As one of the most successful expos and conferences in Cape Town, Design Indaba continues to develop the goods with its innovative programming and offering. Every year there is a new twist driven by a dynamic campaign that engages its audience base and demands of creatives that they not just attend but participate and create themsleves. Last year’s successful South exhibition brought together some of the best in South African design and awarded innovative practitioners.
This year in recognition to the global “baby boom” underway in the last 4 years decided to create a space for children. The Expo scheduled a number of creative workshops and activities for parents and children to take part in. “We believe that young people should be building on a foundation of understanding about the creative industry – the significance and relevance of design in the world as well as the joy of creating in everyday life”, said Caryn van Rooyen, Design Indaba Expo project manager. It wasn’t all play as the programme demands that Kids and their parents need to think out the box and all activities worked to challenge their creativity. The activities were geared to build confidence in both children and parents as they are inspired to think of their own ideas to be unique and innovative in their creations. Kids, students and parents unleashed their creative potential, soaked up information and communicated in their own language during the Kids Workshop
But its not all soft issues! Design Indaba Expo is a key point of business growth in the design sector and a must visit for buyers not just from across the country but also internationally. In 2009 alone, the business impact of the Design Indaba was estimated to be R191.9-million, according to an external economic assessment conducted by the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business. Business orders from Design Indaba Expo exhibitors of R113.1-million make the most significant contribution. Exhibitions and conventions generally generate large turnover through the organisers’ setup and the delegates’ accommodation, travel, meals, souvenirs and consumer durables. However, what distinguishes Design Indaba’s impact is the business-to-business and SMME development that directly contributes to the Western Cape and country’s GDP, going on to impact household income and job creation.
