“This will be so much more than just another interior design show,” says international design authority and Programme Director of 100% Design South Africa, Cathy O’Clery. “Visitors to this year’s 100% Design South Africa can expect no less than wall-to-wall proof of the artistic and aesthetic genius of their fellow South Africans – the sort of genius that’s helped make our country as gorgeous as it is.”

In addition to an exciting line-up of exhibitors – the very best the country has to offer – 100% Design South Africa once again offers key feature exhibitions that are curated by Platform Creative Agency and which distinguish the show from any other. Much fêted by the media and acclaimed by the industry, the feature stands are undeniable highlights of the annual show.

We Are Joburg is the heir to frontrunner We Are Cape Town which showcased design collectives, collaborators and enablers as part of the 100% Design South Africa pavilion at Decorex Cape Town in April this year. For the Gauteng iteration, works from creative minds across Jozi will reveal just how the City of Gold’s designers have given this remarkable city its singular Afro-urban aesthetic. The aim of the exhibition is to explore how all their individual styles are unified by a confidence that is strikingly contemporary and unashamedly bold.

100% Design South Africa is proud to announce that its Feature Designer for 2017 is none other than Gregor Jenkin. Every year 100% Design South Africa invites a highly acclaimed designer or design studio to participate in the exhibition as Feature Designer of the Year. This much-coveted honour is bestowed on a designer or design studio in recognition of their consistent quality creative output, originality and sustained success. Jenkin is a regular collaborator of artist William Kentridge and a top-seller at the Conran Shop in London. With his work sought-after by high-end design collectors, his presentation of new works will be a must-see!

Similarly acclaimed, award-winning furniture designer David Krynauw is best known for his progressive work in wood, but at 100% Design South Africa, he will reveal his restaurant interior design talents. He is this year’s force behind the 100% Design Café, the popular meeting, greeting, eating spot at the centre of the exhibition floor.

At 100% Hotel, Source Interior Brand Architects will be putting together their particular vision of a contemporary African hotel – of no small relevance to anyone with an interest in the continent’s booming accommodation industry. Source IBA will explore the typologies, textures and material technologies that typify our continent; distilling a unique concept they call ‘Afrotel’.

Elsewhere on the floor, The Light Tank beckons. This multisensory experience will come at you from all sides! An immersive, experiential display, it will combine the impassioned work of a large collaborative team, to demonstrate just how overwhelmingly amazing the right arrangement of light, sound and animation can be! This cutting-edge, technology-driven installation will be produced by interactive designer Goddy Roodt, cinematographer Izelle van Zyl, contemporary artist, Matty Roodt, structural designer Leon Roodt of Ergoform, visual effects artist Lloyd Wilgen, and composer Deon van Heerden. Beyond cliché, The Light Tank will be unlike anything you have ever seen before!

Also new to the Joburg mix is the Fabric and Wallpaper Gallery. Here, a top selection of international and local fabrics and wallpaper from 16 leading fabric houses and producers will be on display.

Seed to Seat is yet another fresh addition to the show. As a way to illustrate the sustainability of using America Hardwoods the world over, the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has commissioned seven South African furniture designers to design a seat using a type of hardwood. All seven of these unique chairs and seating solutions will be unveiled for the first time at 100% Design South Africa.

But, it is best not to forget that “100% Design South Africa is not just about Joburg – it is the largest exhibition platform for contemporary high-end design on the continent,” says 100% Design South Africa MD and Reed Portfolio Director, Sian Cullingworth. “We are always scouting the African creative scene for the best of the best and creating special platforms to connect talent with trade.”

To this end, 100% Design South Africa 2017 boasts two dedicated trade-focused days, taking place on 10 and 11 August 2017.