Third-year Interior Design student at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Banele Mthethwa clinched first prize in the Furniture Design Competition hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) in partnership with the South African Furniture Initiative (SAFI), Proudly South African, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and their industry partners. Mthethwa was announced as the winner in the student category at the Proudly South African Buy Local Summit held recently at the Sandton Convention Centre.
The DTIC hosts a furniture design competition annually in which students and professionals are invited to participate. By doing this, the DTIC aims to improve the design capabilities and reputation of the South African furniture design and manufacturing industry.
Banele Mthethwa (left) with other finalists at the Proudly South African Buy Local Summit. Image Supplied.
Mthethwa, who hails from Mtubatuba under the uMkhanyakude District, KwaZulu-Natal said that he always had a great passion for interior design and architecture – designing interior and exterior spaces. He is interested in working on design solutions in response to a client brief, which often involves solving any problems that a client may have through design.
The competition theme was “Let’s Celebrate the Outdoors.” Participants were tasked with designing an item of furniture that may be used “to take a seat and enjoy our most amazing outdoor national heritage.” They each designed an outdoor chair considering target market, ergonomics and sustainability, specifically through the use of locally produced materials. To highlight the local culture and materials, Mthethwa opted to use ‘icansi’, which is a mat made from incema grass that is naturally harvested by local weavers. Participants were asked to submit technical drawings showing how the piece is constructed, as well as 3-dimensional perspective drawings, which is the final drawing that shows the furniture piece.
Mthethwa explained out of excitement: “Being selected as a first prize winner in a national competition, where professional designers entered, was thrilling, overwhelming, and exciting. I would say it has also boosted the confidence I had in my work. I am so grateful for this tremendous opportunity.”
In her keynote address, DTIC’s Acting Deputy Director-General of Sectors, Dr Anneline Chetty spoke of the critical role of the furniture industry in driving economic growth and job creation in South Africa. Addressing the audience, she underscored the importance of collaboration between social partners and government to address challenges such as sluggish domestic growth, constrained demand, and high unemployment.
“Incubating critical skills and empowering entrepreneurs to establish Small, Medium, and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) in the furniture sector is essential for revitalising the industry. SMMEs, which currently account for 35% of the GDP, are the backbone of job creation in our economy,” she stated.
In 2018, then Interior Design student Lwazi Mshibe won the competition for his space saving invention called “Songa” (meaning to fold in IsiXhosa).
Pictured: DTIC’s Acting Deputy Director-General of Sectors, Dr Anneline Chetty and Banele Mthethwa. Image Supplied.
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