South African Design at Maison&Objet 2026: Rising Talent Showcase with Decorex Africa

The international design world is turning its attention towards South Africa as seven exceptional designers and studios prepare to represent the country’s creative future at the prestigious Maison&Objet Rising Talent Awards 2026 in Paris (Maison&Objet in partnership with Decorex Africa), marking a milestone for South African design at Maison&Objet 2026. More than a showcase of emerging talent, the exhibition signals a defining moment for South African design as it continues to establish itself as one of the world’s most compelling creative movement.

Presented within Maison&Objet’s Design District, the Rising Talent Awards highlight the next generation of designers whose work reflects an extraordinary balance between heritage, innovation, craftsmanship, and contemporary thinking. This year’s edition also marks the first collaboration between Maison&Objet and Decorex Africa, one of Africa’s leading platforms for contemporary design, creating an important bridge between the local creative industry and the global design stage.

Across South Africa’s three major creative centres, a distinctive design language continues to evolve. Cape Town has become synonymous with internationally minded studios, galleries, and concept stores, while Johannesburg’s vibrant contemporary art and design scene pushes conceptual boundaries. Durban, meanwhile, offers a unique creative energy rooted in storytelling, craftsmanship, and multidisciplinary practice. Together, these cities are shaping a design identity that is unmistakably South African while resonating with international audiences.

At its core, South African design is characterised by its ability to reinterpret tradition through a modern lens. Ancient weaving techniques, sculptural forms, symbolic patterns, and handcrafted processes are continually reimagined using contemporary materials and innovative production methods. The result is work that honours cultural heritage while embracing progressive design thinking.

The 2026 Rising Talent Awards jury, comprising some of South Africa’s most respected voices in design, recognised seven designers and studios whose practices exemplify this evolution. Alan Hayward and Garreth van Niekerk, Co-Artistic Directors of Decorex Africa and 100% Design Africa, described the selection as entering the international stage “at a pivotal moment for South African design,” highlighting the ingenuity and creative resourcefulness that defines the country’s emerging designers.

Among the award recipients is Studio Lloyd, where founder Ashleigh Lloyd transforms traditional crochet techniques into monumental sculptural lighting. Through handwoven rope installations, the Cape Town studio combines contemporary aesthetics with community empowerment, creating opportunities for artisans while celebrating craftsmanship as a form of living heritage.

Johannesburg-based Meetlo Studio, founded by Oageng Manana and Tshegofatso Ramothibe, explores cultural identity through contemporary furniture and bespoke objects inspired by traditional references, medicinal plants, and natural materials. Their work demonstrates how storytelling and functionality can coexist within collectible contemporary design.

Interior architect and furniture designer Simphiwe Mlambo brings deeply personal narratives into his work, transforming inherited stories and traditional weaving practices into sculptural furniture and spatial installations. His Paris presentation introduces an entirely new collection centred around ritual, craftsmanship, and material exploration.

For Tanisha Neill, founder of N I S H, movement forms the foundation of design. Drawing upon her background in classical ballet, contemporary dance, interior architecture, and product design, her furniture explores rhythm, adaptability, and the relationship between object and environment, creating what she describes as “practical luxury.”

The founders of DEFT Studios, Martin Tallie and Zani Alberts, continue to champion handcrafted furniture designed to endure both physically and emotionally. Rejecting fast furniture in favour of heirloom-quality pieces, their work balances refined simplicity with playful detailing, resulting in objects intended to be passed down through generations.

Through Pinda Interior Design, Siyanda Mbele draws inspiration from his upbringing in Umlazi, combining geometric forms, Ndebele patterns, and bold colour with contemporary interiors and furniture. His work illustrates how engineering precision and cultural expression can merge to create a distinctive South African design language.

The Rising Talent Craft Award, presented by Ateliers d’Art de France, recognises Cape Town ceramic artist Karlien van Rooyen. Her entirely hand-built ceramic works explore the relationship between humanity and nature, informed by an extraordinary journey spanning environmental activism, science, and contemporary art. Her pieces reflect the South African landscape while examining memory, materiality, and belonging.

Collectively, these designers embody the remarkable confidence and originality now emerging from South Africa’s creative industries. Their practices demonstrate that contemporary African design is not defined by a single aesthetic, but rather by an openness to experimentation, a deep respect for craftsmanship, and a powerful commitment to storytelling.

As Maison&Objet opens its doors in September 2026, these Rising Talent Award recipients will introduce international audiences to a new generation of South African designers whose work reflects both the richness of local culture and the universal language of exceptional design. More than an exhibition, the Rising Talent Awards represent an important milestone in positioning South Africa as one of the world’s most exciting creative destinations.

This South African design at Maison&Objet 2026 showcase reinforces the country’s growing influence on the global design stage, particularly through its emphasis on heritage, innovation, and material storytelling.