The shape of things to come

13 June 2013 - 02:41 By Andrea Nagel
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On the eve of Youth Day Andrea Nagel chats to young creatives with designs on the future

ANMARIE HONIBALL

YOUNG FASHION DESIGNER AND FINALIST IN THE ELLE RISING STAR AWARD 2012

AGE: 27

What did you want to be when you were a child?

I dressed up everything I played with - from my brother's plastic dinosaurs to my scooter. Yes, I would wrap cloth around my scooter and give it sunglasses.

What would you be if you weren't a fashion designer?

A cocker spaniel breeder.

What do you think of the local design scene?

I think there is immense creativity brewing around us.

How would you describe your design aesthetic?

Honest and ever evolving.

Which local designers do you admire?

Clive Rundle and Marianne Fassler for their true originality.

What's the best thing about being a young South African designer?

You can be part of the growth of our country and influence the way people dress from within our own inspirational environment, therefore creating a sense of cultural awareness.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In a very chaotic studio rearranging fabrics together with a big team.

Is it difficult to make it in the fashion industry?

I guess everyone's experience is different, but no doubt mine is one of hard work.

ROBERT SILKE

UNDER-AGED SENIOR PARTNER AT LOUIS KAROL ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS

Age: 35

What did you want to be as a child?

At age eight I was going to be a veterinarian, at 10 a mechanic, at 12 a graphic designer and at 14 a psychologist.

What do you do now?

Now I'm an architect, which means I get to do all those things.

How did that happen?

Architecture was the only university profession for which I could qualify because UCT places more importance on the quality of your creative portfolio than your high school academic record.

Of which project are you most proud?

Always the project I'm working on right now: We're reconstructing The Galleria (the eyesore of Sea Point's Regent Road in Cape Town) and putting the finishing touches on an extreme makeover of Green Point Athletics Stadium.

Who is your favourite young designer (international or local)?

Architecture's an old-person's profession, in that the Franks (Lloyd Wright and Gehry) were in their 70s when their careers took off, so Zaha Hadid [at 63] is my personal young architect pin-up.

What would you decree if you were Minister of Design?

I would love to be the J Edgar Hoover of the architecture police. My first investigation would be to seek long jail sentences for the people who painted the mosaic-clad Naspers building with custard-coloured PVA.

What really moves you?

The Lloyd's building in London makes my eyes well up - it's difficult to believe that ordinary humans conceived and realised that baroque futurist fantasy.

ZAYNE HOLL

CO-FOUNDER (WITH BRADLEY WEDDERBURN) OF MR FOX YOUNG FURNITURE DESIGNERS

AGE 29

What did you want to be when you were a child?

I was too busy being a kid to think about the future.

How did you get here?

Through many unrelated twists and turns, which included studying music in Australia, working in a nursery, running a landscaping business, working with Paton Taylor Architects on a project in Egypt, freelancing, working for Walker Smith Architects for the past four years, dreaming of starting a design brand with my cousin, Brad Wedderburn, and being chosen to participate in The Emerging Creatives Programme at this year's Design Indaba.

Which is your favourite piece (of your own) so far?

I'm proud of our KRANE LAMP.

If money were no object, what would you make?

I'd build a spacious home for me and my family and fill it with furniture made by me for them.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I'll be running a multi-discipline design business and producing music. Trust a creative to get bored doing one thing.

Who or what is your design inspiration?

I'm inspired by Scandinavian design, creative friends and problems that need solving.

Why the name, Mr Fox?

Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr Fox was the inspiration. I love the main character's quest to provide for his family's future using his skills and tricks.

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