ABOUT US

‘Let’s create, let’s get going’. The Masiphembe project is a Lethabong initiative who’s objective is to nurture and spread a culture of creative design.

Creative design is the key to our ability to develop our global competitiveness and national prosperity. It is also needed for improving the quality of life for all our people.

It is imperative that we develop our human resources in a more creative direction.

Originating from within the Khayalami Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry the project, initiated by a team of dedicated professional volunteers active in the design field, has the full support of the Lethabong Mayor and Council, enabling the modern Edenvale Community Library to become the home for a Design Centre.

‘Design’ is interpreted in it’s broadest sense and includes engineering design, industrial design, clothing design, etc.

The multi-pronged programme is aimed at:

• Educating people in the schoolroom and the boardroom about design

• Facilitating the flow of information about the design process

• Facilitating the flow of information about local innovative designs

Specific actions which have been envisaged in order to achieve these aims are:

• Establishment of a local Design Centre with information on design topics

• Permanent and temporary product design exhibitions

• Establishment of an Innovators’ Column

• Scheduling lectures from local and overseas speakers

• Stimulating creativity and lateral thinking in the local schools

• Establishment of a CAD facility in the Design Centre to enable potential designers to become acquainted with the powerful design tools now available.

Progress To Date

The ‘Design Centre’ is located within the Reference Library section of the Edenvale Community Library. Temporary design exhibitions have already been arranged and a permanent exhibition is in the process of being organised.

Of particular significance is the installation in the Design Centre of a PC with 2D and 3D ‘Computer Aided Design’ (CAD) packages and colour printer (donated respectively by Compaq Computers, Autodesk, Silgraph and CAD Management Services) allowing local potential designers to get hands-on exposure to the modern technology used in the design process.

This facility came on line in September 1999 and is freely available on a ‘time booking’ basis.

Scheduled evening lectures on the use of the CAD packages will supplement this facility. Lectures given to date at the Design Centre have included report-backs on design award winning projects and other innovative projects.

Thanks to the support of Martin Creamer’s ‘Engineering News’, and the posters donated by ‘Pace Valves’, have already publicised the scheme, which is open to all South African designers. The contact number is (011) 456 0217.

Please do not contact Engineering News direct

WHAT YOU CAN DO

The Masiphembe Project is not a funded project. So far it has relied on the voluntary contributions of local professional designers and industrialists.
If you are interested in promoting it’s aims, or if you have any suggestions for schemes or ideas to this end, we would be interested in hearing from you.

Please Contact Us, for your direct response