Siyanda Mbele, designer

Siyanda Mbele, acclaimed Design Indaba 2020 designer, was born in Umlazi 29 years ago.

Michelle Reynolds, Njabula Magubane, Simanga Zondo and Siyanda Mbele

His interest in design started young. When in high school he majored in mechanical technology to be a car designer.

‘Nkululeko (sibling) is the original artist in the family and had an impeccable illustration artistic style. I used to watch him draw all the time. One day my father told Nkululeko to give me pencil and paper so I could also learn to draw. He gave me a crash course on how to draw . After that, I was addicted,’ says Mbele. ‘T o interpret an idea is a rewardingly frustrating process. Joy comes when the idea becomes tangible and the design application serves a function.

‘Design and art originates in Africa; the earliest traces through written literature in Egypt being in the forefront of art and design. It’s unfortunate that other parts of Africa’s authentic literature were not documented and preserved. It’s important for us to use art and design as a tool to restore our culture, and preserve, update and develop to suit us at as an African standard,’ he says.

As a designer, despite admitting to a love/hate relationship with the discipline, Mbele says he would not think of doing anything else.

‘Even in the toughest times, no other career option comes to mind but interior design,’ he says.

However, he does admit a preference for furniture design.

Mbele was part of the SABS Design Incubation Programme which started towards the end of 2014 and eventually started trading as Pinda Designs.

Pinda outsources their production, teaming up with

multiple manufacturers around Durban. Materials are sourced locally and internationally.

‘Designs are inspired by African cultures from rituals, practices, ceremonies and symbols, which form part of cultural patterns. More specifically, South African cultures. Because I can relate to this more, I know through my family that we are culturally aware. It’s important to restore our culture. We have been sold the idea that African cultures are too much or not good enough compared to Western culture. Because of apartheid, the spaces we navigate don’t reflect the people, but by bringing in our own culture we can restore and educate because symbolism carries meaning - it’s not just patterns’, he explains.

‘We are designing more homes and offices, and we are also in the early stages of developing a lighting range. We have a very open-minded approach, so even projects we thought were not within our scope, we accommodate and explore,’ Mbele adds.