Ep 2 Siyanda Mbele | Talking design, manufacturing, and facing up to the realities of building a business when you have no Plan B

This is episode 2 where I am joined by interior and furniture designer Siyanda Mbele. 

 

ABOUT SIYANDA: Siyanda Mbele is the founder of Pinda Design, the design studio he set up in his hometown of Durban, South Africa. He designs and manufactures hand-painted furniture inspired by South Africa’s diverse cultures.

 

We talk about:

The financial implications of starting design business - finding funding and getting support from family to support his dream

 

The costs of manufacturing, and finding the right manufacturers to work with

 

Who turns to for advice and business support

 

The early mistakes he made and how he fixed them

 

Learning to connect and negotiate with global buyers

 

The challenges of getting his product to market, logistics shipping internationally from the continent and how he works around the challenges

 

The role of culture in design, the impact it has on society, and why it's important for him to express his culture in his designs

 

Cultural shifts in South Africa, and the emergence and impact of young black furniture and product designers making a name for themselves and contributing to the South African design aesthetic, and what has changed to make this possible

 

Links and resources mentioned in this episode

Durban University Of Technology - https://www.dut.ac.za/course/bachelor_of_technology_interior_design/

Design Indaba - https://www.designindaba.com

SABS Design Institute - http://design.sabs.co.za

 

Where you can go to find out more about Siyanda

Instagram: @pindadesign | @siyandambele

https://www.behance.net/Pindabysiyandambele

 

Get the full show notes at: www.atelier55design.com/podcast 

This podcast is brought to you by atelier 55