Connect. Learn. Collaborate. Design. Act. Thrive.
How do We Design to Thrive?
Convened by: Pan Afrikan Design Institute (PADI)
Local Host and Coordinating Partner: Open Design Afrika
Together we will explore one of the most urgent design questions of our time: How do we create trust, share our stories, develop future-fit skills and design impactful conditions, systems and solutions that truly enable people, communities, cities and nature across Afrika to thrive?
Pan Afrikan Design Week 2026 is for purpose-driven people shaping the conditions for thriving.
A hybrid Pan-Afrikan gathering bringing together designers, innovators, impact entrepreneurs, educators, students, youth, changemakers, policymakers, business leaders, thought leaders, cultural practitioners and future-builders from across Afrika and the diaspora.
Join this urgent agenda to help shape a thriving future for Afrika.
Pan Afrikan Design Week is for people who are serious about thriving futures.
V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
About Pan Afrikan Design Week 2026
Pan Afrikan Design Week 2026 is a continental gathering for people committed to exploring how design, creativity, culture, education, innovation and collaboration can help shape thriving futures across Afrika.
The event is convened by the Pan Afrikan Design Institute (PADI), with Open Design Afrika (ODA) as the Local Host and Coordinating Partner.
The main three-day conference takes place from Wednesday 21 October to Friday 23 October at Workshop17, Watershed, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town. The programme continues with a Networking Event on the Friday evening and a community and cultural learning experience hosted by Uthando South Africa on Saturday 24 October.
Under the theme How Do We Design to Thrive?, the event asks how we create trust, share our stories, develop future-fit skills and design the conditions, systems and solutions needed for people, communities, cities and nature across Afrika to thrive.
This is not only a design event; It is a gathering for people across sectors who are ready to think differently, connect meaningfully and contribute to a more thriving future.
Event Details
Main Conference Dates:
Wednesday 21 October to Friday 23 October
Venue:
Workshop17, Watershed, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
Network Event:
Friday 23 October, 18:00–21:00
Community and Cultural Impact TOur:
Saturday 24 October, hosted by Uthando South Africa. Collection and drop-off at Workshop17, Watershed, V&A Waterfront.
.
Format:
Hybrid in-person conference, selected livestream access, practical workshops, networking and community-linked learning experiences.
In-person Conference Capacity:
Limited to 180 delegates per day.
Workshop Capacity:
Limited to 60 participants per workshop. Details of workshops available in the programme.
Programme Overview
The main conference takes place over three days, from Wednesday 21 October to Friday 23 October, followed by a Networking Event on Friday evening and wider cultural and community-based experiences on Saturday 24 October. Three afternoon workshops are also available, one on each conference day. Workshops are open to all and can be booked separately; you do not need to attend the conference to participate. See Tickets for booking details.
DAY 1
Afrika in relation to itself and the world
Day 1 opens the conference by exploring Afrika’s relationship with itself, its stories, its futures and the wider world.
The day will focus on futures, trust, identity, dignity, indigenous wisdom, cultural value, responsible tourism, place-making and community impact.
It asks how we can strengthen cultural confidence, shift perceptions and build more meaningful relationships between people, place, memory, imagination and possibility.
Key themes: Afrikan futures, trust, identity, dignity, indigenous wisdom, cultural value, responsible tourism, place-making, community impact and perception-shifting innovation.
Afternoon Workshop
Future Design Brief Lab
See programme for details.
DAY 2
Designing for thriving across sectors and ecosystems
Day 2 explores how design and creative collaboration can create ripple effects across different sectors and ecosystems.
The programme will look at food systems, community development, urban thinking, women-led impact, creative collaboration, social-impact innovation, and the wider systems affected by design decisions.
This day asks how design can move beyond the immediate product, service, project or client, and begin to shape healthier ecosystems, stronger communities and more inclusive economies.
Key themes: Food systems, community development, urban thinking, women-led impact, creative collaboration, social-impact innovation, Book Dash, access to learning and ripple effects across sectors and ecosystems.
Afternoon Workshop
The Ripple Effects Lab
See programme for details.
See programme for details.
DAY 3
Future-fit education and human development
Day 3 focuses on the future of learning, creativity and human development.
The programme will explore STEAM (A collective playful learning approach that combines Science-Technology-Engineering – Art and Math = STEAM), Creative Intelligence, ethical learning, AI, lifelong learning, biomimicry and the skills people need to navigate a fast-changing world and an unknown future.
This day asks how we can design learning experiences, environments and systems that help people grow with creativity, confidence, responsibility and care.
Key themes: STEAM, Creative Intelligence, ethical learning, AI, lifelong learning, biomimicry, future-fit skills, human development and designing conditions for human potential.
Afternoon Workshop
Future-Builders Lab
See programme for details.
MC & Facilitator
Mandisa Mbaligontsi
(South Africa)
MC & Facilitator
Mandisa Mbaligontsi is the founder of Lume Impact Labs, a feminist researcher and lecturer. Her work combines human-centred design, entrepreneurship and feminist systems thinking to develop locally informed solutions to complex challenges across Afrika. As an MC, she brings warmth, insight and energy to meaningful conversations.
Patron
Prudence Zerah (Gugu) Motlanthe
(South Africa)
Welcome Address
Mrs Prudence Zerah (Gugu) Motlanthe is a former First Lady of South Africa, Executive Trustee of the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation and Patron of PADI. With a background in design and social entrepreneurship, she champions education, youth and women’s empowerment, ethical leadership and inclusive innovation.
Speakers
DAY 1
Dr Njeri Mwagiru
(Kenya)
Opening Keynote
Dr Njeri Mwagiru is a Senior Researcher in the Futures Programme at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), applying foresight and systems thinking to help Afrika navigate uncertainty and shape desirable futures
Dominic Wilhelm
(South Africa)
Keynote
Dominic Wilhelm is an international trust advisor, speaker and Executive Director of The Global Trust Project, focused on operationalising trustworthiness for improved performance.
Saki Mafundikwa
(Zimbabwe)
Dialogue
Saki Mafundikwa is a designer, educator, scholar, and author. He’s the founder of the Zimbabwe Institute of Vigital Arts (ZIVA) and author of Afrikan Alphabets.
Dr Russell Kennedy
(Australia)
Dialogue
Dr Russell Kennedy, Associate Head of School (International and Partnerships), School of Communication and Creative Arts, Deakin University. President (2009–2011), International Council of Design.
Juliet Kavishe
(Tanzania & Namibia)
Dialogue
Juliet M. Kavishe is an advocate for African design futures through research, education, practice and design advocacy. She is the Founder of FORMALL Design Research Lab and an Executive Board member of PADI.
Henry Mathys
(South Africa)
Dialogue
Henry Mathys is Strategic Programme Lead at the V&A Waterfront, driving inclusive economic development, corporate transformation, and major cross-functional sustainability and social impact initiatives.
James Fernie
(South Africa)
Dialogue
James Fernie is the Founder of Uthando South Africa, connecting responsible tourism with community-led development through trust, partnership and lasting social impact.
Thulani Nxumalo
(South Africa) Dialogue
Thulani Nxumalo is Langa-based community storyteller, tour guide, photographer and development practitioner –
shaping dignity, trust, and purpose-driven tourism through lived experience.
Speakers
DAY 2
Nthakoana Maema
(South Africa)
Opening Keynote
Nthakoana Maema is the Founder of Future Proof Collective, an impact venture studio enabling the emergence of flourishing economies through feminist and social-ecological innovation across Africa.
Tiisetso Mofokeng
(South Africa)
Featured Session
Tiisetso Mofokeng is an architect, urban researcher and educator exploring how care-centred design and ReM(other)ing can create cities and communities where people thrive.
Onica Lekuntwane
(Botswana)
Dialogue
Onica Lekuntwane is a Botswana-based Visual Storyteller, Educator and Social Impact Designer who uses creativity, heritage and health communication to inspire learning, empowerment and change.
Thembalethu Shangase
(South Africa)
Dialogue
Thembalethu champions cross-sector creative collaboration and early literacy to create systemic ripple effects for children to thrive
Arthur Attwell
(South Africa)
Dialogue
Arthur Attwell is the Managing Director of Electric Book Works, an award-winning publishing studio. He is also the Co-founder of Book Dash and Bettercare, and host of the podcast How Books Are Made.
Dr Diane Awerbuck
(South Africa)
Dialogue
Dr Diane Awerbuck is an award-winning writer of prescribed non-fiction and multiple genres of fiction. She is most proud of her Book Dash work.
Subi Bosa
(South Africa)
Dialogue
Subi Bosa is a Cape Town-based author-illustrator of graphic novels and comics, represented by The Bright Agency.
Mammuso Makhanya
(South Africa)
Dialogue
Mammuso Makhanya leads Wordworks, driving over 38 years of African corporate social investment, sustainability, and education development.
Speakers
DAY 3
Dr Rael Futerman
(South Africa)
Opening Keynote
Dr Rael Futerman is a design researcher, educator and entrepreneur, specialising in contextual design praxis, participatory design, and collaborative innovation.
Suné Stassen
(South Africa)
Featured Session
Suné Stassen is a designer, educator, futurist, social entrepreneur and Co-Founder and CEO of Open Design Afrika.
Robin Turner
(South Africa)
Featured Session
Johannesburg-based graphic and multimedia designer, educator, and Head of Department specialising in interactive design and human computing. He’s a past board member of Cumulus, and a current board member of PADI.
Jess Berliner
(South Africa)
Closing Keynote
Jess Berliner is a biomimicry educator and designer making nature-inspired innovation accessible, applicable, and affordable.
Tickets & Online Access
Tickets for Pan Afrikan Design Week 2026 are now available through Quicket.
The event includes in-person participation and selected online access. Online tickets provide livestream access to the main conference sessions only and do not include workshops, networking or community experiences.
Registered online ticket holders will receive the relevant access details through Quicket.
Cape Town
Who Should Attend?
Designers and creative practitioners; impact entrepreneurs and social innovators; educators, students and youth; policymakers and civic leaders; business leaders and decision-makers; cultural practitioners and storytellers; community builders and activists; researchers and thought leaders; urban thinkers and place-makers; and people working in sustainability, learning, technology, tourism, social impact and future-building.
You do not need to be a designer to attend.
This gathering is for anyone who understands that the future is shaped by the choices we make, the systems we build, the stories we carry and the ways we work together.
Why This Event Matters
Across Afrika and the world, we are living through a time of deep social, economic, environmental and technological change.
Communities are navigating uncertainty. Young people need future-fit skills. Cities need more human and ecological ways of growing. Education systems need to become more creative, ethical and relevant. Businesses, governments and communities need new ways to build trust and work together.
At the same time, Afrika holds extraordinary cultural knowledge, creative intelligence, community wisdom, entrepreneurial energy and future-building potential.
Pan Afrikan Design Week 2026 creates a shared space to ask what thriving really means in an Afrikan context — and how we can design the conditions that make thriving possible.
It is a place for dialogue, learning, practical examples, new connections and responsible action.
Important Notes
- Programme details, speaker line-up and times may be subject to change.
- Student tickets require a valid student card or proof of current registration.
- Workshop tickets are limited and should be booked early.
- The Saturday Uthando South Africa experience has limited capacity and should be booked early.
- Access to the Friday evening Networking Event is included in 3-Day Conference Passes and Full Experience Passes.
- Online tickets provide livestream access to main conference sessions only and do not include workshops, networking or community experiences.
- Quicket booking fees may apply and will be shown during checkout.
Beyond the Conference
Pan Afrikan Design Week 2026 also includes an evening networking event on Friday 23 October and a cultural learning experience tour hosted by Uthando South Africa on Saturday 24 October.
These experiences are designed to deepen the connection between the conference themes and the lived realities, creativity and community work taking place in Cape Town.
They offer delegates the opportunity to engage beyond the conference venue and connect more meaningfully with place, people, culture and community impact.
Convening and Partner Organisations
Pan Afrikan Design Institute (PADI)
Pan Afrikan Design Week 2026 is convened by the Pan Afrikan Design Institute, a continental design body and platform committed to strengthening Pan-Afrikan design networks, visibility, collaboration and design leadership.
Open Design Afrika (ODA)
Open Design Afrika serves as the Local Host and Coordinating Partner for Pan Afrikan Design Week 2026. ODA leads the local coordination, programme development, storytelling, event experience, design-for-impact framing, local networks and host-city delivery.
Uthando South Africa
Uthando South Africa joins the programme as cultural and community partner, helping connect the event to Cape Town’s lived community realities through community-linked experiences, cultural activation, regenerative tourism and social-impact learning.
© 2026 Pan Afrikan Design Institute (PADI). All rights reserved.