Hoi P’loy: Lighting Design at Design Week 2026

Hoi P’loy Explores the Art of Lighting Design and Everyday Objects for Design Week South Africa 2026

Cape Town design studio Hoi P’loy is bringing fresh perspectives to lighting design and everyday objects as part of Design Week South Africa 2026. Through a hands-on luminaire design workshop and a new collaboration with Clementina Ceramics, the studio invites designers, makers and design enthusiasts to explore the creative possibilities of lighting, materials and thoughtful product development. This Hoi P’loy lighting design initiative highlights the importance of experimentation, collaboration and considered design in shaping everyday objects.

Both events respond to this year’s theme, The Shape of Us, celebrating the ways in which different creative perspectives, materials and processes influence the objects people interact with every day.

A Product Developer’s Guide to Luminaire Design

On Thursday, 22 October 2026, Hoi P’loy will open its Salt River studio for A Product Developer’s Guide to Luminaire Design, a hands-on workshop designed for emerging designers, makers, creative thinkers and lighting enthusiasts interested in understanding what it takes to turn an idea into a functional light.

The session begins with an exploration of the anatomy of a light, unpacking the individual components that make up a working light fixture. Participants will gain insight into the technical requirements and production considerations that inform luminaire design, discovering how these practical elements shape the relationship between form and function.

From there, the workshop shifts towards participants’ own ideas. Whether it is an initial sketch, an early concept or a half-formed idea, attendees are encouraged to bring something along to develop further.

Working in smaller groups organised around different lighting categories, including pendants, wall sconces, table lamps and floor lamps, participants will have the opportunity to discuss their concepts with the Hoi P’loy team, brainstorm possible solutions and receive constructive feedback.

Rather than focusing solely on the finished product, the workshop offers a closer look at the thinking, decision-making and problem-solving involved in developing a light. No polished presentations or fully resolved designs are required. Instead, the emphasis is on curiosity, experimentation and understanding the process behind bringing a creative concept to life.

The workshop will take place from 12:00 to 14:00 at Hoi P’loy, 48 Hopkins Street, Salt River, Cape Town. Admission is free, but spaces are limited and registration is essential.

Hoi P’loy x Clementina Ceramics: Switching Things Up

Continuing its exploration of thoughtful design, Hoi P’loy is joining forces with Cape Town-based Clementina Ceramics for Switching Things Up, a new collaboration that reimagines the everyday light switch as an opportunity for creative expression.

Often overlooked, light switch cover plates are functional details found in almost every home. This collaboration transforms them into distinctive design features, bringing together different materials, making techniques and creative perspectives to create a collection of decorative covers.

The collection combines handcrafted clay with precision-cut metal and 3D-printed components. Some designs draw directly from the shapes and textures of ceramics, translating these qualities into different materials and finishes to create a varied collection that balances craftsmanship with contemporary product development.

At the heart of the designs is a custom-developed, 3D-printed internal structure by Hoi P’loy. Created to fit neatly over existing wall switches without requiring their removal or replacement, the covers offer a practical, renter-friendly way to introduce character into an interior without undertaking major alterations.

Presented as part of Design Week South Africa 2026, Switching Things Up reflects the theme The Shape of Us by demonstrating how collaboration can bring together different approaches to making and material exploration. It also highlights how even the smallest details in a home can become opportunities for considered design.

The collection will be unveiled on Saturday, 24 October 2026, during an exhibition and open studio at Clementina Ceramics in Woodstock. Visitors will have the opportunity to discover the new designs and explore the creative processes behind the collaboration.

The launch also marks the beginning of an ongoing series of collaborations between Hoi P’loy and South African designers and makers. Each collaboration will explore new materials, forms and finishes, offering a fresh interpretation of the humble light switch.

Celebrating Design Through Collaboration and Experimentation

Together, the two events showcase Hoi P’loy’s interest in the relationship between creative thinking, technical development and everyday functionality. The workshop offers an opportunity to understand the process behind designing a light, while the collaboration with Clementina Ceramics demonstrates how considered material choices and innovative production techniques can transform an ordinary household object. These initiatives reflect Hoi P’loy lighting design through their focus on creative exploration and practical innovation.

From developing an initial lighting concept to rethinking a familiar detail, both initiatives encourage a closer look at the objects that shape everyday spaces. They serve as a reminder that good design does not always require creating something entirely new. Sometimes, it begins with asking better questions, exploring different possibilities and giving familiar objects the attention they deserve.

Event Details: Hoi P’loy Workshop

Event: A Product Developer’s Guide to Luminaire Design
Date: Thursday, 22 October 2026
Time: 12:00–14:00
Venue: Hoi P’loy, 48 Hopkins Street, Salt River, Cape Town
Format: Workshop / Open Studio
Admission: Free; registration is essential as spaces are limited.

Event Details: Hoi P’loy x Clementina Ceramics

Event: Switching Things Up
Date: Saturday, 24 October 2026
Time: 11:00–13:00
Venue: Clementina Ceramics, 501 Tollgate Industrial Centre, 12 Ravenscraig Road, Woodstock, Cape Town
Format: Product Launch / Exhibition / Open Studio
Admission: Open to the public.

Follow the studios on Instagram: @hoiploysa | @clementinaceramics_studio | @capensis_clementina