Future of Industrialising Design
Course overview
As South Africa’s design scene matures, this session gathers founders who’ve scaled studios into sustainable manufacturing forces—balancing creativity with entrepreneurship through innovation, process, and vision.
Certification included
Validated by SAIAT as a Category 1 CPD talk. Attendees will earn 0.1 credits.
Meet the SPEAKERs
Ramielle de Jager
Founder, CEO & Creative Director, Wolkberg Casting Studios
Ramielle De Jager is rewriting the rules of industrial design in Africa. As the founder of Wolkberg Casting Studios, she pioneered Limesite™, a proprietary concrete-based material that’s redefining what’s possible in architectural surfaces. Her work lives at the intersection of design, material science, and culture – bold, functional, and unapologetically beautiful. Read more...
Nikhil Tricam & Nindya Bucktowar
Co-Founders, Kalki Ceramics & Studio Kalki
This Durban-based duo heads both Kalki Ceramics and multidisciplinary Studio Kalki. Their award-winning work—spanning handcrafted tiles, interiors, installations, and lighting—fuses South African ecological inspiration with design entrepreneurship and global relevance.
Rial & Daniel
Rial & DanielCreative Director and CEO of Rialheim, Rialheim
Rialheim is a proudly South African design house rooted in storytelling, creativity, and conscious craftsmanship. At the helm are Rial Visagie, Creative Director, and Daniel Swanepoel, CEO — partners in life and business — who have grown Rialheim into one of South Africa’s most beloved and resilient homeware brands. All Rialheim products are manufactured on Clairvaux Estate, just outside Robertson — a place that has been home to five generations of dreamers and the dedicated team behind the brand. Read more...
Nicola Smith
Founder & Creative Director, Kilnhouse Design Studio
Nicola Smith (b. 1995 South Africa) is an industrial designer and ceramic artist based in Johannesburg. As the founder of Kilnhouse Design Studio, Smith focusses on creating ceramic goods for the home and hospitality industry. Her ceramic work is specified by leading interior designers, architects and brands such as Singita, Motherland Coffee Co, Terbodore Coffee, Anatomy Design, Hesse Kleinloog, Radisson ground, Design Partnership and Sunshinegun for Nando's. Read more...
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