AFRIKAN DESIGN THINKING CONVENING

AFRIKAN DESIGN THINKING CONVENING Marking 10 years of design thinking education at d-school Afrika at the University of Cape Town, The Afrikan Design Thinking Convening 2026 brings together educators, practitioners, and emerging voices from across the continent for three days of dialogue, reflection, and co-creation.   Date: 1st – 3rd June 2026 Location: Cape Town & Online

Design Dialogues

DESIGN DIALOGUES DESIS NETWORK & DESIGN GHANA  Is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Design for Care Workshop Time: Apr 10, 2026 10:00 AM Universal Time UTC Meeting ID: 912 0249 9211 Passcode: 307095

African Cities Innovation Fund

Advancing thriving urban futures in Africa through collaboration Sponsored by the Judith Neilson Foundation, the Million Lives Collective is currently offering its members up to $75K in flexible funding to explore new collaborations with each other, or with fellow innovation partners, to co-create, pilot and scale new solutions for thriving African Cities. The African Cities Innovation Fund (ACIF) has been designed to support innovator partnerships that test a new pathway to urban impact at scale, for example, by combining complementary capabilities, reaching new populations, embedding an innovation within a new system, or influencing how services are delivered in urban contexts. First stage applications close on April 10th. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to pitch their ideas virtually and submit a detailed project proposal before final selection for the ACIF Programme in late May.

InterArts Funding

InterArts Funding The UNESCO has launched the 17th call for applications for the International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD), a global funding mechanism supporting the development of cultural sectors in developing countries. The IFCD aims to foster the creation, production, distribution and access to diverse cultural goods and services, while strengthening cultural industries and contributing to sustainable development. The fund supports projects that lead to structural and long-term impact, including policy development, capacity building, and market access for cultural and creative sectors. Funding Projects may request up to USD 100,000. Funding is disbursed in instalments across the project lifecycle. Project duration ranges from 12 to 24 months, with implementation starting from May 2027 at the earliest. Eligibility Applications are open to the following: Public authorities and institutions from eligible countries (developing countries that are Parties to the 2005 Convention). Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from eligible countries. International non-governmental organisations (INGOs) proposing projects with regional or inter-regional impact. Projects must be implemented in eligible developing countries. Focus Area Projects should contribute to structural change in the cultural and creative sectors, including: -Strengthening cultural policies and governance -Capacity building for cultural professionals and institutions -Market access and financing for cultural goods and services -Digital innovation in cultural industries -Participation in cultural life, including engagement of vulnerable groups -Gender equality in the cultural and creative sectors Eligible Sectors Include audiovisual/cinema, design, media arts, music, performing arts, publishing, and visual arts.  Application information    Application deadline: 6 May 2026 (12:00 PM, Paris time)

Cumulus Conference

 The themes of this conference propose that hope is to be found within design practices and in approaches towards design education. We encourage conversations that de-centre Western culture from its position of authority, to learn from and listen to voices from the edges, and from the more-than-human. Date: November 25 – 27, 2026

The RedDot Awards Brands & Communication Design

The Red Dot Award The Red Dot Award: Brands & Communication Design annually recognises the best projects, designers and agencies in communication design. Designers and companies submit their campaigns and projects for evaluation by an international jury. Date: 13th February – 8th May Participate now!

Routhledge Taylor & Francis group

Submit a Manuscript to the JournalDesign and CultureFor a Special Issue onDesign Anthropology: Designing for Radical Alternative Futures This special issue explores the potential of design anthropology as a transdisciplinary, interventional, future-oriented research field committed to co-creating socio-cultural change and fostering sustainable and just worlds. It asks how design anthropology can mobilize localized knowledge, cultivate collaborative approaches, and employ imaginative speculation to confront interconnected global challenges and envision larger-scale alternative futures, and it examines how it does and might do so.

Cumulus Declaration

Cumulus Declaration Cumulus Design Mpaemukasem a Wɔde Too Dwa 2025.  Reaffirming design’s commitment to inclusivity,    collaboration and planet-centred innovation amidst global challenges.  

Annual General Meeting (AGM) & Webinar 2026

DesignGHANAAnnual General Meeting & Webinar   Programme Details PROGRAMME DETAILS Introduction: This webinar aimed at fostering collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange within the Afrikan design community. The theme focussed on Artistic Research as Design Inquiry: Making Knowledge Through Practice.For enquiries call / Whatsapp: 0277292913 / 0559531315 Email: admin@designghana.com

PAN AFRIKAN DESIGN (PADI) / DesignGhana Conference 2025

PAN AFRIKAN DESIGN (PADI) / DesignGhana Conference 2025 Designing in Afrika: Bridging Cultures, Inspiring Innovation About PAN AFRIKAN DESIGN (PADI) / DesignGhana Conference 2025​   About PAN AFRIKAN DESIGN (PADI) / DesignGhana Conference 2025 In 2022, KNUST graciously hosted one of PADI events, Afrikan Design Day (ADD), which was a hybrid event. Since then, our conferences have been held in Kenya, South Africa, Botswana, Nigeria, and Uganda. The success of these events led to a strong desire among members to return to Ghana. Given Ghana’s prominent position, second only to South Africa in terms of membership, and the substantial number of members from KNUST, the Executive Board selected KNUST to host PADI conference again in 2025. This opportunity was further supported by the interest expressed by PADI members to visit KNUST and Kumasi to learn about its rich cultural heritage. It also provided KNUST an excellent opportunity to showcase itself as a premier institution for design education in Ghana and a key player in African design education. 2025 Conference focused on Education Activities, aimed at fostering collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange within the African design community. The conference brought together designers, educators, researchers, and industry professionals from across the continent to share insights, best practices, and emerging trends in design education and practice. Topics captured included Design Pedagogy and Curriculum Development – that explored innovative approaches to design education, curriculum design, and pedagogical strategies; Cross-disciplinary Collaboration in Design Education, Research and Methodologies – that discussed the importance and methods of integrating multiple disciplines within design education. Presenting research methodologies, case studies, and findings relevant to design practice and education. Sustainable Design Practices: Addressing sustainability challenges and solutions within design education and practice; and Cultural Fusion in Design – that explored the intersection of traditional African artistry with contemporary design trends; among other areas. The conference created a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and capacity building within the African design community. Through a combination of academic presentations, practical workshops, and cultural tours, participants gained valuable insights, forge meaningful connections, and contributed to the advancement of design education and practice in Africa.