Future Talks at Decorex Joburg 2026: Exploring the Ideas Shaping the Future of African Design

Design is no longer defined solely by the objects we create. Increasingly, it is shaped by the conversations surrounding how we live, work, and connect. Returning to Decorex Joburg from 30 July to 2 August 2026, Future Talks presented by Oggie brings together some of Africa’s leading architects, designers, creatives, and international industry voices for four days of thought-provoking discussions exploring the ideas influencing contemporary design.

Taking place within 100% Design Africa at the Sandton Convention Centre, this year’s programme reflects many of the themes shaping today’s design landscape, from wellbeing and hospitality to craftsmanship, technology, and cultural exchange. Rather than focusing on trends alone, the sessions explore the thinking behind great design and the role it plays in improving everyday life.

A central theme throughout the programme is the growing shift towards more human-centred interiors and architecture. Sessions including Soft Touch: Interiors, a New Mode, The Architecture of Wellbeing and ARRCC principal Quintin Gilman’s keynote, The Interior Shift, examine how comfort, materiality, and emotional connection are becoming just as important as aesthetics when creating spaces for living and working.

The changing definition of luxury also takes centre stage. In a series of discussions featuring Grid Worldwide’s Paul Hinch and Jineil Kandasamy alongside chef and restaurateur David Higgs, speakers explore how today’s most memorable hospitality experiences are increasingly shaped by storytelling, atmosphere, and authenticity rather than extravagance alone.

The programme also celebrates the growing influence of African design on the global stage. Conversations with leaders from Design Week Lagos and Design Week Maputo, together with insights from Milan-based communications expert Cora Manzi, explore how collaboration, cultural exchange, and international partnerships are creating new opportunities for designers across the continent.

Closer to home, several sessions shine a spotlight on South African creativity through discussions around locally made furniture, craftsmanship, material innovation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The programme concludes by tackling one of the industry’s most pressing topics: the role of artificial intelligence in creative practice, asking how designers can embrace new technologies while preserving authorship, cultural identity, and human sensitivity.

Whether you’re an architect, interior designer, student or design enthusiast, Future Talks offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from the people shaping the future of African design. More than a series of presentations, it is a platform for exchanging ideas, challenging perspectives, and exploring the conversations that will influence the next chapter of the industry.