DUT student finalist in Furniture Design Competition

ASPIRING designer and Durban University of Technology (DUT) student, Akhona Thusi, is in the running for this year’s Furniture Design Competition to be held in Durban next month.

Thusi and Simphiwe Mlambo, who is also a student at DUT, will showcase their designs and work during the Durban leg of Decorex Exhibition and stand the chance to win a one-year internship, design software training as well as graphic design tablets. The annual Furniture Design Competition is one of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) Industrial Policy Action Plan furniture programmes aimed at responding to design skills shortage in the furniture industry.

The 21-year-old Thusi says being one of the finalists came as a surprise as she did not expect her designs to even be noticed, considering that she was still finding her feet as a first year design student.

“I believe the competition starts in the classroom. You are always faced with stiff competition, students here have some of the best designs. I am still surprised by how far I have made it in the competition.”

“I still cannot say what made my design stand out, however I believe my designs are very functional and something that many designers can relate to.”

“When I submitted my three designs late last year in the student category, the last thing I expected was an email confirming that I made it as a finalist. I’m still making sense of the whole thing and can’t wait for the actual day, the experience of being there and meeting new people will be great, even if I don’t win” said Thusi.

Thusi, who was born and raised in Umlazi, south of Durban, says her mother wanted her to become a doctor and initially discouraged her from choosing any form of art as a career.

“I believe we inherited the art gene from my father, who loved the arts. For me, design is about breaking barriers, expressing ones’ emotions and doing the impossible.”

“If I did not work hard enough I would still be stuck in some lecture room studying psychology like my parents wished,” she said.

The Department of Trade and Industry National Furniture Design Competition, which is now in its third year, aims to elevate the image of the furniture manufacturing industry in South Africa, enhance its competitiveness locally and abroad through new product development and differentiation. The competition also plans to attract designers to the sector by re-positioning the industry.

Thusi says she hopes to continue with her studies in interior design but focus on the technical side of it. I would also like to own a business mainly focusing on eatery, office and product designs.”

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