Sustainable Design and Innovation in Africa: Call For Papers

The staging of the first soccer World Cup in Africa is around the corner. The preparation of this massive event shows no sign of slowing down as we are preparing for the Africa Design Day 2010 event. The NAD conference theme for 2010 is Sustainable Design and Innovation in Africa. It is gaining momentum and NAD members are requested to propose papers for this gathering.

The sub topics of the theme are:

1. Sustainability and innovation: Understanding the policy and business dimensions of innovation(e.g. environment, social and financial aspects)

2. Sustainability and Culture: Stories on sustainability from our culture and/or cultural design

3. Sustainability and products/services: Case studies of sustainable products and services

4. Sustainability and nature: Lessons to be learnt from our nature

5. Sustainability and Design Education: Integration of sustainable issues in design curriculum

6. 350. African designers respond to climate change.

The deadlines for paper submission are as follows:

a. Call for abstract – November 2009

b. Deadline for abstract – 15 January 2010

c. Deadline for research paper – 29 March 2010

Criteria for selecting speakers:

• Abstracts are requested from the potential presenters from Africa.

• Only papers relevant to the theme will qualify.

The event will run as follows:

• 23 - 25 May 2010

• 22-23 May – arrival of NAD members

• 23 May – Workshop and Planning meeting for 2011 (Kenya)

• 24 May – NAD Conference

• 25 May – Design Achievers Awards Ceremony

AFRICA DESIGN DAY 2010

The Network of Africa Designers together with the SABS Design Institute will be hosting an AFRICA DESIGN DAY from 23 to 25 May 2010. The event will run along with the Design Achievers programme and culminate in a festive Africa design celebration on 25 May 2010 on Africa Day. This will take place at the UNESCO World Heritage site at Maropeng, the Cradle of Humankind, near Johannesburg. All NAD members are invited to attend.

DESIGN ACHIEVERS AWARDS 2010

The annual Design Achievers programme will take place in South Africa from 21-25 May 2010, in Gauteng. Educational institutions from the rest of Africa are invited to nominate one student per country. More information: Bongani Ntombela, Ntombeb@sabs.co.za

NEPAD International Designers Expo and Summit 2010

The NEPAD Council on behalf of the Southern Africa Federation of Disabled (SAFOD) will host the first NEPAD International Designer Expo and Summit in April 2010 from the 26th to the 28th. The Summit will examine progress made by African countries in protecting and advancing the rights of Disabled People in all areas of their livelihood as well as increasing private sector awareness at the shortcomings currently experienced in African countries in terms of meetings the needs of Disabled citizens in various fields. www.designerssummit.co.za

Shungu has been selected for the IDFA

Shungu: The “resilience” of people has been selected for the 22nd edition of the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, which will take place from November 19 – 29 2009. The documentary is the brain child of Saki Mafundikwa, the founder of Zimbabwe Institute of Vigital Arts (Ziva) and member of Network of Africa Designers (NAD).

Shungu is a compelling narrative of the strategies used by ordinary people in order to survive in Zimbabwe today. The documentary follows the political battle which affected most lives in Zimbabwe; their experience of optimism going into an unprecedented election; deadlock from the election results; widespread violence and intimidation; and then, the unity government.

The IDFA 2009 is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious documentary film festivals. This is Mafundikwa’s first film and it was shot under tight media restrictions by the Zimbabwean government. It reflects not only the SHUNGU “resilience” of the characters, but of the filmmaker as well who put his life in danger to give the voiceless masses a voice.

Saki said that the IDFA nomination means that there is a reward for hard work. He hopes the documentary will bring international attention to the plight of ordinary Zimbabweans who have endured unimaginable pain and suffering.

His message to all aspiring filmmakers in Africa is that the digital tools are enabling and if you have a good story to tell; good photography skills, you CAN make an award winning film.