BEFORE you become a designer, you must get the right education.
This is why two aspiring young designers from Durban University of Technology (DUT) are in the running to win in this year’s furniture design competition that will take place in Durban next month.
The annual Furniture Design Competition is one of the Department of Trade and Industry’s industrial policy action plans aimed at ending the skills shortage in the furniture industry.
Akhona Thusi (21) and Simphiwe Mlambo (23) will show off their designs at the Durban leg of the Decorex SA exhibition. They will be in the running to win a one-year internship with training in design software as well as graphic design tablets.
A second year student at DUT, Akhona said being one of the finalists came as a surprise. She did not expect her designs to even be noticed, as she was still finding her feet as a first year design student.
“When I submitted my three designs late last year in the student category, the last thing I expected was an email confirming that I made it as a finalist. I can’t wait for the actual day, the experience of being there and meeting new people will be great.”
Akhona, born and raised in Umlazi, south of Durban, said her parents discouraged her from choosing any form of art as a career as she was excelling academically at school.
It took a lot of sacrifice and courage to convince them that design was her calling and that she could make a success out of it.
Fellow finalist and B-Tech student Simphiwe said the competition would give him an opportunity to network with key people in the industry.
He was most looking forward to getting advice on how to improve his designs and products.
“I was inspired by my parents, especially my mother’s love for furniture as a sales lady in one of the retail stores in northern KZN. As kids we also helped my father renovate houses and old buildings. This experience brought out our creativity as kids.”
Simphiwe said he had a difficult start to the year but he never once considered quitting.
