Student Research Bursary Report
Student Research Bursary Report Recipient: Sarah Rhodes, Central St Martins Fieldwork Trip to Cape Town, South Africa, November/December 2013
The student research bursary was used to fund a fieldwork trip to Cape Town, from 11th November to 11th December 2013, during which The Craft of Ubuntu: an exploration of collaboration design research exhibition was presented at the Iziko South African National Gallery Annexe. The Craft of Ubuntu exhibition revealed the processes and dialogues that have emerged over the past three years between London-based designer-researcher Sarah Rhodes, Cape Town ceramicist Andile Dyalvane and the women crafters of Kunye, as they explored collaboration through making. Guided by Rhodes’ practice based PhD research, the show re-framed the nature of collaboration between designers and craft producers, illustrating how co-creational agency, through equitable creative exchange, can engender successful outcomes. The exhibition showcased the Iqhina tableware and Inkuku jewellery collections, which have developed via this co-creative process, giving insight into how these frameworks can be applied to other fields. The exhibition was opened by the South African architect Mokena Makeka, who felt it displayed: An intense sense of respect for each other’s craft, perspective and ability to engage in a conversation about design and around craft and around creativity and I think this is what’s interesting for me because it really suggests, perhaps not necessarily a new model for innovation, but certainly a different type of model for innovation…here’s an opportunity, as exemplified by this project, to show a different way for co-production, to show a different way for co-creation, to show a different way of engendering values in the things that we make and produce. (2013) The Craft of Ubuntu exhibition’s outcomes were broad, encompassing a diverse set of impacts, particularly in relation to enhancing debate, participation and engagement in cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary collaboration in design and craft. Specific societal and economic impacts were: • Strengthening relationships between designers, craft producers, academics and museum audiences. • Advancing the understanding of the process of collaboration between designers and African grassroots craft producers. • Providing a platform for dialogue, discussion, skills and knowledge transfer between stakeholders who usually work separately in the field of craft and design for economic empowerment. • Networking between stakeholders to develop future collaborations. • Attracting visitors to the Iziko South African National Gallery, developing cultural and social benefits for all visitors. The exhibition was chosen as an official World Design Capital 2014 project and was subsequently shown again at the D-Street Gallery, Stellenbosch and Central Saint Martins, London. A full assimilation and analysis of the exhibition will be undertaken in the practice based PhD thesis, which will be submitted in 2014. The exhibition was featured by Design Indaba: Viliers, A. (2013) Made Beyond Borders. [Internet] Available from:
The student research bursary was used to fund a fieldwork trip to Cape Town, from 11th November to 11th December 2013, during which The Craft of Ubuntu: an exploration of collaboration design research exhibition was presented at the Iziko South African National Gallery Annexe. The Craft of Ubuntu exhibition revealed the processes and dialogues that have emerged over the past three years between London-based designer-researcher Sarah Rhodes, Cape Town ceramicist Andile Dyalvane and the women crafters of Kunye, as they explored collaboration through making. Guided by Rhodes’ practice based PhD research, the show re-framed the nature of collaboration between designers and craft producers, illustrating how co-creational agency, through equitable creative exchange, can engender successful outcomes. The exhibition showcased the Iqhina tableware and Inkuku jewellery collections, which have developed via this co-creative process, giving insight into how these frameworks can be applied to other fields. The exhibition was opened by the South African architect Mokena Makeka, who felt it displayed: An intense sense of respect for each other’s craft, perspective and ability to engage in a conversation about design and around craft and around creativity and I think this is what’s interesting for me because it really suggests, perhaps not necessarily a new model for innovation, but certainly a different type of model for innovation…here’s an opportunity, as exemplified by this project, to show a different way for co-production, to show a different way for co-creation, to show a different way of engendering values in the things that we make and produce. (2013) The Craft of Ubuntu exhibition’s outcomes were broad, encompassing a diverse set of impacts, particularly in relation to enhancing debate, participation and engagement in cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary collaboration in design and craft. Specific societal and economic impacts were: • Strengthening relationships between designers, craft producers, academics and museum audiences. • Advancing the understanding of the process of collaboration between designers and African grassroots craft producers. • Providing a platform for dialogue, discussion, skills and knowledge transfer between stakeholders who usually work separately in the field of craft and design for economic empowerment. • Networking between stakeholders to develop future collaborations. • Attracting visitors to the Iziko South African National Gallery, developing cultural and social benefits for all visitors. The exhibition was chosen as an official World Design Capital 2014 project and was subsequently shown again at the D-Street Gallery, Stellenbosch and Central Saint Martins, London. A full assimilation and analysis of the exhibition will be undertaken in the practice based PhD thesis, which will be submitted in 2014. The exhibition was featured by Design Indaba: Viliers, A. (2013) Made Beyond Borders. [Internet] Available from:
