Caesarstone Champions the Future of South African Design

Empowering the next generation through the 2025 Student Designer Competition.

For nearly two decades, Interslab and Caesarstone South Africa have been shaping more than just surfaces, they’ve been shaping futures. Through the Caesarstone Student Designer Competition, the brand continues to invest in the country’s emerging design talent, providing a professional platform that bridges education and industry.

Taking top honours this year was Ruan Smith from Nelson Mandela University, whose design captured the essence of the brief with sensitivity and conceptual depth. His award includes an all–expenses–paid trip to an international design fair for both him and his lecturer.

This year’s brief,“Designing for Wellbeing,”authored by Silindzile Shongwe, challenged students to look beyond aesthetics and explore how spaces can restore calm and community. Under the guidance of their lecturers, students from across South Africa responded with remarkable creativity.

With one of the largest pools of entries to date, this year’s judging took place over a fullday, where the panel; Silindzile Shongwe, Stefan Antoni, Juliet Kavishe, Michele Rhoda, Dorothy van’t Riet, and Jonathan Anstey, had their work cut out for them selecting the country’s most promising young designers.

The 2025 Top 9 Finalists; Ruan Smith, Morne Ferreira, Tylo Barends, Gina Olles, Sanele Mzaidume, Sarah Sims, Hannah Loudon, Stella Carter–Johnson, and Amber Smith, represented diverse perspectives and design philosophies. Their work reflected a shared commitment to creating spaces that not only look beautiful but feel restorative.

Honouring South Africa’s Rising Stars:

2nd Place: Morne Ferreira, North–West University
3rd Place: Tylo Barends, School of Explorative Architecture
Best Presentation:Gina Olles, BHC School of Design