Why you'll hear from Joe Public at Design Indaba 2015
Curious about why Joe Public United is taking such a big part in Design Indaba this year?
Executive Creative Director Xolisa Dyeshana explains they were simply asked by Design Indaba founder Ravi Naidoo as it's customary for a South African agency to be part of it - the invitation was based on Joe Public's high-calibre creative work of the last few years.
The fact that they're one of the last few independent South African agencies and have won several prestigious industry awards also played a role, such as being named Agency Group of the Year and FM Agency of the Year by AdReview and taking The Annual's Agencies Agency of the Year title for 2015.
I got a few more before-the-conference insights from Dyeshana and Joe Public Chief Creative Officer, Pepe Marais...
What are you most looking forward to at #DI2015? Marais: That one inevitable standing ovation that will leave me with a year of inspiration.
What are you most looking forward to at #DI2015? Marais: That one inevitable standing ovation that will leave me with a year of inspiration.
Dyeshana: I'm really looking forward to the whole experience. I find the Design Indaba extremely inspiring, especially the fact that it explores the absolute breadth of design, from architecture to media and all that's in-between, meaning you get really diverse inspiration in terms of how the world is using design and creativity to engage people again. I find people tend to get disengaged from communication, so we need to look to others and see how design translates in other markets.
Tell us a few of your personal favourite design trends... Marais: Getting back to basics. Simplicity within thinking.
Tell us a few of your personal favourite design trends... Marais: Getting back to basics. Simplicity within thinking.
Dyeshana: I love people-centric design, design that's there to make a difference in people's lives.
Comment on the importance of celebrating design. Marais: More than celebrating design, Design Indaba to me is a platform of sharing and inspiration. Within an ever-increasing pace of our world, few things could be more enriching than three days of allowing the brain to just sponge.
Comment on the importance of celebrating design. Marais: More than celebrating design, Design Indaba to me is a platform of sharing and inspiration. Within an ever-increasing pace of our world, few things could be more enriching than three days of allowing the brain to just sponge.
Dyeshana: Design is everywhere around us and, when harnessed, it can make a huge difference. That's why it's so important to celebrate and encourage it.
What we can look forward to from your presentation? Marais: It is my wish that our presentation will leave people inspired to do work with deeper purpose.
What we can look forward to from your presentation? Marais: It is my wish that our presentation will leave people inspired to do work with deeper purpose.
Dyeshana: You'll get the honest, candid story of where Joe Public came from and how it came to be where it is today. You'll find out what makes us tick, see what's behind the work and what drives us as an agency.
For more on Design Indaba, visit our special section...
About Leigh Andrews
Leigh Andrews AKA the #MilkshakeQueen, is former Editor-in-Chief: Marketing & Media at Bizcommunity.com, with a passion for issues of diversity, inclusion and equality, and of course, gourmet food and drinks! She can be reached on Twitter at @Leigh_Andrews.
