Nando’s Hot Young Designer 2026: Top 10 Finalists

South Africa’s next generation of design talent is stepping into the spotlight as Nando’s Hot Young Designer 2026 (HYD) announces the ten finalists in its latest nationwide talent search — this year turning its attention to the expressive possibilities of light.

Now in its sixth edition, the biennial competition and business accelerator has spent a decade identifying, mentoring and creating opportunities for emerging South African creatives. Managed on behalf of Nando’s by Clout/SA, the programme has become an influential launchpad for designers looking to move from promising ideas to commercially viable products with international potential.

For 2026, the brief was deceptively simple: create a linear light fixture capable of finding its place in a Nando’s restaurant anywhere in the world.

A New Generation Comes to Light

Nearly 200 submissions answered the call, demonstrating the extraordinary depth and diversity of South Africa’s emerging design landscape. From this highly competitive field, ten concepts were selected:

Kgomotso Monnakgotla
Kulani Keagile
Chelsea Makin
Rethabile Motaung
Bianca van Vuuren
Reneilwe Molala
Bradley van Graan
Anele Mkhize
Ashleigh Witney
Tshegofatso Mako

The selection was made by a panel of almost 20 respected design-industry figures and previous HYD winners, bringing together both South African and international perspectives.

Among the judges were Paula Baúlde Portas, Head of Marketing at Maison&Objet in Paris; Thabisa Mjo of Mash.T Design Studio; Nikhil Tricam and Nindya Bucktowar of Studio Kalki; Charl Edwards, Co-founder and Creative Director of Lookbook Studio; Brad O’Neill, Head of Design and Development at Nando’s South Africa; Tracy Lynch, Curator of the Nando’s Design Programme and Executive Creative Director of Clout/SA; and Michael Cathie, CEO of Nando’s South Africa.

From Concept to Commercial Reality

For the ten finalists, being shortlisted is only the beginning.

They will now head to Nando’s Central Kitchen in Johannesburg, where each designer will present their linear lighting concept live to the judging panel. From these presentations, five designers will be selected to progress to an intensive development phase.

“This shortlisting marks a significant milestone for the designers,” says Lynch.

The next stage moves beyond the strength of the original idea and into the realities of creating a successful design product. Through a focused programme of workshops, the final five will develop physical prototypes while gaining a deeper understanding of production, positioning and commercialisation.

A dedicated business bootcamp, facilitated by seasoned Business Coach Claude Morris as a business design mentor, will further equip the designers with the entrepreneurial thinking required to build sustainable creative businesses.

It is this combination of design mentorship and commercial development that has distinguished HYD within the South African design landscape.

Designing Beyond Borders

The opportunity extends considerably further than winning a competition.

The eventual Nando’s Hot Young Designer 2026 will receive a tailored programme incorporating mentorship, market access, showcasing opportunities and engagement with some of South Africa’s leading designers. An additional business accelerator programme will also be custom-built to contribute to the growth of the winner’s design-focused business.

There is also the possibility of reaching a truly global audience.

Should the winning product and its production process align with Nando’s requirements, the piece will be included on the Nando’s Portal to Africa — a global marketplace accessed by the interior designers responsible for creating Nando’s Casas across its international markets.

For an emerging designer, it represents the rare possibility of seeing a locally conceived product move from sketchbook to prototype and potentially into interiors around the world.

A Decade of Discovering Talent

Over the past decade, Hot Young Designer has explored everything from pattern and furniture to contemporary product design, with each edition responding to a different creative brief.

Its influence, however, extends beyond the individual winner.
Previous editions have demonstrated how the programme can become a catalyst for the broader careers of finalists, connecting emerging designers with mentors, manufacturers, collaborators and commercial opportunities while introducing their work to a much wider audience.

That ecosystem has helped position HYD as more than a talent competition. It is an investment in the future of South African design — one that recognises that creative talent needs not only exposure, but also mentorship, business knowledge, production support and meaningful access to market.

With the 2026 finalists now preparing to pitch their ideas and turn their concepts into prototypes, the next chapter is about to take shape.

Ten designers. Five places. One winning light. And perhaps, among them, the next name to shape the future of South African design.

For more information, please visit www.hotyoungdesigner.com