The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), will host this year’s annual Furniture Design Competition Awards ceremony at the Homemakers Fair, at the Kyalami Grand Prix and International Expo Centre in Sandton tomorrow, 28 February 2025 undert the theme Shedding Light on Great Design.
The competition has been established to create an opportunity to promote innovation in the development of new, competitive furniture products and to constribute towards skills development initiatives. Participants include students from local academic institutions who are studying towards related fields and other emerging furniture designers.
The competition is a partnership between the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), South African Furniture Initiative (SAFI), Industrial Development Corporation, Proudly South Africa, Furntech, and other industry players such as, Mecad Solidworks, PG Bison, Lewis Group, Zaptly, Rubio Monocoat, The African Institute of Interior Design Professionals (IID) and South African National Parks will also sponsor competition prizes.
The Acting Deputy Director-General of the Sectors at the dtic, Dr Tebogo Makube says the competition complements the development of design courses and design workshops.
“The Furniture Industry Masterplan adopted in 2021 identifies the shortage of high-level skills in the furniture industry such as design and skilled artisans in furniture manufacturing as a major concern. This limits South African furniture manufacturers’ capacity to supply world-class products in line with both domestic and global market demand, and thus negatively affects the industry’s competitiveness,” says Makube.
He adds that design can also be used as a creative instrument that will link the industry players’ creativity and innovative products.
“It is thus possible to position the local industry as the producer of high-value niche furniture products that are globally competitive based on quality and/or differentiated designs. This requires a concerted effort on the part of the public and private sectors to develop programs that address the challenges that constrain the industry from achieving potential growth levels and significantly raise the levels of competitiveness,” says Makube.
The event will take place as follows:
Date : 28 February 2025
Venue : Kyalami Grand Prix and International Expo Centre in Sandton
Time : 12:00 – 14:00
Journalists who would like to attend the event should confirm with Phumzile Kotane on pkotane@thedtic.gov.za or 071 462 8246
Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
Tel: (012) 394 1643
Mobile: 079 5083 457
WhatsApp: 074 2998 512
E-mail: BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
X: @the_dtic
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Website : https://www.thedtic.gov.za/
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