Design Week South Africa in Joburg: Special Pop-ups, Urban Tours and Insightful Talks

After a strong launch in 2024, Design Week South Africa will return to Johannesburg to put the practice firmly in the spotlight that shapes so much of our identity and experiences. There are around 15 events, exhibitions, workshops and talks spread across various venues in the city.

This year’s festival will be supported by the V&A Waterfront’s Watershed, Cape Town’s vibrant craft and design space, open daily to visitors of the V&A Waterfront. For the Johannesburg edition, Watershed will be hosting an exclusive textile exhibition and discussions curated by Twyg and a host of fringe experiences. Here’s what you can look forward to.

Guided urban tours in Joburg

As part of the Johannesburg edition of Design Week South Africa, visitors are invited into the studios and creative worlds of two acclaimed practices in Joburg.

Luxury Frontiers Design Studio will open its doors to the public for the first time to showcase how its multidisciplinary team shapes immersive hospitality experiences through architecture and interior design. The studio recently relocated to a contemporary space in Greenside opposite the Greenside Design School, where more than 70 designers work on projects that blend luxury with eco-tourism. Guests can expect an insider’s view of current work, along with engaging conversations in a relaxed setting.

Meanwhile, dhk Architects welcomes visitors into its Johannesburg studio. This architectural firm is known for fusing urban design and interiors that are environmentally responsible and contextually sensitive. The team will share insights into projects currently underway, and unpack more about their distinctive approach to resilient and responsive design.

Design Week South Africa in Johannesburg | What's on in Joburg

Art exhibitions and gallery walkabouts

The series of exhibitions and activations reimagine Johannesburg through speculative, regenerative design. For the Price of Gold exhibition and talks, seven artists and four designers present works that explore the city’s history, materials and memory, while projecting imaginative futures rooted in African ingenuity. Using sound, spatial design, archival fragments and everyday tools, the contributors frame Joburg’s narratives through a forward-looking lens.

Further highlights include photographic artist Jack Markovitz, sustainable designer Khumo Morojele, and stylist Thato Nzimande, alongside multidisciplinary creators such as Klein Muis, Francesco Mbele, Oratile Papi Konopi and Kutlwano Makwela. A special activation by BLAQUE INQ Contemporaries, curated by Nkhensani Mkhari, presents the printmaking and mixed-media works of Lehlogonolo Masoabi, while the group exhibition Structures at JCAF reflects on the intersections of space, race and the built environment.

Interactive experiences such as Munka’s dining-inspired pop-up and Mapping Memories by Cate Otto and Rozina Vavetsi invite audiences to share stories, connect, and imagine new futures for the city.

Hands-on craft workshops and learning journeys

Head out to Convoy in Melville for a day of creativity, collaboration – and bubbles. A large piece of fabric will be laid out in-store, encouraging participants to add their own touch with ribbons, thread, needles or fabric pens. The final collective work will be transformed into a window display, on view throughout October and November.

Alongside this interactive activation, Fybre Studios hosts a hands-on tufting workshop inspired by wine culture. Participants will create a 250 x 350mm tufted design, with all tools and materials provided. The session coincides with a lively wine event at 223 Jan Smuts, making it a multi-sensory celebration of craft, design and community. Tickets are R400pp, and guests are encouraged to use e-hailing as parking will not be available.

Africa Textile Talks in Johannesburg | What's on in Joburg

Africa Textile Talks: A special Joburg edition

Twyg and Watershed will be hosting a special edition of Africa Textile Talks, a creative series of talks and an exhibition that celebrates the people, materials and ideas shaping the future of African fashion and textiles.

Taking place from Thursday 9 to Sunday 12 October 2025 at 44 Stanley Avenue, the programme combines exhibitions, conversations and creative exchanges.

The highlight exhibition is Threads of Renewal II, running from Thursday 9 to Sunday 12 October 2025 at 44 Stanley. This limited showcase curated by Tandekile Mkize shines a light on innovative textile design, craft and material practices from across the continent. Entry to the exhibition is FREE.

On Saturday, 11 October, the summit offers a half-day series of talks and panel discussions exploring circular fashion, regenerative and natural materials, and the ways in which heritage informs future design. Some of the featured panellists and guest speakers include Shaka iLembe’s costume designer Sheli Masondo, change agent Khensani Mohlatlole, new-era cotton farming specialist Tertius Schoeman, and Mozambican textile designer, researcher, and healing practitioner Wacy Zacarias. Advance booking via Quicket is required.

The weekend concludes on Sunday, 12 October, with an inspiring book talk.

Cost: Talks – R50pp, book via Quicket. Exhibition – Free entry. Book Talk – Free entry

When: Talks – Saturday, 11 October from 10am to 1:30pm. Exhibition – Thursday, 9 October to Saturday, 11 October from 10am to 4pm. Closed on Sunday. Book Talk – Sunday, 12 October from 11am
Where: Talks – The Bioscope at 44 Stanley. Exhibition – The Library at 44 Stanley

A mini film fest and thought-provoking screenings

Two standout film events at Design Week South Africa bring powerful storytelling to Johannesburg. On 12 October, Gadat House presents an exclusive screening of Amalahle: A Vaal Story at Mamakashaka. Shot in 2024 and now internationally nominated, the film explores the paradox of tradition and modernity through a high-fashion lens, questioning how luxury is defined and how local stories can be retold. Guests can view garments from the project, meet the cast and crew, and join a post-screening discussion on independent brand building and storytelling.

The Reel to Reality Film Festival celebrates its fifth anniversary with an outdoor edition in partnership with the National Film and Video Foundation. This capsule festival showcases 31 films from Africa and beyond, curating an immersive, community-centred experience that blends cinema, nature and cultural connection.