Designing our democracy seminar at Open Design CT

Design is the process through which solutions are found, and realising democracy as a product of design is an important step to creating an inclusive and integrated nation.

The DESIGNING_democracy seminar forms part of the initial discussions and lays the foundations for DESIGNING_SOUTAFRICA's Designing our Democracy programme. With South Africa continuously facing challenges in providing adequate housing, education and health specifically to the underprivileged majority, it is through design that these challenges become enticing briefs for creative minds to collaborate with specialists and develop social solutions.

DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA has identified an opportunity for design in its most diverse forms to assist in shaping a more equitable, resilient and socially empowered South Africa.

Speaker highlights for the seminar will include

Andrew Makin
A lead architect at designworkshop: sa, an architecture practice based in Durban, South Africa, which has won multiple awards for its work, defining itself by the quality and relevance of its conceptual design, production and final resolution. Andrew will be leading the conversation on DESIGNING_identity, exploring the role's design plays in developing a national identity.

Professor Edgar Pieterse
Holds the position of DST/NRF South African Research Chair in Urban Policy, director of the African Centre for Cities and Professor in the
School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics at the University of Cape Town.

Edgar will be talking with SIthole Mbanga, CEO of SA Cities Networks, an organisation that encourages the exchange of information,
experience and best practices on urban development and city management. Together, Edgar and Sithole will look at DESIGNING_cities,
and how engaging cities will allow for a broader understanding and ability to problem solve the socio-economic issues that face them.

Thorsten Deckler
Urban designer, principal architect and co-founder of 26'10 south Architects, who will share the insights gained through practicing
architecture in one of the most complicated and unequal societies in the world. He lectured locally and abroad on the work of 26'10 south
as well as on the processes of informal urbanism.

He initiated the research project Housing and the Informal City in collaboration with the Goethe Institute investigating the processes of informal housing.

He will talk on DESIGNING_housing and question the need for yet another designer chair, iconic building or pretty-picture urban framework when the real needs of the majority of the population pose an infinitely more interesting and difficult challenge for designers and professionals to engage with.

Professor Harry Hausler
CEO of TB/HIV Care Association as well as family physician, HIV clinician and preventive medicine specialist with 15 years of international public health experience in implementing and evaluating integrated tuberculosis and HIV programs. He will present on DESIGNING_healthcare, and how design can play a vital role in finding solutions to improve the systems through which to facilitate better health care delivery.

Where and when

For those interested in exploring creative solutions to better South Africa's future, join us for the DESIGNING_Democracy seminar on 29
August 2013 at the Cape Town City Hall. Tickets cost R350, which will include complimentary Truth Coffee and a delicious lunch catered by well-known chef Karen Dudley of The Kitchen in Woodstock.

All proceeds will go to activating the second part of the Designing our Democracy programme, an exhibition to be hosted as a project of the World Design Capital 2014 and during the second edition of Open Design Cape Town next year.

Purchase your ticket through Quicket
For bookings of 10 or more people, click here.
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