Afrika Design: Creative Tour of Africa

In today's episode, we're joined by a familiar face in the Kenyan social media scene, Wixx Mangutha. Wixx is a visual storyteller, utilizing anything within reach to craft her art. With accolades like the Best Animator award (WIFA) and the Pulse Art Influencer award, she boasts collaborations with major brands such as Coca-Cola and Safaricom. Wixx generously shares her journey and the inva...

In today's discussion, we engage with the visionaries behind Free Mind Sessions, a safe space for individuals to converge, exchange opinions, and share experiences in the pursuit of enlightenment. Our guests include Nyacomba Githu, the founder, and Lindsay Obath, the co-founder. They walk us through the evolution of their creative journey, culminating in the establishment of these inclusive sp...

This week, we delve into a narrative of perseverance, tenacity, and optimism. Our guest is David Avido, a seasoned professional in the fashion industry, excelling in tailoring, fashion styling, pattern making, teaching, and business consultancy. Beyond his role as a fashion expert, David is a community activist, public speaker, and mentor. He is the visionary behind Lookslike Avido fashion brand,...

In this episode, Ama Waithira invites us into the realm of play as she explores the fascinating world of cosplay. A seasoned animator and lecturer at the Multimedia University of Kenya, she unravels the misconceptions surrounding cosplayers, debunking labels such as demonic often associated with this creative expression in Kenya. Ama delves into the origins of cosplay and shares her personal motiv...

In this episode, we sit down with Wanjiku, the visionary behind Hisi Studio, a groundbreaking lifestyle and fashion brand. Hisi Studio is dedicated to exploring inclusive design and revolutionizing fashion by considering the unique needs of visually impaired consumers. Wanjiku shares her journey, delving into the successes, setbacks, and invaluable lessons learned along the way. She sheds light on...

In this episode, we embark on a sensory odyssey with your host, Adrian, a rare synesthete offering a unique insight into the world of synesthesia—where senses intertwine, transforming music into colors and words into tastes. Adrian's personal journey unfolds at the Venice Design Week, where he collaborates with experts to unravel the mysteries of synesthesia's impact on daily experiences a...

In this episode, we introduce Gabriella Okeno, one of the founders of Archtivate Africa—an initiative dedicated to showcasing African architecture, with a particular focus on its vernacular expressions. Her organization aims to visually represent vernacular architecture, particularly from pre-colonial Africa, through the integration of AI technology and various tools. Gabriella's passion for r...

In this episode, we return to the captivating landscapes of Madagascar. Our guest is Miora Acker, a visual artist with a fervent curiosity for societal phenomena. Her muse is society itself: its inhabitants, their everyday experiences, the ecosystem they inhabit, and the intricacies of human psychology. Miora's mission is to challenge prevailing perceptions that different groups within society...

In this episode, we have the pleasure of introducing Victor Gatonye, who holds the role of Creative/Technical Director at Zamaradi Productions, boasting nearly two decades of experience in the realm of TV and Film production. Victor is widely acknowledged for his pivotal role in nurturing Kenya's Film industry, steering Zamaradi Productions to create more than 71 TV films, 11 TV Shows, a featu...

What Does Design Mean, and Can It Benefit Everyone? In this episode, we embark on a journey to unravel the vast concept of design. Our conversation is with Dr. Laura Glory, a medical doctor who also wears the hats of an artist and poet. Dr. Glory unveils how she seamlessly weaves design into her professional life, whether she's performing surgeries or tending to her patients. Her drawings and...

Chrissa Amuah, a versatile designer, serves as the Founder and Creative Director of AMWA Designs, a high-end homeware and interior decor brand infused with Adinkra symbolism. While her heritage spans Ghana, Benin, and Togo, her primary inspiration stems from Ghana. She delves into the Adinkra Symbols, emphasizing how they grant her designs enduring significance, believing that meaningful creations...

We had a chance to be featured on the Hideout Podcast hosted by Wambui Chege. It was a fun conversation about Nairobi Design. You can check out the podcast as it has numerous interesting conversations featuring stories about people from different walks of life. Hideout Podcast Nairobi Design

Is Kenya ready for large scale 3D printing? This week, we talk to Mohammed Firozhusein—Director at 3D Moguls Ltd. 3D Moguls provides 3D printing solutions for businesses, such as prototyping and low volume custom parts manufacturing. He breaks down the 3D printing processes and shows the practicality of this solution. He details various industries where the technology could thrive and where Kenya...

This week, we talk to Newton Chege—the Creative Director at Gallexia Kenya. Gallexia Kenya is a brand company whose work is focused on generating impactful and influential content, designs, and strategies that strengthen and elevate the brands. He highlights success stories that show how one needs to embrace current events, current technologies within their work to be ahead of the curve. Tune in t...

What’s the difference between a dentist and a dental technologist? It’s not their smile 🤣 In this episode, we meet Melanie Walch—founder of Simba Smile Limited. She is a dental technologist with experience in several CAD CAM laboratories in Nairobi, where she extensively developed her capacity and expertise in CAD CAM systems. She shares her thoughts on digitization of the medical sector, specifi...

In this episode, we are joined by Ladouce Nadabha who is one of the co-founders of The Art Carte—which is a lifestyle brand that blends art and functionality to create unique stationery, greeting cards and home goods; inspired by nature and culture. She works with her sister Nadine. Ladouce tells us what it takes to go global. Are there specific tools or platforms? Do I have to go digital? Where d...

36 days of action featuring 36 concerts in 6 continents with Yo-Yo Ma. In this episode, we discuss The Bach Project that featured the legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma— an event that would explore how culture connects us. Yo-Yo began this journey across the world in 2018, however, it was interrupted by the pandemic in 2020. We are joined by Peter Holmes à Court who is the Senior Convener at Afrika House,...

In this episode, we meet Nyandia Kamawe— a fine arts graduate with a specialty in graphic design. She is the founder of MokoMaya which deals with products that are hand-made. The name MokoMaya comes from kikuyu Moko: hands and Maya: these. So, ‘these hands.’ She talks us through her journey from Kenya to Atlanta and back. The shares the different perspectives and challenges of being a designer in...

In this episode, we are joined by Gift Kyansimire and Derrick Kinyeki from Inkspace Bureau. They are the only Stop Motion studio in Kenya responsible for the film—The Big Sad Nairobi. The film is about a goat that personifies human interactions and emotions while trying to become a better person. This film was first showcase at the Nairobi Design Festival. They take us through the process of how t...

“Do what you love and you never have to work a day in your life.” This week we meet Brian Omolo, a self-employed illustrator and artist who is determined to make design not feel like work. He walks us through his journey of how his work has evolved from just drawing and painting on paper but also his shift to digital where he was able to further develop the quality of his designs and better yet, i...

How do you take your business idea to market? In this episode, we congratulate one of the winners of the What Design Can Do: Make it Circular challenge—Rethread Africa; who are developing the technology to turn agricultural waste into biodegradable textile fabric. In November 2022, a group of university students came together to change the world. Charles Oyamo and Mitesh Varsani from Rethread join...

Earth day, Woodstock concert, Vietnam war, Hippies…what do they have in common? The Peace Symbol. The infamous peace symbol is one of many. It was designed not for peace but for nuclear disarmament. This was after the devastation that the first and second world war brought upon the world especially in Europe. Many were tired of the conflict which never seemed to have an end in sight. The general s...

This week, we are thrilled to welcome Jonathan Kasumba, an automotive designer, and the visionary behind the African Automotive Design Association. His mission is to shape the automotive design industry with a distinctive African identity. During our conversation, he delves into the intricate process that paves the way for a car to become a reality in the production world. Jonathan sheds light on...

Rina Waligo leads us on a captivating journey through the vibrant world of making African wedding stationery and greetings cards, with a digital art twist, set against the backdrop of Uganda. In 2015, Rina embarked on her creative journey at Nairobi Design, and since then, she's been on a relentless pursuit to realize her dream of becoming the designer she's always aspired to be as the fou...

Discover the world of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality! Join us as we sit down with Walid Kilonzi, the extended reality producer at Fallohide Africa—a cutting-edge creative studio revolutionizing Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality solutions. Discover how AR, VR, and mixed reality transcend entertainment and find their real-world applications. From enhancing work environment...