DESIGN TIMES
A WORD BY OUR NEW MD:
SHEVON LURIE
Lecturers lead the way
announce that Therese Potgieter joins our team in
July to head up the Fashion Design portfolio. She is
currently completing her MTech in Fashion Design at
UJ and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge;
having launched and managed her own fashion label.
Therese is not new to DSSA, having lectured at our
Pretoria campus, and was in fact awarded the Charles
Freysen Best Teaching Practice Award in 2015.
Behind every great piece of design work and student
celebration is a dedicated team of academics and
support staff who work hard at guiding and uplifting
our students. It is ultimately this team that enables
us to imagine, create and inspire.
It is important that we acknowledge the team of
dedicated Programme Managers in the Faculty
of Applied Communication who lead and manage
the modules that make up our specialist design
qualifications – we have a national Programme
Manager for each of the four portfolios – Graphic
Design, Interior Design, Fashion Design and Art &
Visual Culture. This team works tirelessly, mostly
behind the scenes, to ensure high quality curriculum
and assessments in keeping with best practices and
international trends. We bid farewell to Carmen
Gunkel (Graphic Design Programme Manager) this
semester who leaves us to a head up a team of young
designers at a well-established Pretoria brand design
agency. Lizette Carsten, who has been lecturing at
DSSA for the last 2 years, takes over the reigns,
bringing with her a Masters in Information Design and
over 20 years of experience as a designer, including
running her own design consultancy specialising in
brand development for SME’s. I am also thrilled to
As part of our graduation ceremony tradition we
not only acknowledge and celebrate our graduates,
but also the lecturers who facilitate their learning
journey. We are proud of the following lecturers who
were presented with the Top Lecturer Award at our
class of 2015 graduation ceremonies that took place
earlier this year:
Elinza Pashaliev – DSSA Bordeaux
Maretha Olivier – DSSA Pretoria and Programme
Manager for the Interior Design
Michael Barratt – DSSA Durban
We are proud of Durban based lecturer Robert Mills,
who recently hosted an exhibition of his works
entitled ‘Observing Durban’ at the African Art Centre.
This came just after he was announced as the joint
winner in the Visual Art Category of the Interpret
Durban 6 (ID6) mixed medium art competition.
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As a brand of The Independent Institute of Education,
emphasis is placed on preparing students for the
world of work. To this end, we are excited to announce
the launch of an experiential learning component
commencing in Semester 2, namely STUDIO WEEK.
Second, third and Honours year students from the
Graphic and Interior Design disciplines will work in a
studio set-up on real life briefs, and will be expected
to develop design solutions up to concept stage. The
development of design strategy and process work
will be at the centre of the project, given the intense
one week experience. Students will be mentored and
guided by their specialisation lecturers and we look
forward to sharing our students’ design solutions in
the next edition.
An article in a leading design magazine, Creative
Review, points out that “it’s a great time for design.”
Design has never been more valued as an economic
force, nor has it been as culturally influential as it is
now. As we kick off Semester 2 let’s take a moment
to acknowledge the role our academic team play in
developing the next generation of designers across
the Schools’ three design pillars: graphic design,
fashion design and interior design.
Very best,
Shevon
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IMAGINE
CREATE
INSPIRE
CAMPUS PRINCIPAL - JHB
FRANCOIS BARNARDO
CAMPUS PRINCIPAL - PTA
BENITA VISAGIE
CAMPUS PRINCIPAL - DBN
GREG TREGONING
Francois joined the DSSA Johannesburg campus on 1
January 2016 as Campus Principal.
Benita grew up in a business savvy family. She studied
Marketing and Communication Management at TUKS
and then completed her Honours and Masters degrees
in Business Leadership where she was placed in the top
20 students nationally.
“What an extraordinary journey DSSA Durban has been
on, since it began in 2012. The campus then shared its
premises with sister brand, Vega School, in Riverhorse
Valley, where I was the Vega Campus Navigator
(Principal),” says Greg.
She started out as a Marketing Manager of a small
company and then grew to become a General Manager
for a division of the Imperial Group. She spent time in
the USA working at summer camps and found her love
for working with teenagers during that time. This led her
to become a lecturer at Vega School of Brand Leadership.
Two years later, Greg’s first aim as Principal of both DSSA
and Vega was to build a strong relationship between
both brands. A consolidated staff meeting was the first
step in developing a united, passionate and committed
team, supported by the Student Liaison Body, Student
Representative Council and Class Representatives.
Benita was the Senior Brand Strategy lecturer for four
years, before recently being promoted to Principal of the
Pretoria Campus, overseeing two tertiary brands, namely
Vega School and Design School Southern Africa . Her new
role allows her to focus on her passion for innovative
leadership, effective marketing and communication and
it allows her to assist in developing young minds and
staff alike, to their full potential. She is currently enrolled
to study a Doctorate degree in Marketing Management.
In 2015 Greg moved into a National position, building
stronger relationships within industry, and working
with the The Loerie Awards in introducing the Loeries
Creative Future Scholarship to Durban. This resulted in
a previously disadvantaged student being selected and
awarded a fully inclusive three-year Scholarship to study
at DSSA.
For the past three years Francois was the Academic
Manager (Academic Co-Navigator) for Vega School,
Bordeaux campus. During this time he worked with some
of the DSSA academic team members and students.
Francois joined The IIE Varsity College Sandton lecturing
team as an Independent Contractor in February 2008.
He lectured into Communication Science for Public
Relations, Journalism and Advertising Management
for three years, after which he was appointed full time
lecturer in Humanities at Varsity College in January 2011.
During this time he supported lecturers with teaching
and learning matters as well as the development and
moderation of several modules. His time as lecturer
has helped him to understand student needs and
expectations.
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2016 saw the first DSSA Durban Alumni students working
in industry and we are extremely proud of the impact
our new brand ambassadors will have in further building
our brand as the best graduates to employ.
Students have settled into the academic year and
adjusted to the challenges of IMAGINE – CREATE INSPIRE. This is a paradigm shift away from the school
doctrine of conformity, to a new environment of
self- discipline, management and thinking, eventually
developing into graduates with divergent thinking, work
ethic and initiative. The journey is long and hard, fun
and exhilarating - something our graduates will always
cherish.
The exceptional quality of our students’ work thus far,
and the calibre of our DSSA students, bodes well and we
are all looking forward to the second semester.
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RESEARCH IN
SUPPORT OF
DESIGN DECISIONS
T H E K E Y TO G I V I N G
DESIGNERS A
COMPETITIVE EDGE
The IIE’s BA Honours in Graphic Design presented at
DSSA is an example of post graduate studies that provide
designers with the opportunity to give their career a
boost and improve their knowledge and skill-set in
the design field. The course is flexible and structured
to provide designers with research, visual design and
design management skills necessary to continue with a
sustainable career doing what you love most - design!
to why your design concepts are the right way to go. In
doing this you will be better equipped to communicate
your design decisions with your clients who, in today’s
competitive market, value the integration of graphic
design with business strategies and operations.
Design entrepreneurship is another exciting area where
designers find new and innovative ways to generate
income. But in order to do this, designers need to learn
how to target audiences and propose, develop and
manage projects.
workshops and seminars, attending short courses or
through post graduate studies.
Graphic Design has become so integrated in the business
world today, that one of the challenges facing the “new”
graphic designer is to know and understand more
about client business and integrate design activity with
business operations. In fact, we see a new shift towards
in-house design teams being employed in all types of
businesses where designers have to work alongside other
employees to achieve business goals. Contemporary
design problems are also known to be complex, and need
professionals from various disciplines to work towards
solutions. These shifts in the design industry require
designers to acquire additional skills and knowledge. As
a designer the focus of your undergrad qualification will
be on what to do, where the focus at a post graduate
level is on why or sometimes why not.
By Ria van Zyl
Designers who have been in the industry for awhile run
the risk of becoming overly familiar with their own work
and losing perspective of what the end user sees and
experiences. Ria van Zyl, head of the honours program
at The Design School of Southern Africa (DSSA), says
that designers should continually invest in their own
professional development. The only constant in design
is change; the search for new skills and knowledge is
endless. In order to stay relevant and aligned with the
times as a designer, it is imperative to continuously
learn. You can achieve this through self-study, attending
Designers need to be innovative in enhancing their ability
to translate research into solving user needs, and be able
to provide a well researched argument and evidence as
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T H E I D E A C O L L EC T I V E S TO RY
ENLIGHTENING MINDS
DSSA was invited to workshop and interact with design
and art school educators at the ground breaking Idea
Collective workshop. Leading tertiary institutions were
invited to offer, share and discuss course details with
teachers in this two day workshop. Other attendees
were Umalusi and the Department of Education.
entry level requirements or who need to develop a visual
portfolio.
The second day provided school educators with a first
hand design experience where each received a design
brief, challenged to work through the design process;
present to their peers and learn how to give constructive
criticism. More than 30 schools attended the two day
workshop. The inspirational talk by Sune Stassen (design
education specialist) highlighted the value of design as
part of development and the potential that design and
creative thinking hold, especially when working with the
youth.
The DSSA’s workshop, presented by Marili, Ria and
Johnny on the first day, focused on career paths in
Graphic, Fashion and Interior Design and was aimed at
giving teachers relevant information and tools to provide
learners with career guidance. The purpose and role of
the DSSA Higher Certificate in Art and Design was also
explained in that it offers a pathway into Degree studies
for Grade 12 learners who did not achieve university
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C U R R E N T F E AT U R E S
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STUDENTS
TURN PASSION
INTO PROFIT
Recently Statistics SA, recently announced that the
country’s unemployment rate had jumped in the first
quarter of 2016 from 24.5% to 26.7%. This means that today
there are 8.9 million South Africans who want to work, are
able to work, but are not able to find employment and
most of these willing citizens are of South Africa’s youth.
This could be attributed to the common belief that creativity,
ingenuity, and passion are innate personal qualities which
are the hallmarks of a successful entrepreneur. However,
there is another school of thought which argues that
entrepreneurs are made and not merely just born. They
are made through dedication, hard work, sheer will power
and more importantly through education where they can
acquire the correct skills needed to become successful
entrepreneurs.
Two inspiring stories of BA Graphic Design 3rd year students
at affirm this belief. Sabelo Sibisi operates the brand, STRU,
which is in the business of selling trendy street conscious
apparel targeted at the youth. Although STRU is still in its
infant stages, Sibisi says that he is encouraged by the fact
that customers love and support the label and that it gives
him an extraordinary sense of accomplishment seeing
people wear the brand. His time at DSSA enabled him to
nurture his vision, giving him the necessary knowledge
and skills needed in order to work towards his goal of a
sustainable design for the STRU brand which he hopes to
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successfully promote and position on social media using
his new way of innovative thinking encouraged by DSSA.
Also seeing a gap in the market, Tayla Kohler took a hobby
and turned it into a sustainable enterprise by custom
making tapers and ear gauges. She then expanded into
making interesting necklaces, which are far more universal
as not everyone wants to stretch their ear lobes, and now
she caters to both markets. Kohler says DSSA opened her
up to the defining truth of her business, “we all just want
to be individuals in a world that is becoming ever generic.”
South Africa faces a number of economic challenges that
can only be met if it has innovative, well-educated, and
entrepreneurial citizens who, whatever their walk of life,
have the spirit and inquisitiveness to think in new ways,
and the courage to meet and adapt to the challenges
facing them. A dynamic economy, which is innovative
and able to create the jobs that are needed, will require a
greater number of young people who are willing and able
to become entrepreneurs. Schools and tertiary institutions
should play greater roles in shaping these young people’s
attitudes and skills towards becoming captains of industry.
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A LU M N I
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The peak of South Africa’s design industry is good news
for cash strapped households who now have inexpensive
options to freshen up their homes with a makeover.
Monique Nel, interior designer and showroom manager,
as well as former student of IIE’s Design School Southern
Africa (DSSA), explains:
industry. Mushrooming cultural nukes and rising markets
have cemented more options for the consumer to invest
in budget-friendly fixes for an instant update of their
homes.
Breaking down your home’s makeover into small
decorating projects is an inexpensive way to create
something beautiful out of the mundane. I am currently
undergoing the same process within my own home
and decided to start with my bedroom. Inspired by raw
elements, I went in search of neutral colour palettes,
exposed wooded furniture, roughly woven baskets and
rugs, beautiful natural linens and succulent plants.
According to Statistics SA, South Africans have less
disposable income in their hands to spend on ‘luxuries’.
This is due to the Core Inflation Rate in the country
increasing by 5.50 percent in April 2016 compared to
the same month in the previous year. A makeover of
your home is likely to be at the bottom of your list of
priorities when compared to paying off a home bond,
vehicle finance, rising food costs, school fees, etc. The
list is endless. However, this needn’t be the case. After
all, our homes should be a sanctuary from the madness
of the world and a space which is reflective of our
personalities, ideals and ambitions.
Half the fun was shopping around to find the best pricing
possible for each item, and I definitely picked up beautiful
elements that were within budget. I do however splash
out on one feature piece when designing a room, and
in most cases this would be my wallpaper. Another trick
is to up-cycle and combine old and new items together.
Use what you have and add to that, you’ll be amazed at
what a lick of paint can do!
Remember to redecorate your home with your family’s
The good news is that the state of interior design in
South Africa embraces creativity and diversity that few
other countries can boast. Our ground-breaking design
implementations have fused a new energy within the
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lifestyle in mind. Don’t over think and over accessorise
but rather just keep it simple. Start with the basics
and add in some signature pieces to give the room
personality. By adding just a few touches of quaintness
or eccentricity with your accessories and artwork you
would have created your ideal space.
el
ue N orating
q
i
n
Mo ior Dec
r
Inte
Luckily institutions such as DSSA are at the forefront of
grooming a new breed of designers who are heeding
the call for simple, uncomplicated designs which are
responsive to modern day lifestyles. We understand
how to save time and money to do the other things we
passionately want to pursue.
BUDGET-SAVVY
INTERIOR SPACES
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TRANSFORMATION
OF BLAIR ATHOLL
FARMHOUSE
South African interior designer Warren Walkinshaw,
who graduated from The Design School of Southern
Africa (DSSA) in 2012, was recently featured on
Top Billing for his spectacular success in breathing
new life into the original Blair Atholl farmhouse
previously owned by legendary golfer Gary Player.
The former Spanish-style homestead was
transformed to incorporate the client’s eccentric
vision and personality and it is testament to the
masterful way in which Walkinshaw was able
to juxtapose old and new elements to create a
charming harmony with the warm ochre tones in
one room and bright, colourful and playfulness in
another.
As an independent consultant to both architects
and home owners, Walkinshaw specialises in
renovating older homes that require an update
in both aesthetic and re-distribution of space,
modernising them without changing their external
architectural character.
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Photographs by: Karl Rogers Photography
Attaining recognition and acclaim as a respected modern
designer a mere three years after graduation is not something
that just happens in the design industry; it takes hard work,
wise decisions and fundamental talent.
Walkinshaw explains the choices that he made in his career
path to success and offers his insights into the design industry
in South Africa with his personal views on current challenges
and opportunities, as well as possible directions for the future.
“One of the most important aspects of a career choice is
selecting the best tertiary institution,” says Walkinshaw. “I
chose DSSA, as it was the most comprehensive institution in
comparison to other private institutions offering the same
qualification. It turned out to be an excellent decision.
“While studying at DSSA, I gained a full set of skills required
by the interior design profession, and I learnt to focus on
creating unique, tailor-made solutions that cater to clients’
needs while staying true to aesthetic. Most importantly,
I learnt to persevere through change and embrace a multifaceted approach to intelligent design solutions. DSSA helped
me find my own voice and hone in on creating a signature
that was unique to the niche market I wanted to specialise in.”
This bold sensitivity characterises his previous projects,
which include a new-build villa in Cypress, apartments in
Killarney and Illovo, a call centre for an insurance company
and a Restaurant in Montecasino. His expertise is currently
being put to excellent use in renovating a family home in
Franschhoek and a private residence in the exclusive Mount
Street in Bryanston.
“My skills are continuously building on the fundamentals
taught to me at DSSA,” he continues. “Antiquities and fine
South African art are two of my current themes. I love
contemporary clean lines and how they can be used to
showcase antiques and modernist furniture, highlighting each
item’s unique beauty through contrast, which is the same
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way I feel about South African culture and how we are able to
celebrate our differences and the rich diversity of our country
as collective.”
This attention to South African heritage can be seen in the
inclusion of a serving trolley from the old Johannesburg
Carlton Hotel next to a Chinese dresser, Gaultier chairs and
a modern rug, and in the mounting of Willem Boshoff’s
Collection of African Curios above the original stone fireplace
in the living room.
According to Walkinshaw, South African design is as vibrant and
pioneering as ever. “South Africans have a fantastic heritage
and spirit of place to draw from, with a unique approach to
both identity and aesthetic. I am proud to say we have some
of the greatest design minds leading international trends,
namely Stefan Antoni, Stephen Falcke, Karen Wygers, Boyd
Ferguson, John Jacob Zwiegelaar, Graham Viney, Catherine
Raphaely, Charlotte Daneel, Julian and Trevyn McGowan,
Karen Roos, Maira Koutsoudakis, Michele Throssell, Kelly
Hoppen, Joe Paine, Dokter and Misses, and Tonic.
Regarding design opportunities in South African, Walkinshaw
asserts that, “With the plethora of foreign investors trying
to buy properties locally, and with the falling Rand placing
foreign currency in a position of high buying power, there is a
lot of work available in the high end spectrum of the African
market. However, the upcoming local elections will determine
the outcome of many projects that have been put on hold as
a result of our political turmoil, which has created some very
nervous buyers who are not sure if their investments will be
safe.”
A passion for the future of South African design is evident in
Walkinshaw’s advice for those looking to start their journey
towards a career in design: “Be bold and go all the way, don’t
hesitate to express yourself; there is nothing more rewarding
that finding your voice and seeing a completed project sing!”
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Photo credit Luke Kuisis for Gaschette magazine
LUKE KUISIS
Studied BA in Graphic Design
What exactly does your current project/work entail?
I am currently working as a freelance
fashion / documentary photographer in Cape Town.
I get commissioned by clients to shoot specific projects
for them for various media platforms from Print
Magazines to online advertorials.
What role do you believe your studies and experience
at DSSA played in positioning you for this job?
•
•
•
•
Time management
Sticking to deadlines
Concept development
Adobe product experience
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Do you have any advice for current DSSA students or
young people considering entering this field, in terms
of preparing for their future careers?
If you don’t have the top of the range equipment it
doesn’t mean you can’t be a great photographer.
Be honest, work hard and never stop learning, if you
haven’t learnt something new every day I see it as a day
wasted and share your knowledge.
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KEZIAH SEARLE
Studied BA in Graphic Design
Where do you currently work and what does your job
entail?
The name of the company is TBWA Digital Arts Network.
As a designer my job entails social media creations
for various brands. I also create digital banners and
posters as well as point of sale marketing. Recently I
have designed blog templates and done some website
enhancements, where I will be doing more of this in the
future. Other than this I do various forms of digital and
creative work.
LINDIWE RADEBE
Studied BA in Interior Design
DSSA has done an unbelievable amount for my career
in terms of prepping me up for my career. The high
pressure environment, the late nights, juggling different
tasks at once, I really could go on. Although Autocad
is fast becoming irrelevant in this industry, it remains
an invaluable tool and a great foundation to get onto
other, more advanced programs that are taking over the
industry.
What role do you believe your studies and experience
at DSSA played in positioning you for this job?
I was very fortunate to have had the preparation and
skills focused learning that was provided at Design
School. Obviously the transition into a real world
working environment requires some getting used to
but without a shadow of a doubt, I can confidently and
proudly say that DSSA guided me into the working world
with a profound advantage and it was surprising, not
just to me, to see the value I could bring to a company
being so new in the industry.
Do you have any advice for current DSSA students or
young people considering entering this field, in terms
of preparing for their future careers?
the balance between being thorough and checking
completed work needs to be aligned with efficiency
and avoiding becoming pedantic. A piece of advice
that I would like current DSSA students to really
take to heart is getting used to challenging yourself,
in every aspect, you will be astounded by the results
of actively doing this, its the best and fastest way to
learn and grow as a designer and an individual.
One thing that hit me from day one was the importance
of knowing your Adobe software programmes inside
out. This is very much a standard requirement. Whilst
studying we obviously got exposed to basic time
management, in the working world this becomes a
primary goal in terms of meeting clients needs. Finding
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ZELMARI
DU PREEZ
Studied BA in Fashion Design
I think of DSSA as the foundation of my career. The place
and people who added value in developing my talents.
DSSA most definitely gave me a little glimpse of what
to expect for my future. DSSA helped me to make my
dream a reality!
First and foremost, students need to have an honest
conversation with themselves about whether or not this
truly is what they want to be doing for at least the next
5-10 years of their lives ( I say this because career paths
take on a life of their own as time goes ). If the current
students are serious about a career in interior design,
space planning, services coordination, they need to
take a deep breath and focus on each task at hand and
complete it with as much diligence and grace as they
can because the entire industry is a pressure cooker. If
they cant deal with the pressure at school level, they
have no chance to come right in the real world. In
the real world it’s real people and real money. If you
mess up a 4 million rand project, that’s your name and
reputation associated forever with that. Lastly, just chill.
Your studies will eventually come to an end. The harder
you work the sooner that that end will come.
To the upcoming fashion design students please don’t
waste your time, money or valuble education by not
taking this industry seriously. The lecturers at DSSA
know what is going on in the real world and they are
doing their best to prepare you for it! The fashion
design industry is growing as if Bolt is running with it in
his hands at the Olympics! Do your best and never take
anything for granted. Work asif your life depends on it
becuase hand work pays off thats for sure. Start building
your career during your studies is my advice. I have
done that and my CV has a few extra achievements and
experience which adds tremendous value to my career!
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S TA F F F E AT U R E S
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ROB MILLS
I enjoy teaching and leading the students towards
success in their chosen careers. It is a privilege and
honour to serve in this way. I currently teach Interior
Design for the 1st years, Interior Technology for the 2nd
years and Working Drawings for the 3rd years at DSSA,
Pretoria.
everyday life, can make people aware that design forms
an integral part of us as human beings. I am strong
in conceptual design and technical implementation
within design, mixed with sustainable design. I enjoy
eco-modernism with an organic feel. I am also keenly
attracted to business strategy and analysis and business
management.
I completed my MBA studies with the focus on Human
Resources, Entrepreneurship and General Management
in the States. I would probably always strive to broaden
my intellectual landscape as I believe it is the only way
to keep your mind young.
I would urge any young designer to never stop expanding
their knowledge about design and to challenge
themselves every day to look at life differently. It is a
blessing to be able to use our creativity to change our
current landscape. Students should diversify their abilities
and experiment with different mediums, techniques and
platforms constantly to grow into holistically relevant
influencers in the design industry.
My design company, V4 Creative and Project
Development, and Business Design company, Meritus
International, affords me a platform where my creativity
and knowledge, using design in all aspects of our
Observing Durban.
African Art Centre’s Collaboration with Interpret Durban
is an annual mixed medium art contest that has been held
in the city since 2010. Interpret Durban 6 (ID6) was held
in 2015 and saw creatives from all across the province
participate in the contest, producing some outstanding
work. Of the four categories of ID6 the Visual Art Category
has always been a firm favourite being the most open of
the four in terms of accessibility. With outstanding prizes
up for grabs there was more than enough bait to entice
the city’s creatives into the fray. The result of a long and
arduous judging process saw two works emerge tied for
first place. The need to work in synergy with Durban’s
creative sector led to the African Art Centre sponsoring
the winning prize for the ID6 Visual Art Category. The
winners, Rob Mills and Sabastien Pillay, were awarded a
cash prize and the opportunity to exhibit at the African
Art Centre’s gallery.
This exhibition is a personal observation and
documentation of the street scene and characters in
Durban today. An interpretation of the blending of
culture, tradition, character, fashion, belief and attitude
that can be seen in our city. I spent time wandering
the streets, capturing images of people and their
attire. I then used these visuals and the wording often
found on their clothing as reference for the creative
interpretation and character designs. I am fascinated
by the cyclic patterns in our society and the need for a
retro reinventing/merging of culture. There is a positive
novelty in the somewhat familiar, where African flair
combines with global trend and traditions fuse with
repeated fashion. I hope to capture the pride and
excitement of this emerging style in my work.
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JOHN DANIEL EKSTEEN
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STUDENT ACTIVITIES
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Students from DSSA delighted festival-goers at the
Parklife gourmet food and music event by creating
an environment on par with any international music
festival such as Tomorrowland, Boom and Glastonbury.
PARKLIFE, ANOTHER
SUCCESS FOR
DSSA STUDENTS
The students were entrusted to create festival décor or
an an edgy activation with a social message. They had
free reign, which could take the form of anything they
desired, such as an entrance, a maze or exhibition at
the archery range, an installation or sculpture, among
others. The results were an impressive sight, displaying
the diverse interest and celebration of unique creative
thinking from various sources of inspirations.
The Dragonfly installation team, led by Interior Design
student, Jan Esterhuizen, consisted of Gundo Matala,
Percivale Mofokeng, Viwe Majavu and Zanri Marais.
They decided to play around with scale by taking a tiny
dragonfly and turning it into a huge installation. “We
wanted something that would be interactive for the
people that attended the festival, whilst still creating
something that would fit in well with the Parklife
Festival theme,” says Esterhuizen. “It was a great
experience and we were able to showcase our various
talents in a fun and artistic way within a creatively
exciting environment.”
Team #Right Direction’s team leader, Lerato Phala, a
Higher Certificate in Art and Design student, says that
they decided on artistic sign posts for visitors to find
their way around the festival. “We wanted to find a cool
and interactive way to communicate to the younger
consumer and we achieved this through creating
catchy phrases for the sign posts.” She adds, “It was
an exciting experience for all of us as we were able to
experience something we had never done before and
gain great market exposure at the same time.”
The teams were required to obtain the working
material needed for their work and make everything
come to life from concept right through to execution
stage. They were mentored by the very talented Marita
Viviers who is based at the Pretoria campus and Elinza
Pachaliev from the Johannesburg campus.
Project lead and DSSA Programme Manager for Art
and Design, Marili De Weerdt, says that they are proud
of each end result and that once again the students
did The IIE institutions very proud. “Exposing our
students to real life projects like Parklife gives them the
necessary experience to ensure they are industry ready
upon graduation. We look forward to the festival next
year.”
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T H E VA LU E O F
I N T E R A C T I V E P L AY
Sci Bono Discovery Centre by Nicole Mason.
The third year Interior Design students were required to
design the interiors for a Telecommunications Museum
housed in the KZNSA Gallery in Durban, targeting
millennials and showcasing communications from
the invention of the telegraph to the present day. The
museum was designed to be interactive with visitors
being able to use and play with the exhibits rather than
just viewing them in a glass case. It was quite a difficult
brief because most of the students have only experienced
museums in a limited or a traditional way so, in order to
demonstrate what interactive actually means, we went
to the Sci Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown.
continue - their brains were definitely taxed to capacity,
not only by figuring out all the sciencey things, but by
traipsing about trying to make sense of the circulation,
signage and organisation of the museum. They were
definitely outclassed in the stamina stakes by the hoards
of school children who descended on the venue about
an hour after our arrival.
The students were required to visit two museums as
part of their preparatory research for this project, the
Sci Bono centre and one other of their choice, with
some choosing the War Museum in Saxonworld or the
Bensusan Museum of Photography in Newtown among
others.
Sci Bono offers the best interactive museum experience
in Johannesburg, with visitors being required to play
with the exhibits in order to make them meaningful, so
we went as a class to see what it is like to have a hands on
experience. The students spent about two hours playing
hard in the museum before they grew too tired to
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This topic strongly related to the first years’ first semester
of Design Culture, a module that focuses on the history
of design, the impact of mass production, and the role
of the designer in bridging the gap between production
and consumption.
There is no ticket to the 1900’s, but the effects of
industrialisation remain. Mass production changed our
world forever, which almost meant the end of craft and
design! But thanks to design movements such as the
Bauhaus and the Arts & Crafts, design with integrity is
still flourishing.
Our field trip to the Design Team warehouse and
showroom on 20 May 2016 exceeded our expectations!
The students were inspired and challenged by
their knowledgeable staff, beautiful facilities and
impressive processes. Wilna Strey delivered an
insightful lecture on their business and design
philosophy, professionalism, being informed and
designing with integrity. Paledi then took us on an
exciting tour of their workshop where she showed
the students the entire process from making and
exposing screen-prints, to printing, to cutting, sewing,
packaging and shipping. We were utterly impressed!
Design Team fabrics provide fabulous inspiration to
upcoming designers in terms of professionalism, systems
and quality. Design Team is a textile design business
focusing on the design, print and conversion of South
African inspired textiles. Contemporary topical designs
form the basis of their fabric collections, rather than the
already well represented ethnic approach. Emphasis is
placed on quality and uniqueness of design, keeping in
touch with global trends and design styles. They are a
key example of flexible mass production processes that
produce high quality original designs in large quantities.
FABRIC BY DESIGN
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“The students were inspired and challenged by their knowledgeable
staff, beautiful facilities and impressive processes.”
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C R AW F O R D FA S H I O N S H O W C A S E
“I want to create garments that are not just clothes, but
rather a form of armour that a person can wear to make
them feel confident and not have to worry about the
people in life that bring them down. I made two tailored
jackets with over-exaggerated bows at the back which
act as wings; two jackets with ribbing collars which give
a dark yet heroic feel, and the last was a circle skirt over
the bust jacket.”
“This dress was created for the Sansui Summer Cup 2015.
The given theme was “More Jozy”.The five finalists had
to create a dress in Gold, black and pink that represents
Johannesburg.
The top half of this dress was completely beaded by
hand. The golden streaks on the back represents the
movement of Johannesburg and was texturized by hand,
whereas the pink and black pattern represents a strong,
modern African woman that are still true to her roots.”
- Thulani Mlambo
- Cherise Faught
“Anyone can produce a range or a collection of ready-towear, but it takes a unique designer to create something
magical to capture the audience, to elicit some sort of
emotion whether it be positive or negative. I love the
beauty of art found in fashion and the reason why I
wanted to become a fashion designer was to create
wearable art, and to maybe tell a story. The inspiration
behind my collection called ‘Maiko’ was based on two
factors - the Japanese tradition of geishas and the battle
between right and wrong.”
“My garment range was inspired by the Victorian Era. I
have however added a taste of modern fashion with it. I
was inspired by the intricate use of lace and corsets within
the garments of that time. The use of lace and collars are
evident in my range. I made long and short dresses as
well as a corset and leggings for a more modern look.
The colours which I used were black and different shades
of pink. These colours represent elegance and chic.”
- Natasha Sallie
- Jonothan De Klerk
Photographer credit: Ryno Fourie
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CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
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Durban pictures by Nadira Sewnunan and Carolanda du Toit
DBN
JHB
ORIENTATION WEEK
DURBAN
CAMPUS
JOHANNESBURG
CAMPUS
PRETORIA
CAMPUS
Students were grouped into teams and tasked with
painting and decorating a big bin. These bins are now
being used for paper-waste in all classrooms and around
campus.
First year DSSA students participated in a fun O-Week
on the DSSA Johannesburg campus a week before the
hard work started.
DSSA PTA students joined forces for this year’s Burn
Orientation event. Burn is a ritual of creative process
that enables students to acknowledge and deal with
bad experiences ortraits that may block their creative
process.
Students were asked to go out and explore the city, and
dig deep into everything that is Durban. The theme for
this bin bash was the fair city of Durban. Each team
was assigned a word or phrase that would determine
the aspect of Durban that they needed to represent on
their bin. The use of the word or phrase helped them
determine what images appeared on the bin.
Students got to know one another better through
various campus challenges, including several design
orientated tasks.
PTA
The Burn experience enabled students to face their
‘demons’ and work through a particularly traumatic
experience. Each student created their representation
of a Phoenix to visually explain and deal with their
creative block. That evening at Die Bos all Phoenixes
became one collective memory, which was burnt, and
the blocking memories/personality traits symbolically
destroyed. These rituals are an important part of letting
go and dealing with potential negative creative energies.
The Student Liaison Body (SLB) was responsible for
putting the orientation schedule together and balanced
the academic orientation sessions with fun elements.
O-Week finished on a high with a water and sports fun
time at the Old Parktonian Sports Club.
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The second criterion they needed to meet: the bin
must have the words “Paper Recycling” included in the
design, as well as the recycling symbol.
The judging then took place the following morning.
An awesome activity, which brought all the students
together in a creative and constructive way.
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GRADUATION
JOHANNESBURG &
PRETORIA CAMPUS
DURBAN
CAMPUS
The 19th May was a very special day as the Atterbury
Theatre in Pretoria, filled with excitement and
anticipation. The class of 2015 graduated and it
symbolised the end of a great chapter and the beginning
of a new adventure. The air was electric as the academic
procession entred the theatre to officially start the
proceedings.
The Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2015 took
place on 26 April 2016.
Carlu Swart from Drawbox Design Studio Architects
was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Anisa
Mpungwe from Loin Cloth and Ashes and Marize
Malan from Morphé were the guest speakers and they
entertained the audience with their journeys in the
fashion industry. Sharing their experiences, wisdom and
love for design and fashion.
A big thank you to Lane Meets from Interior Lane,
Nicole Maurel and Greg Wallis from G & D Apparel. The
lecturer award for his hard work and dedication to his
students was presented to Michael Barratt.
An afternoon full of excitement, as this was the first
cohort of Degree students to graduate on the Durban
Campus. Our Industry guests presented the academic
Top Achiever awards to the students.
Jasmine Natassja Huang
Top Fashion Design DBN
Vian Roos
Top Hons. Graphic Design PTA
Cherise Fourie
Top Fashion Design PTA
Nicole Skeen
Top Graphic Design JHB
Christiaan Ernst Schutte
Top Achievement Award
Top Interior Design PTA
Tanya Hamer
Top Art and Design PTA
Tana Jovic
Top Interior Design JHB
Kirsten Candice Pretorius
Top Interior Design DBN
Shavaun Megan Cronje
Top Graphic Design PTA
Natasha Shanice Sallie
Top Fashion Design JHB
Shane Keates
Top Art and Design JHB
Congratulations to all our
DSSA graduates
A special award was presented to Fiona Suleman
for more than fulfilling her duties as the Student
Relationship Coordinator by going over and beyond the
call of duty.
Congratulations to all our graduates and top achievers,
and a big thank you to our sponsors Archneer, Hello
Ambassador, Nicolette van der Merwe, Van Schaik
Books and Picsie Books.
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THREE YEAR SCHOLARSHIP
Danielle Beetge - Internship
This was a very special year for the finalists of the Loeries
2015 Creative Future Scholarship.
to date. The scholarship to study at The DSSA (Design
School Southern Africa) is valued at R500 000.
The selection process alone involved a review of
applicants’ portfolios, a creative challenge and a
gruelling interview. If they qualified, they were promised
an exciting and fulfilling ride.
Congratulations to Melissa Pattinson, previously from
Durban Girls’ High School, who was selected to receive
this full three-year scholarship at The Design School
Southern Africa!
Ever dreamed of a future where freedom of expression,
entrepreneurship and innovation are encouraged? Ever
wanted a career that enables you to be more? Ever
imagined living every day finding new ways to express
yourself?
This includes all fees, which will be covered by The DSSA.
Ongoing mentorship for Melissa will be provided by Greg
Tregoning – Durban Campus Principal of The DSSA. An
internship at a Durban advertising agency will also be
arranged during the course of her studies. Career and
placement assistance and advice will be provided for
Melissa once she has completed her studies.
This is the world of creativity.
The Creative Future Scholarship was initiated to enable
a talented learner from a disadvantaged background, to
study at a tertiary institution. The Loeries awarded five
scholarships in 2015, making it the biggest number of
full scholarships awarded in one year by the organisation
The scholarship programme kick starts the transformation
of the lives of the recipients, allowing them to explore
their creative talents and turn their skills into fulfilling
and successful careers.
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“I have always been an admirer of magazine layout
design and now I had the opportunity to jump into
action by doing a week internship at Caxton Magazines.
It was everything I expected, busy, chaotic, but best of
all…fun! I learnt a lot and wish to work there in the
future. PS. The people there are awesome!”
Danielle is now doing her BA Hons in Graphic Design on
the Jhb campus
“Danielle Beetge was an intern in the consumer
marketing department at Caxton Magazines at the end
of October 2015. She assisted our senior designer with
various design activities and brought her own unique
style to some of our existing designs. She worked on
projects including our Vrouekeur Christmas market,
December cover mount promotions and the Essentials
“Girls day out” reader event. Her pleasant attitude
and multi-tasking abilities was a great help during a
pressurised week.” - Reinhard Lotz, Group Marketing
Manager
STUDENT
INTERNSHIP
Danielle has since progressed futher and is now the
design intern of DSSA.
“Danielle is an asset to the team and her can-do attitude
and pro-active nature is most welcomed.” - Nicky
Stanley, National Sales & Marketing Manager
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www.designschoolsa.co.za
JHB:
011 326 3830
[email protected]
PTA:
012 346 5057
[email protected]
DBN:
031 003 0182
[email protected]
design
your
future
Design School Southern Africa is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd which is
registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution under the
Higher Education Act, 1997 (reg .no. 2007/HE07/002). Company registration number: 1987/004754/07
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