October 23rd – October 27th 2024
THEME: “The role of design in Economic Evolution”
Showcasing African Innovation and Global Collaborations
Venue: Livespot Entertarium
4 Oba Elegushi Beach Rd, Lekki Phase I, Lekki 106104, Lagos
Design Week Lagos (DWL), Africa’s premier design festival, returns this year to spotlight groundbreaking innovation and creative excellence in contemporary African design. Founded by Titi Ogufere in 2019, DWL has become a vibrant platform for celebrating the best of African designers, Nigerian design and manufacturing industries, and international brands. DWL offers international design leaders and industry enthusiasts the chance to witness how design fosters economic prosperity and societal development.
Keynotes and Talks
DWL Talks, the cornerstone of the festival, features keynotes from thought leaders such as Her Excellency Hannatu Musawa, the Nigerian Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy. Highlights include a masterclass by Benedict Radcliffe, a designer for Range Rover, who will share his creative journey in developing iconic automotive designs. Additionally, Myles Igwebuike, the newly appointed curator of the Nigerian Pavilion at the London Design Biennale, will deliver a presentation on the pavilion’s vision and its contributions to global design narratives.
We are also proud to present keynotes from Dr. Olusi, the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, and Osahon Akpata, Head of Canex (owned by Afreximbank), focusing on the economic value of design. Additional stakeholders include top designers and manufacturers, further highlighting the intersection of creativity and industrial growth.
Exhibitions
The Made by Design Show, Nigeria’s largest and most prestigious furniture and furnishings trade event, is a curated show bringing some of the best names in the furniture and furnishing world. This year’s showcase will feature brands such as AFP by Julius Berger, Woodstyles, Netettal, Itoro Casa, Uniwood, BoConcept, Viviano Beddings, ACTIU, Gemona West, CC Interiors Studio, Cececa, Lohn Lagos, and many more. The show represents the pinnacle of Nigerian design excellence and offers a unique opportunity for industry professionals and design enthusiasts to explore the latest trends and innovations in high-end furniture, lighting, and accessories.
The Design & Innovation Exhibition at DWL 2024 will showcase over 100 new products from 100 designers, offering a glimpse into the future of Nigerian and African design. This exhibition is a celebration of creativity and industrial collaboration, featuring groundbreaking works from both established and emerging talents. For the first time, these designers are collaborating with local manufacturers to produce their work, marking a significant step toward advancing industrial design in Nigeria.
Among the highlights are Tosin Oshinowo’s Àpótí Stool, a modern reinterpretation of traditional design that blends heritage with contemporary aesthetics, and Kanyinsade Ademuson’s Fold Series, a collection of zero-weld steel furniture designed using laser-cut technology to streamline production while maintaining durability and style.
Another key piece is Zoë Chinonso Ene’s IO Stool, an experiment in culturally conscious product design that engages with the Igbo-Nigerian graphical language of Uli, redefining ornamentation beyond conventional surface decoration. Additionally, Myles Igwebuike will unveil a communal comfort exploration inspired by the sacred kola nut (Oji) ritual from southeastern Nigeria, offering a fresh take on luxury comfort within communal spaces. Temitope El-Shabazz will present the V1-M (Ite Chair), a collaborative product that pushes the boundaries of contemporary design and craftsmanship. This year, some of the manufacturers paired with designers include AFP by Julius Berger, IO Furniture, Woodstyles, and TRT Arredo, emphasizing the festival’s aim to foster industrial collaboration and growth
These designers, along with many others, are pushing the boundaries of industrial design, bringing innovative ideas to the forefront of African design evolution. A special highlight will be Dapo Akintunde’s 100% Nigerian car prototype. Akintunde, who graduated with distinction in Architecture from UNILAG and later won the prize for Vehicle Design at the Royal College of Art in London in 1994, made history as the first Black African to earn a Master’s Degree in Vehicle Design. In 2018, Akintunde became the first Nigerian to design a fully Nigerian car prototype, creating a road-ready model with the support of visionary Nigerians. His pioneering prototype will be showcased at DWL 2024, demonstrating the potential for locally-driven innovation in Nigeria’s automotive industry.
National Design & Innovation Competition (NDIC)
At the heart of DWL 2024, the National Design and Innovation Competition (NDIC) serves as a platform to support Nigeria’s economic transformation by fostering local talent across five design disciplines: furniture, product, textile, toy, and industrial design. This initiative not only aims to showcase innovative solutions but also to train 1 million youths nationwide. The NDIC emphasizes pairing designers with manufacturers, creating a sustainable pipeline for local production and significantly reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imports.
NDIC off-site workshops
In collaboration with the National Design and Innovation Competition (NDIC), DWL 2024 introduces two hands-on workshops that are open to architects, designers, engineers, students, Youth Corpers, and young aspiring creatives:
Car Design Workshop: Supported by the Bank of Industry and led by Benedict Radcliffe, this workshop aims to train participants in car design—a relatively new field in Nigeria. The workshop will feature collaboration with Nigerian car designer Dapo Akintunde.
Leather Furniture Making Masterclass: Supported by GU Ebeco, this masterclass will equip participants with skills in leather furniture design, aligning with the festival’s focus on expanding local manufacturing capabilities.
This workshop will take place at the Madhouse UNILAG, one of Nigeria’s design incubators. Both workshops align with NDIC’s mission to build local expertise by pairing designers with manufacturers, boosting Nigeria’s production capabilities, and reducing dependence on imports.
DWL Students’ Competition 2024
Sponsored by NIPOST, this year’s Students’ Competition challenges young designers to rethink and redesign the Nigerian postal service’s existing workshop into a Design and Creative Hub, breathing new life into an essential but often overlooked institution. The PMG (PostMaster General), Tola Odeyemi says “At NIPOST, we are committed to driving economic transformation and innovation. Our rich legacy in providing essential services to Nigeria has always gone hand-in-hand with progress. This year, we are proud to partner with Design Week Lagos to reimagine one of our historic spaces, the NIPOST factory in Lagos – transforming it into a vibrant hub for creativity and innovation.”
