A generous helping of talent

As usual, Maison&Objet has put together a jury of internationally renowned names, this time all experts in African design.

Why? Because Maison&Objet has been awarded the Africa2020 label, marking its participation in a wide-reaching cultural event organised by industry professionals from the 54 African countries in conjunction with The Institut français. Economy, industry, science, technology, research, artistic creation, lifestyle, sustainable development: through a series of exhibitions and events, the initiative invites us to see the world through the African continent’s eyes. Maison&Objet and Paris Design Week will focus on the topic of design, with the September editions turning the spotlight on up-and-coming African talent. As usual, Maison&Objet has put together a jury of internationally renowned names, this time all experts in African design.

It will be their responsibility to hand-pick 6 emerging designers who are currently making a name for themselves on this exciting creative stage. The only French member of the jury is Elizabeth Leriche, a highly experienced trend hunter who regularly collaborates with Maison&Objet. She specialises in South African design, having spent the past 22 years exploring the country’s many delights. “I head to Cape Town every single year to recharge my batteries,” she explains. “It offers a melting pot of cultures, outstanding design know-how, a strong connection with nature and above all, the most stunning natural light.”

It has to be said the jury is a particularly cosmopolitan group. There’s Franco-Senegalese industrial designer Bibi Seck, who trained in Paris, London and Dakar, and now heads-up his own design studio in New York. He has won multiple awards designing vehicle interiors for the likes of the Renault Scénic and the Twingo. He has also designed a furniture collection for Moroso, celebrating his beloved continent, and is the founder of Dakar Next, a Senegalese design lab. His goal? Unlock the value of design as an economic resource in West African countries. Joining him on the jury is Anglo-Nigerian designer Yinka Ilori, who trained in product design and furnishings at London Metropolitan University, and now designs colourful, pop-inspired pieces that are fabulously fun. In the same vein, Pierre-Christophe Gam was born in Paris and trained at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, followed by Saint Martin’s design school in London, before going on to become an architect, designer, curator and artistic advisor. His Cameroonian roots have served as the inspiration for numerous pieces of his work, including dreaming up the city known as Afropolis, a kind of new African Eden in which art is given free rein. Based further north in Cairo, we find designers Hend Riad and Mariam Hazem, co-founders of the Reform Studio. This environmentally-conscious pair focus on eco-responsible luxury, creating lines of locally manufactured accessories handcrafted from recycled materials. The final member of the jury is Hicham Lalou. This Moroccan designer is best known for his urban designs, such as the bus-shelters in the cities of Rabat and Fez and the street furniture in the city of Agadir. A number of his designs are also edited by Daum. With the jury drawing on such a rich tapestry of backgrounds and cultures, the young talent recognised at the upcoming Rising Talent Awards promises to be something truly special.