Pan Afrikan Design Institute’s Afrika Design Day (PADI ADD) is held every year on February 21st hosted by a different country. The 2021 edition will be an engaging event themed ‘Now is our Time.’

The main event of PADI ADD 2021 will be hosted by PADI in collaboration with Design Kenya Society under the Sub-theme "Afrikan Design: Pambazuka" from 18th to 22nd February 2021 in Nairobi, Kenya.

PADI ADD Nairobi will showcase how design has changed people’s lives especially with the current global challenges and allow them to see the possibilities for the days ahead through exciting keynote speakers, an exhibition, networking, and designers showcase.

The conference brings together design students, professionals, academia, institutions, and stakeholders from different industries including and but limited to advertising, fashion, interior, photography, product, animators, craft practice from across the Afrikan continent.

As Design Kenya Society (DKS) we are also celebrating ten years of continuous engagement with designers in Kenya, Eastern Africa, Africa, and the world.

Register on Zoom   Go to Exhibition →

Afrika Design: Pambazuka

Pambazuka is a Swahili word meaning a NEW DAWN or ARISE. It is depicted through the use of song, dance, vibrant colour and often represented by a sunrise as the start of the day which is the most productive time of work in the fields and personal organisation.

The theme is aligned to the renewed interest and development of Afrikan Design aimed at re-defining Afrikan design. We promote a deeper sense of togetherness and social connection and encourage the intentional use of social design as a tool of generational change and transformation. Pambazuka serves as an inspiration for designers to investigate their communities and provide solutions that improve the lives of the people enabling the designer to raise their own standards.

Time Activity Topic Expected outcome
9.00 am Welcome Afrikan Design Set the stage for the meeting by explaining the theme and making all attendees feel welcome
9.10 am Keynote It is our time To give insight into the design climate and inspiration for the days to come as designers influencing the world
9.30 am Panel 1 Design that works for Afrika and Afrikans Unpack the importance of design in preserving the Afrikan narratives and culture and bridging the generational gap
11.15 am Health break
11.30 am Panel 2 Emerging post COVID-19 pandemic design trends. Highlight key changes in the use and interaction with design because of COVID-19
1.15 pm Health break
2.00 pm Panel 3 Design entrepreneurship and leadership. How to take design beyond just making useful products to a place of economic value and thought leadership
4.00 pm Recap Reflections on the day Recap the highlights of the day, lessons learnt and possible outcomes
4.30 pm Exhibition Closing session for the exhibition
6.00 pm PADI Fellows Induct PADI members into the PADI fellowship

Panel 1 - Design that works for Afrika & Afrikans


Adams Namayi

Deputy Director – Research, Kenya Building Research Centre, with a demonstrated history of working in the Communication Sector, Education Sector, Building Sector and the Design Industry.

Work Experience: Kenya Building Research Centre (KBRC) under the State Department for Public Works, Co-operative College of Kenya (CCK), Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Maseno University, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), Creative Art Centre.

PhD. Candidate, Maseno University, Kenya

Beatrice Mwasi

Beatrice Mwasi is an innovation and management specialist with over 20 years of hands-on and professional experience in management and execution of Business Development projects; Value Chain Development; Business Process Reengineering (BPR); Research; Export Trade Capacity Building; Establishment of Export Production Villages and Manufacturing Value Addition.

She is the team lead at the Center for Business Innovation & Training (CBiT); Chairperson - Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI)’s Regional Design Studio (RDS); Secretary-general - Leather Apex Society of Kenya, an umbrella organization that covers Kenya’s leather associations across the value chain; Patron Leather Articles Entrepreneurs Association, and a member of the Africa Women Entrepreneurship Project (AWEP) – Kenya board.

Esther Kute

Esther Kute is a keynote speaker and award winning Design, Manufacturing and Education professional with over 14 years experience in fashion, textile, footwear, accessories, product and industrial Design https://youtu.be/VGDLOPzGQP8. She has overseen product development in senior management, mid level and consultant positions with Kenyan and global organizations. Products she has designed are selling globally, have featured in New York fashion week, Vogue magazine and other media, are realizing millions of USD in turnover and are changing lives and communities.

In 2017, Esther was the youngest, first female, first Kenyan, first Black Designer to be appointed Product Development Manager, in charge of Design, for Bata Kenya, the largest footwear manufacturing and retail company, making her the youngest member of the senior management team in the organization at the time. This was after working in the company for only 6 years and just 8 years after graduating from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelors of Arts in Design (Honors). Esther has footwear design training from Italian ARSUTORIA School - Shoe and bag Design University, a Masters of Arts in Design, and is currently pursuing her PhD in Design.

Richard Moalosi

Richie Moalosi is a Professor of Industrial Design at the Department of Industrial Design and Technology at the University of Botswana. He holds a PhD in Industrial Design (Queensland University of Technology, Australia), MA Design (University of Wolverhampton, UK), B.Ed Design and Technology (University of Botswana). He has over 20 years teaching experience at university level. He works with small micro enterprises, community-based organizations and creative communities to uplift their brands and products or service innovation capabilities as these are considered to be the next engine of economic growth in Africa.

His specialization and research interest areas include the following: design and culture, design education, sustainable design, social innovation, additive manufacturing, and post-graduate students supervision. He has also published extensively in international peer-reviewed journals, contributed book chapters, published books and presented at many international peer-reviewed conferences.

Vikki Erickson

Vikki is an educator focusing on design evolution and theories that influence modern design practice. She is a tenured staff member at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and a director of the IDEA Collective. Vikki believes that creative exploration is a powerful tool in the learning experience and she is passionate about establishing a holistic learning culture.

Her interest in the humanising of technology, user experience and service design fields, has resulted in her participation in several research projects. Vikki has collaborated on two design textbooks, has presented at numerous design and education conferences and has published on the human experience of design.

Panel 2 - Emerging Design Trends


Ciiru Waithaka

Wanjiru Waweru Waithaka is a graduated of Interior Architecture from the Glasgow School of Art, University of Glasgow. She successfully founded and run an interior architecture consultancy called Amber Africa for 10 years. Her clients were individuals, hotels and multinationals within East Africa. After 10 years of running Amber Africa and her passion for design and manufacturing Wanjiru realized the need to create the first global children's brand from Africa.

Funkidz Limited is an exciting, innovative children's brand that designs and manufactures products targeting children from age 0-16 years. Funkidz has several brands to it all , geared to creating world class products . Funkidz Tech through Kidz Go Tech is focused on Transforming and leap frogging education on the African continent experientially using 21st century learning by way of using storytelling, tech sensory learning and animation. What gets Wanjiru up every morning is a burning fire and desire to make a positive difference in the society she lives in and in the world at large.

Juliet Kavishe

Juliet Kavishe is a Professional Interior Architect and alumna of the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Her education was further bolstered by a traineeship focusing on bridging the gap between spatial design and curatorship of artworks at New York's Guggenheim Museum. Over the course of a career spanning 13 years and two continents, Juliet has worked as an Interior Architect on projects with a focus on high-end residential homes and commercial and corporate workspaces.

Her keen interest in education has afforded her the privilege to invigilate and moderate design exams from undergraduate to postgraduate level at various design institutions in South Africa for the past decade. Her passion for the promotion of her profession, particularly within a broader African context has led to various opportunities for Juliet to share her expertise in Interior Architecture, including a lecture in 2013 on sustainable design and traditional African building practices at the World Policy Institute in New York and her call-up as Juror for the Caesarstone Student Design competition in 2019.

Shaohua Han

Dr.Shaohua HAN is an associate professor and Postgraduate supervisor in School of art and design, Wuhan University of technology. he focuses on promoting service transformation and experience innovation for commercial companies in the context of sustainable development. As the director LeNSLab-WUT, he led the research team to preside over the projects of the Ministry of education, Ministry of science and technology, Provincial Social Sciences, provincial teaching and research and other national ministries and commissions;

Regarded as the Distinguished Teacher of WUT, he is giving lectures on China-MOOC, Dozens of articles on journals, two monographs and one national planning teaching textbook have been published; With the design company he founded, he has completed more than ten design projects of CSSC, CRRC, Dongfeng Motor, Huawei, Haier Group and other leading enterprises in China;

Srini Srinivasan

Srini Srinivasan is a highly accomplished designer & entrepreneur in creative design and technology development, with over 30 years of work experience in the Silicon Valley, United States and India. Presently, Srini is the President of WDO (World Design Organization, formerly Icsid), working with its global members to promote design for a better world. In this role, he interacts with UN Agencies, Foundations as well as City Governments across the globe to initiate and execute design led programs to create an impact for global challenges.

Srini is the Chairman & CEO of LUMIUM DESIGN, Inc., a Silicon Valley based, world class, award-winning product Design Company that has developed 300+ products in the Consumer Electronics, Medical, Industrial Goods, Security and Surveillance domains. Lumium has design studios in San Jose, (USA), Ahmedabad & Kochi (India) and in Tokyo, Japan to execute creative design projects for global clients.

Panel 3: Design Entrepreneurship & Leadership


Kanyi Ohawa

Kanyi is the CEO of All & Sundry Limited, a Bespoke design house specialising in Graphic design, branding, custom gifting solutions and custom invitations for weddings and corporate events. The company was founded 17 years ago and has grown to have a reputation in excellence.

She holds a BA in Fine Art from Kenyatta University and has participated in several entrepreneurial workshops and projects like the Goldman Sachs 10,000 women program; and is passionate about all things design, mentorship, and excellence. Additionally, Kanyi is a certified Competent Communicator from Toastmasters International. Under her watch, the growth experienced in the graphic design and branding sector has been phenomenal, with the company moving from just creating nice logos to building brands that have staying power.

Being first an artist, Kanyi is also proud of the bespoke stationery the company has gained a reputation for. She enjoys taking creative lead in the custom invitations they create which are the perfect way to set the tone for any event.

Kyeti Mwanza

Charles Kyeti Mwanza is the founder and Managing Director of Aplus Interiors Ltd an award winning interior design firm that has been in operation for 5 years. We are Interior designers of the year 2020 according to CORE AWARDS (https://core.ke/wp/core-official-site/) We were also voted the Fastest Growing interior design frrm in Kenya in 2019 during the 2nd Annual Real excellence awards. Since January 2019 I have also been teaching as a Tutorial fellow at the Technical University of Kenya.

Omari Souza

Omari Souza is a design researcher whose work explores the intersections between African American History, Culture, and Western Advertising. The purpose of this investigation is to explore how the visual images we consume influence racial bias.

Omari Received his BFA at Cleveland Institute of Art and his MFA at Kent State University.

Teresa Lubano

Teresa is the creative mind that drives shopnanjala.com; an online shop for Brand Design, Gifting and Gardening. The hybrid design + e-commerce platform based in Nairobi, curates creativity, urban gardening and supports small-medium artisan/crafts enterprises.

Teresa is also the Creative Director for Seven Brands Kenya. She leads the Seven team in crafting compelling strategies for brands in the African market. Having worked for over a decade in Kenya’s leading agencies, she brings a wealth of expertise in creative design, experiential marketing and consumer engagement ideation for Seven’s clients.

The exhibition works are to be selected by the Exhibition Review Committee to fulfill the PADI ADD theme mandate. The theme is aligned to the renewed interest and development of Afrikan Design. It aims at re-defining Afrikan design to promote a deeper sense of togetherness and social connection and encourage the intentional use of social design as a tool of generational change and transformation.

The following are the Sub themes:

  1. Design that works for Afrika and Afrikans
  2. Emerging Post COVID-19 Pandemic Design Trends
  3. Design & Entrepreneurship Leadership

Submissions are open for the following categories:

  • Furniture
  • Textile design
  • Sculptures/Installations
  • Illustration/Cartoons
  • Painting/Drawings/Graffiti
  • Graphic Art/Typography
  • Photography
  • Interior Design
  • Jewellery/Crafts
  • Motion Graphics/Video/Animation
  • Architecture

Submitted work must meet the following guidelines:

  • Clearly align to the above theme/sub themes.
  • Be aligned to one of the categories listed above.
  • Work should include artist name, title, medium, dimensions in metric, date of work.
  • Please send in your Personal Bio and clear images of a maximum of 2 works.
  • Photographs of the artworks should be in jpeg format 1200*720 pixels and above.

Submit your work to planning@designkenyasociety.co.ke by 5.00pm

In case of any clarifications, feel free to contact any of the following:

Dr. Lilac Osanjo

Director, School of Arts &
Design University of Nairobi
lilac.osanjo@uonbi.ac.ke
0722743307

Ms. Kyesubire Greigg

Communications & Logistics Support
DKS Planning Committee
planning@designkenyasociety.co.ke
0722211904

Mr. Mike Muiya

Interim Secretary,
Design Kenya Society
planning@designkenyasociety.co.ke
0725272752

Mr. Sam Malaki

Interim Chairman
Design Kenya Society,
malaki2psalm@gmail.com