Catalysing Change Via Conversations: Introducing Design Talk with Chuma
On the 11th of May, 2019 mentees at the Mbari Uno Hub were treated to a session with Multidisciplinary Designer and Design Activist, Chuma Anagbado on ‘Design for Good’. This session was the first in the series that will become Design Talk with Chuma. Using practical examples of the work of brilliant African Designers, including himself, to elucidate the practice of designing for social good, Chuma interestingly drove the mentees to a certain level of wonder with the works he referenced. Though his aim was not to impress on this particular day but simply to provide a case study, the mentees were visibly inspired by the quality and meaning of works displayed. The mentees learned a whole lot about designing for the good of humanity on that sunny Saturday afternoon, but Chuma himself learned what is perhaps the most important lesson; in Africa, there is a new generation of design enthusiasts who are curiously disconnected from what is possible because they literally have no one to show them.
‘’I simply should start sharing my experience, talk about my work, and most importantly lead the conversation that would put Design from Sub-Saharan Africa on the map. Time has come to lend a voice and deepen the narrative by creating models we can look up to’’
Design Talk with Chuma is a conversation series with leading designers and thought leaders that spotlights, analyses, reviews, and critiques select design ideas, topics, and work from across Africa. According to Chuma; ‘’The idea really, is to build capacity through experience and sharing’’.
This is a session with some of Africa’s best design minds. It is a journey into their works, their processes, inspiration, and persona. This platform is an avenue for investigation and inspiration. It is providing the resources for design research and the inspiration for problem-solving via innovation. As a design activist, Chuma is no stranger to the power of design and the inspiration inherent in investigating what exists to create what is needed. Convener of the first Mbari Uno Design NXT session- a meeting of some of Africa’s best designers- Chuma is invested in creating a community of designers who will catalyze development in Africa via innovation. Starting off as a series of podcasts and couch discussions, Design Talk With Chuma will enable African Designers and Design enthusiasts to leverage information and mentorship from established designers across Africa. It will be an insight into the styles and opportunities available to them. The conversations will cover multiple design disciplines, Ideas, Materials, Methods, Context, Sustainability, and so on. This platform promises to be a virtual hub of ideas and critical design conversations.
To form a Community out of the diversity inherent in design is possible with more conversations. New designers need to be actively involved in the process of creating solutions that are peculiar to the problems of Africa. Design talk with Chuma offers a lens through which we can see the big picture and answers the questions we’re all dying to ask. As the man himself would say; ‘’Let’s tell our story, let’s show our work, let’s make our lives better’’.
You can catch up on new episodes of Design Talk with Chuma here.
