Design Week South Africa is an expansive city-wide calendar of events and immersive experiences that showcase the future of South African design through knowledge-share, inclusivity and support. Launched in 2024 with more than 90 activations, discussions, showcases, workshops and exhibitions across Johannesburg and Cape Town, Design Week South Africa aims to be one of the country’s leading design platforms. Applications are now open to creatives across all disciplines to participate in this national celebration of creativity and industry innovation. 

Through year-round activations and two city wide design weeks, Design Week South Africa aims to boost the local creative economy with an approach that is industry-led, increasing the public’s knowledge; awareness and appreciation of design, while generating and collecting open-source data around local design sectors.

This is a platform dedicated to celebrating design as an expression of creative thinking and making, jumpstarting collaboration, encouraging informative dialogue and open-source knowledge share, while cultivating the next generation of creative leaders through inclusivity and support.

For decades, the incredible economic, educational, creative and cultural benefits of dedicated, city-wide, design weeks have been witnessed the world over, from Milan to Melbourne. A creative space where designers and makers can express themselves, the trade and public can engage with the local design sector, while the next generation of designers, artists and makers can be inspired to continue a legacy – in our case, the legacy of South African design.

‘City design week, by building a creative platform and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations, is now recognised as one of the important mechanisms in the development of creative cities, in providing emerging strong support for the construction of innovative models that promote sustainable urban development.’ – Han, H. The Design Engins – Sustainable Development of City Design Weeks

Apply to participate in Design Week South Africa 2025, happening in Johannesburg from 9 – 12 October 2025 and Cape Town 23 – 26 October 2025. The deadline for application submissions is 30 April 2025, acceptance into the calendar will be sent by 30 June 2025. Please note prior to applying, all work will need to be completed by 1 October 2025, ahead of the activation weeks.

Apply to participate in Johannesburg here

Apply to participate in Cape Town here

Learn more about Design Week South Africa here

Press release courtesy of Design Week South Africa