Laduma ngxokolo is a South African knitwear designer whose colorful collections are inspired by traditional Xhosa beadwork, winning an international design competition.

1. What can
creativity do?

2. di 2011: themes
returning to design basics
the global recession has seen a huge shift in many people’s value systems
throughout the world, and that ripple effect can be seen unfolding in the de-
sign world.
design for social change
“Let’s collaborate to create a better future, by design.” - ravi naidoo

3. Sub themes
1. 3rd world identity
2. a touch of innocent curiosity
3. economy of design
4. digital innovation

4. 1. 3rd world identity:
design that draws from
and preserves traditional culture

5. Francis Kéré
an architect from Burkina Faso whose work promotes sustainable architecture
in africa through:
- adapting technology from the industrialised world,
- considering climatic conditions and using local materials
- with focus on education.
“i am like a bridge, i live and work in Berlin and europe, but bring technology
home.”

6. “the biggest challenge, is illiteracy.”
Kere has to rely on drawings, scale
models and, most importantly, prac-
tical demonstrations, but when the
message hits home, the community
embraces the process.
GooSeBUMP MoMent:
Without means to lay a basic screed,
the floors have to be beaten into
place with wooden paddles. discor-
dant beating slowly finds a rhythm,
and women start hitting the floor in
unison. this rhythmic motion and
sound find a voice and the women
break out in song.
resourcefulness fused with ubuntu,
african style.

7. carla Fernandez
“indigenous Mexican creativity is an endangered species.”

8. carla set up tailoring workshops which
use traditional design as an opportuni-
ty to increase literacy and education in
local communities.
Using these traditional techniques and
forms as a basis, she has put together her
own clothing line, called taller Flora,
which works in collaboration with ar-
tisan women so that they also have an
input into the design process.
ready to wear, street wear, children’s
clothing & school uniforms
co-creating with
indigenous communities.

10. Laduma ngxokolo
Port elizabeth-based knitwear designer.
his colourful collection is inspired by traditional african Xhosa beadwork.
this mohair and merino wool jersey forms part of “the colourful World of
the Xhosa culture” range, which comprises men’s knitwear that is inspired by
traditional Xhosa beadwork. the collection won the South african Society
of dyers and colourists design competition, which earned it a place in the
London competition, where it was awarded first prize internationally for the
competition.

12. 2. a touch of innocent curiosity

13. alberto alessi
alberto alessi is president and head of marketing strategy, communication and
design management of alessi Spa, one of the world’s most famous small
objects design companies.
What drives him is a deep passion for design that stems from a curiosity with
the world.

14. theory of the borderline:
“We work on line between area of possible, and the
area of not-possible. this line is hard to find. you
can only find it by using your intuition, and taking
risks.
if, as a design focussed company, you can live on
the borderline between the possible and the impos-
sible, you can be very successful.”

15. “a true work of design must be able to move
people, to convey feelings, to trigger memories and
to go against the grain. our goal is to conjure up
images in people’s minds, which make them a bit
happier and introduce a touch of trancendence in
their lives. in these terms, design has tremendous
potential.”
- alberto alessi

16. Poetry, form & function
the Sapper Kitchen Kettle
as the water starts boiling produces
a melody, not just a noise, the melo-
dy of a steamboat whistle; to remind
the designer of his childhood in
Germany and the village in which
he lived that had a river on which a
steamboat passed.

17. “our role is to mediate continually between the
most advanced and stimulating expressions of inter-
national creativite culture (on the one hand) and
the public’s requirements and dreams (the so called
marketplace) on the other.”

18. 3. economy of design

19. Bibliotheque design
Bibliothèque, headed by tim Beard, Jonathon Jeffrey and Mason Wells, has
been producing captivating design solutions since 2003. Boasting nike, adi-
das, Sony, Motorola, Missy elliot, the design Museum, the Barbican Gallery,
nokia and the British Library among their clients.
Subtle and minimalist, their work has been described as “a cache of cleanly
executed and highly considered project work”.

20. Making a virtue of the variations in image quality, supplied photography was
subjected to an array of graphic treatments bringing cohesion to a wide range
of printed materials.

21. Minimal, enigmatic, elegant
economical
a simple and direct visual language.

22. d&ad awards dinner
yeS / no
Bibliotheque were commissioned to design and art direct the 2010 awards cer-
emony and dinner.
conceptually based on the decisive nature of the judging criteria, there is no
grey area, is the entry in or is it out? is it a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’?

25. 4. digital innovation

26. robert Wong
creative director of Google creative Labs
Born chinese, grew up dutch, was canadian, and is now american.
While practicing accounting in toronto, he woke up one day, flew to new york,
and became a graphic designer instead.
What is Google?

27. What is Google?
the largest number – more than all the stars, grains of sand and molecules – in
the universe.
Google organises the world’s information
and makes it accessible.

28. “happy wife = happy life.”
Formula for a happy marriage – and success.

29. Wong’s formula that he applies to life and work:
5:1
5 good interactions for every 1 negative interaction.
in short, exceed expectations.

30. S! = em + cr
Surprise = empathy + creativity

31. arcade Fire experiment

32. Google Maps - Favourite Places
hundreds of local experts from around the world were invited to create personalized Google Maps of
places in their favorite cities. Participants include al Gore, tony hawk, diane von Furstenberg and
Moby. they also chose to feature 13 cities across the globe.

37. how Google test the speed of chrome

38. “the biggest challenge at Google is, “am i thinking big enough?”

39. “do epic shit that matters.”