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Stories behind the culture of design problems, systems and solutions. We’re talking to creatives from every corner of Africa and learning how they use design. Brought to you by Nairobi Design_ (@nairobidesignweek). Hosted by Adrian Jankowiak (@adrianj.ig) & Naitiemu (@naitiemu) Edited by David King’ori. Produced by www.nairobidesignweek.com Episodes and transcripts at www.afrika.design Thank you for tuning in, hope you enjoy the show! Please leave a review to let us know what you thought.
Episodes
Friday Oct 13, 2023
Friday Oct 13, 2023
Is Kenya ready for large scale 3D printing?
This week, we talk to Mohammed Firozhusein—Director at 3D Moguls Ltd. 3D Moguls provides 3D printing solutions for businesses, such as prototyping and low volume custom parts manufacturing. He breaks down the 3D printing processes and shows the practicality of this solution. He details various industries where the technology could thrive and where Kenya is when it comes to its application.
If you want to understand 3D printing, and whether it’s a worth-while investment, or if you think your business may need it…then this is the episode for you.
This is the 26th episode under the ‘Shifting Narratives’ program supported by the British Council SSA Arts.
*For the best experience, please use a headset/earphones.
LinkedIn: Mohammed Firozhusein
Website: 3D Moguls Ltd.
Music by: Ngalah Oreyo (@ngalah_oreyo) and Mercy Barno (@merc.b_)
For the full episode transcript: https://www.afrika.design/mohammed-firozhusein
Friday Oct 06, 2023
Friday Oct 06, 2023
This week, we talk to Newton Chege—the Creative Director at Gallexia Kenya. Gallexia Kenya is a brand company whose work is focused on generating impactful and influential content, designs, and strategies that strengthen and elevate the brands. He highlights success stories that show how one needs to embrace current events, current technologies within their work to be ahead of the curve. Tune in to find out what tips he shares to succeed when it comes to content creation and working with brands.
This is the 25th episode under the ‘Shifting Narratives’ program supported by the British Council SSA Arts.
*For the best experience, please use a headset/earphones.
LinkedIn: Newton Chege
Website: Gallexia Kenya
Music by: Ngalah Oreyo (@ngalah_oreyo) and Mercy Barno (@merc.b_)
For the full episode transcript: https://www.afrika.design/newton-chege
Friday Sep 29, 2023
Friday Sep 29, 2023
What’s the difference between a dentist and a dental technologist? It’s not their smile 🤣
In this episode, we meet Melanie Walch—founder of Simba Smile Limited. She is a dental technologist with experience in several CAD CAM laboratories in Nairobi, where she extensively developed her capacity and expertise in CAD CAM systems. She shares her thoughts on digitization of the medical sector, specifically dentistry.
She argues that complete digitization of the medical field should take center stage as our health is the most important aspect of our lives. She shares vital knowledge on how oral health impacts our overall wellbeing. From physical to mental wellbeing, tune in to find out your oral health is more important that you may think.
This is the 24th episode under the ‘Shifting Narratives’ program supported by the British Council SSA Arts.
*For the best experience, please use a headset/earphones.
Instagram: @ simbasmile
Website: Simbadent
Music by: Ngalah Oreyo (@ngalah_oreyo) and Mercy Barno (@merc.b_)
For the full episode transcript: https://www.afrika.design/melanie-walch
Friday Sep 22, 2023
Friday Sep 22, 2023
In this episode, we are joined by Ladouce Nadabha who is one of the co-founders of The Art Carte—which is a lifestyle brand that blends art and functionality to create unique stationery, greeting cards and home goods; inspired by nature and culture. She works with her sister Nadine.
Ladouce tells us what it takes to go global. Are there specific tools or platforms? Do I have to go digital? Where do I find these opportunities? These are some of the questions you may be asking yourself. Tune In to find out how to transcend the local market.
This is the 23rd episode under the ‘Shifting Narratives’ program supported by the British Council SSA Arts.
*For the best experience, please use a headset/earphones.
Instagram: @ the.art.carte
Website: The Art Carte
Music by: Ngalah Oreyo (@ngalah_oreyo) and Mercy Barno (@merc.b_)
For the full episode transcript: https://www.afrika.design/going-global
Friday Sep 15, 2023
Friday Sep 15, 2023
36 days of action featuring 36 concerts in 6 continents with Yo-Yo Ma.
In this episode, we discuss The Bach Project that featured the legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma— an event that would explore how culture connects us. Yo-Yo began this journey across the world in 2018, however, it was interrupted by the pandemic in 2020. We are joined by Peter Holmes à Court who is the Senior Convener at Afrika House, the team that facilitated the project in Nairobi.
Peter breaks down what they did to host Yo-Yo Ma in Kenya but also turning that performance into a festival that went beyond its original scope. He also shares the motivations of the teams that brought the project together including the artists that created the posters for the project. Find out how Nairobi ended up being the final stop of the tour.
This is the 22nd episode under the ‘Shifting Narratives’ program supported by the British Council SSA Arts.
*For the best experience, please use a headset/earphones.
Instagram: @ afrika.housekenya
Website: Afrika House
Music by: Ngalah Oreyo (@ngalah_oreyo) and Mercy Barno (@merc.b_)
For the full episode transcript: https://www.afrika.design/the-bach-project
Friday Sep 08, 2023
Friday Sep 08, 2023
In this episode, we meet Nyandia Kamawe— a fine arts graduate with a specialty in graphic design. She is the founder of MokoMaya which deals with products that are hand-made. The name MokoMaya comes from kikuyu Moko: hands and Maya: these. So, ‘these hands.’
She talks us through her journey from Kenya to Atlanta and back. The shares the different perspectives and challenges of being a designer in these places, how she has overcome her doubts, and how she learned to trust the journey. She encourages us to trust in the experiences we have had no matter how insignificant they may seem at the time. These experiences will pay off. It’s never too late.
This is the 21st episode under the ‘Shifting Narratives’ program supported by the British Council SSA Arts.
*For the best experience, please use a headset/earphones.
Instagram: @ _mokomaya
LinkedIn: Nyandia Kamawe
Music by: Ngalah Oreyo (@ngalah_oreyo) and Mercy Barno (@merc.b_)
For the full episode transcript: https://www.afrika.design/nyandia-kamawe
Friday Sep 01, 2023
Friday Sep 01, 2023
In this episode, we are joined by Gift Kyansimire and Derrick Kinyeki from Inkspace Bureau. They are the only Stop Motion studio in Kenya responsible for the film—The Big Sad Nairobi. The film is about a goat that personifies human interactions and emotions while trying to become a better person. This film was first showcase at the Nairobi Design Festival.
They take us through the process of how they made the film and what drives them to use stop motion in storytelling. According to Gift, it is vital to use what you have available to you rather than waiting to get expensive equipment and tools that you might think are needed to tell a story.
This is the 20th episode under the ‘Shifting Narratives’ program supported by the British Council SSA Arts.
*For the best experience, please use a headset/earphones.
Inkspace Bureau IG: @inkspace_bureau
IG: Gift Kyansimire aka zordfiles
Music by: Ngalah Oreyo (@ngalah_oreyo) and Mercy Barno (@merc.b_)
For the full episode transcript: https://www.afrika.design/inkspace-bureau
Friday Aug 25, 2023
Friday Aug 25, 2023
“Do what you love and you never have to work a day in your life.”
This week we meet Brian Omolo, a self-employed illustrator and artist who is determined to make design not feel like work. He walks us through his journey of how his work has evolved from just drawing and painting on paper but also his shift to digital where he was able to further develop the quality of his designs and better yet, increase his reach.
He is also a lecturer at ADMI, Africa Digital Media Institute, working primarily in the design department teaching a variety of units that prepare students for the world of Art and Design. He teaches the importance of trying different things, being organized, and ensuring the creation of an environment where people feel comfortable to contribute.
If you work with layers, do you name them?
This is the 19th episode under the ‘Shifting Narratives’ program supported by the British Council SSA Arts.
*For the best experience, please use a headset/earphones.
Instagram: @obrianstudio
LinkedIn: Brian Omolo
Music by: Ngalah Oreyo (@ngalah_oreyo) and Mercy Barno (@merc.b_)
For the full episode transcript: https://www.afrika.design/brian-omolo
Friday Aug 18, 2023
Friday Aug 18, 2023
How do you take your business idea to market?
In this episode, we congratulate one of the winners of the What Design Can Do: Make it Circular challenge—Rethread Africa; who are developing the technology to turn agricultural waste into biodegradable textile fabric. In November 2022, a group of university students came together to change the world. Charles Oyamo and Mitesh Varsani from Rethread join us to share their experience, goals, and the challenges they faced along the way. Their strategy involves working with using existing materials and resources in order to free up more land for food production and by extension reducing the reliance on unsustainable synthetics.
We are also joined by Benjamin Barwa— a project management and SME advisory expert, who shares insights on how to get ideas and concepts to market. His mission is to assist start-ups such as Rethread Africa to flourish and understand the commercial landscape which is often lacking among entrepreneurs.
Are you looking to start your own business?
This is the 18th episode under the ‘Shifting Narratives’ program supported by the British Council SSA Arts.
*For the best experience, please use a headset/earphones.
Rethread Africa Website: https://rethread.africa
Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) Website: https://www.kenyacic.org
What Design Can Do (WDCD) Website: https://www.whatdesigncando.com
LinkedIn: Charles Oyamo
Music by: Ngalah Oreyo (@ngalah_oreyo) and Mercy Barno (@merc.b_)
For the full episode transcript: https://www.afrika.design/wdcd-rethread-africa
Friday Aug 11, 2023
Friday Aug 11, 2023
Earth day, Woodstock concert, Vietnam war, Hippies…what do they have in common?
The Peace Symbol.
The infamous peace symbol is one of many. It was designed not for peace but for nuclear disarmament.
This was after the devastation that the first and second world war brought upon the world especially in Europe. Many were tired of the conflict which never seemed to have an end in sight. The general sentiment at the time was “this has to stop!”. The destruction being caused was not just affecting human beings but also the planet.
Naitiemu shares the history around peace symbols and how this positive message was transmitted between cultures through design. We explore peace symbols in East Africa, West Africa and the world.
Which symbols of peace are you familiar with?
This is the 17th episode under the ‘Shifting Narratives’ program supported by the British Council SSA Arts.
*For the best experience, please use a headset/earphones.
Naitiemu’s Website: https://www.naitiemu.com
Adrian Jankowiak’s Website: https://www.adrianjankowiak.com
Seven Symbols of Peace: https://7symbolsofpeace.com
IG & Twitter: nairobidesign_
Music by: Ngalah Oreyo (@ngalah_oreyo) and Mercy Barno (@merc.b_)
For the full episode transcript: https://www.afrika.design/peace-love-design