Siyanda Mbele

Siyanda Mbele is a furniture designer with experience in interior design. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Interior Design From Durban University of Technology. However, it was in 2012 during his third year of study that he realized the lack of African representation from curriculum to the design industry. To fill this gap would form the basis of his professional commitment.

Part of Mbele’s ethos is to, primarily, critically and creatively rethink wastage whilst using design as a tool. In other words, design is only a tool to solve our most pressing problems, especially in working class and low income communities. Aptly captured in his design values statement ”Narrate African stories through design to represent identity and evoke a shared sense of belonging”.


Photo: Njabulo Magubane