Students have designs on success at Decorex

TWO Durban University of Technology (DUT) students are in the finals of the Furniture Design Competition to be held at Decorex Durban next month.

The annual competition is a Department of Trade and Industry programme aimed at responding to a design skills shortage in the furniture industry.

Akhona Thusi, 21, and Simphiwe Mlambo, 23, will showcase their designs and work at the Decorex Durban exhibition, and will be in the running to win a one-year internship, design software training and graphic design tablets.

Second-year student Thusi said she did not expect her designs to even be noticed, considering that she had still been finding her feet as a firstyear design student.

“When I submitted my three designs late last year in the student category, the last thing I expected was an e-mail confirming that I made it as a finalist. I’m still making sense of the whole thing and I 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.

B-Tech student Mlambo said the competition would give him an opportunity to network with key stakeholders in the industry and other creatives. He said he was most looking forward to getting advice on how to improve his designs and product solutions.

“I was inspired by my parents, especially my mother’s love for furniture as a saleslady in one of the retail stores in northern KwaZulu-Natal. As kids we were also helping my father renovate houses and old buildings.

“This experience brought creativity and all sorts of ideas to us,” he said. – Mercury Reporter