and Charlene Walton, the husband and wife team behind Cuie & Co.
Tuesday focused on The Fringe, so the day began with an audience interactive demonstration by design duo Pedersen + Lennard at their showroom, Field Office, on Barrack Street. ‘Meet the Makers’ then met with the lovely Cuie & Co. in their newly opened shop, Blank Space, on Roeland Street, where owners Charlene and Andy Walton gave a history of their communications design business in the most charming and polished animated presentation.
The Bank during ‘Meet the Makers: Design Studio Tours’
The day then culminated in a 2-hour tour of The Bank, a design collective on Harrington Street. Situated in the heart of The Fringe in the former FNB Cape Town headquarters, The Bank houses the Everybody Love Everybody collaborative, Formula D Interactive, Aidan Bennetts Designs, FVE Interiors, and Furnspace 3D.
Wednesday concentrated on Woodstock studios, beginning the day with Katie Thompson showing ‘Meet the Makers’ around her visually stunning interior and product design business, REcreate. Heath Nash then followed, with an informative tour of his studio and plastics repurposing system. The afternoon then wrapped up with Only Today, a collective consisting of Daniel Ting Chong, Adam Hill, Gillian Benjamin, Jordan Metcalf, and Emma Cook.
Vincent Urbain of Urban Africa speaks with ‘Meet the Makers” attendees.
Returning to The Fringe on Thursday, ‘Meet the Makers’ convened at the studio of Vincent Urbain of Urban Africa for a captivating talk about Vincent’s path from working in the financial sector to becoming a leather designer. Located above The Bookery on Roeland Street, Urban Africa shares a space with g-mo Footwear. g-mo Footwear owner and designer Grandt Mason then introduced tour attendees to his ethically sourced and produced line of quirky footwear.
The colourful studio space and showroom of Olive Green Cat.
The next stop on ‘Meet the Makers’ was the light and delightful studio and showroom of jewellery designers Olive Green Cat on Church Street. The charming Phillippa Green took ‘Meet the Makers’ through the history and creative process of Olive Green Cat, a joint project with fellow jewellery designer Ida Elsje and architect Gregory Katz.
Liam Mooney, renowned furniture designer, completed Thursday with a talk about his evolution as a designer, as well as his creative and business methodologies in his chic Wale Street studio and showroom.
Friday, the final day of ‘Meet the Makers’ started with a stop at the enchanting studio space of Tammy Frazer, owner of Frazer Parfum. Tammy took the group through her perfume range with sampling of all the perfumes, and detailed her creative process from scent creation to product packaging.
Greg Wright Architects was the next port of call, where the team discussed projects and showed “Meet the Makers’ around their expansive office and studio on Buitenkant.
‘Meet the Makers’ participants with the award-winning World Design Capital bid book at Design Infestation.
Design Infestation was the final studio on ‘Meet the Makers.’ Christo Maritz led tour attendees through the bright and colourful graphic design studio. The team at Design Infestation gave ‘Meet the Makers’ the scoop on several different projects, including the Creative Week campaign as well as the World Design Capital bid book, which they won a Loerie Award for later on that weekend!
‘Meet the Makers: Design Studio Tours’ provided an opportunity for Cape Town design aficionados to rub elbows with local design luminaries and up-and-comings in their respective creative headquarters. Moreover, the programme showcased the intense, dynamic flow of creativity that is coursing through this city.
Images: Sarah Scott www.hallucinarium.com
Words: Caroline Jordan
