Design Joburg 2020 – Here’s The Low Down

That was quick! Design Joburg is about to celebrate its fourth edition. They’re well into the preparation stages of their upcoming 2020 show, which is once again being presented by Sanlam Private Wealth.

Design Joburg are once more thrilled with the support from one of South Africa’s leading wealth management brands, ensuring a refreshing and innovative design experience come 22 May 2020.

By now, the show has established itself as Africa’s premium décor and design show, using an immersive and collaborative approach to flip the exhibition model on its head. Those in the know clearly agree because Design Joburg were recently lauded with the title ‘Best Trade and Consumer Exhibition under 6000m2 at the ROAR (The Association of African Exhibition Organisers) awards. What an honour!

From 22 to 24 May 2020, the Sandton Convention Centre will once again be ground zero for those seeking their annual fix of design inspiration. This year will see #DJ20 pushing the envelope by bringing a talented cast of South African, continental and global design pioneers and trailblazers together under one roof.

Returning once again to steer the show’s creative direction is award-winning local design duo Greg Gamble and Philippe van der Merwe of Tonic who will ensure that #DJ20 retains its edge as a first-class show.

Another important returning partner this year is SA Tourism, whose role it is to bring in instrumental continental and global buyers as part of the show’s buyers programme. This initiative is a vital lead generator, connecting the show’s skilled exhibitors with a keen buying audience from further afield.

New to the arsenal of partners at #DJ20 is technology sponsor LG, who will bring an exciting technological edge to the show. LG will be responsible for ensuring that the show’s returning talks Theatre is a slick operation, as well as introducing a first-time digital art gallery.

CoLabs

The heart of the show remains the now celebrated CoLabs. These evocative room sets pool together top drawer local and global talent – from a broad spectrum of fields such as architecture, furniture, finishes and lighting – under the curative eye of leading local interior designers. Last year saw a hive of social media activity around the impressive CoLabs. These inventive, often experimental collective spaces are arguably what creates the biggest buzz and play a vital role in providing real takeaway inspiration for visitors, who are often starved of this experience at exhibitions.

This year’s CoLab crew of custodian designers includes: Envy&Co’s Jaco Janse van Rensburg and Kay Abrahams, Arrange Studio’s Roxanne Ferreira, Metaphor Design’s Lane Reeves and Blaque Pearl Lifestyle’s Zimkita Sidumo and Siyabesho Thutha, with a few more CoLab designers to be announced.

New to the Show…

Design Joburg endeavours to remain at the forefront of innovation, and as such, they’re committed to bringing relevant new features to the show. This year, that includes the much anticipated Finishes Lane. This enticing feature focuses on all those essential finishes that complete a project whether interior or exterior – think handles and hinges to floor and wall treatments.

Another new addition to look out for is the MCC Bar hosted by Sanlam Private Wealth. Presented by #DJ20’s headline sponsor, the bar is being conceptualised by Akanani, a new all-women design team made up of Amanda Msimang and Lynette Thabo. Picture an immersive space that awakens the senses, where luxury design and traditional craftsmanship come together. Steenberg will be engaging the palate, serving up their lauded Cap Classiques, while the spotlight will be thrown on celebrated South African ceramicist and artist Andile Dyalvane.

The show is also an important (and respected) platform for the launch of brand new products from SA’s leading designers and artisans. This year, they’re giving this aspect of Design Joburg its very own stage with a new-to-market feature called Brand. New. that will showcase the very latest innovations from a slew of local studios.

The LG Art Gallery is yet another of the new features to launch at #DJ20 courtesy of technology sponsor LG. This convention-bending space will present the work of established and emerging artists in a new, 21st-century format. Fusing art and technology, this digital gallery is a great example of the kind of innovation that Design Joburg and LG are known for.

Continuing on the future-focused theme, Design Joburg is delighted to be launching LG’s ThinQ House, a mini-home where technology (represented by an array of smart appliances that “talk” to each other) and design come together.

Enhanced…

In their constant efforts to do better, Design Joburg is pleased to announce that several of their most popular features will be returning this year, having been further enhanced and refined. The Architect’s Gallery, a showcase of some of the country’s finest architectural projects is once again being curated by cutting-edge architecture and design trio SAOTA, ARRCC and OKHA. This year, however, the introduction of a 3-dimensional immersive element will bring each of the buildings in the gallery to life.

Always a hit with visitors, the Hendrick’s Gin Bar returns with Joburg’s Dokter and Misses in charge of design. Using Hendrick’s Gin’s signature blend of 11 botanicals as its cue, we look forward to seeing what this edgy design duo comes up with…we do know that it’ll include live DJ…and plenty of gin cocktails.

The show’s theatre returns, this time completely reimagined and amped up with memorable talks and displays thanks to technology sponsor LG. Entitled ‘Living Your Best Life’ Theatre,  this space for learning, inspiration and enlightenment covers a glut of topics – courtesy of several leaders in their fields – that design lovers will want to take a seat for.

This time with exciting new brands taking part, the Retail Corridor will be returning to satisfy that itch to shop the show’s most covetable wares.

#DJ20’s main restaurant sees the welcome return of Sowetan-born chef and international success story Wandile Mabaso, who will be partnering with interior designer Potlako Gasennelwe from PG Interiors to create a space where design, architecture and food converge.

As the world looks to the African continent for creative inspiration, Design Joburg is thrilled to be at the forefront of the décor and design scene, representing the very best of South Africa’s creative trailblazers.

Visitors can buy tickets at the door or via Webtickets.

www.designjoburg.com