Nandi Dlepu, Mamakashaka’s visionary owner and founder, is a multi-faceted, creative force to be reckoned with. An AFDA graduate, Nandi has worked for some of South Africa’s top agencies and production houses such as Masters & Savant, Tenant McKay, Clearwater and T+W. She founded Mamakashaka in 2017. Nandi is a sought-after speaker who is well-known as an womxn advocacy activist, as well as her for groundbreaking brands: Bloom, Feel Good Series, and Pantone Sundays.

Prof. Mugendi K. M’Rithaa, a transdisciplinary industrial designer, educator, and researcher, who is currently President Emeritus and Senator of the World Design Organization – having been the first African President in its history during the 2015-2017 term. Much of his work with the WDO focuses on the importance of supporting the aspirations of designers worldwide in the [industrial] design profession’s collective quest to resolve problems in diverse contexts.

Design duo Fiona Garson and Nina Cohen, Directors of Cohen and Garson Architects. Many of the buildings Cohen and Garson have designed are ground breaking and they have been published in prestigious magazines such as Domus (Italy), Detail (Germany) and Architecture Digest (South Africa) amongst others. The duo talks us through their partnership that’s spanned over 15 years as well as their ethos of responsible design and sensitivity.

Joe Osae-Addo will be talking us through how Cape Town inspires Accra, a tale of two cities that are ever-growing in the design world. Joe is a fierce advocate of architecture, co-founding the Architecture + Design Museum of Los Angeles and in Ghana, he is Chairman of ArchiAfrika, a platform that initiates and facilitates research in African architecture, while promoting socio-cultural development.

Chris is a Trend Researcher and Strategist based in Cape Town, South Africa. and for over a decade he's presented trend insight to clients both locally and overseas, working with agencies and as an independent consultant. Approaching the world of trends with equal parts curiosity, insight and scepticism, Chris is fascinated by the things that connect us to each other and our world, and what these connections mean for brands and individuals.

Nick is the CEO and co-founder of Mami Wata, an African surf and lifestyle brand founded in Cape Town. The brand tells its story of African surf culture through the lens of African design principles, all while supporting African surf therapy organisations and strengthening African surf tourism as a whole.

A self-proclaimed Afro-minimalist and Editor-In-Chief of Padi Afrika. Juliet’s global upbringing and extensive travels have inspired her to create spaces influenced by her global citizenship, some of which can be seen in publications such as SA Décor and Design, Africanism and Archdaily. Juliet’s personal design motto is that architecture or design is achieved once you consider the complexities and interrelationships of human beings and their surroundings.