Where to from here...?

New thought leadership is of the opinion that culture is our competition.

We know that to engage on any level we need to have relevance. Relevance gives context to people and context initiates the ever desirable UX.

Experience Design is shaping the way we live and work. Who we design for, how we sell it, what we say and why. Place shapes behaviour - Behaviour over time is culture.

So where do we start and how do we get there?

As a new experiential design forum in Johannesburg, The Design Assemblage is initiating a Workspace Design District in Illovo. We are committed to, and support, the conversation that design should have a seat at the table. We launch our precinct map this month, designed by city architect Shaun Gaylard, which instigates a sense of place and ultimately, we hope, will harness a community culture in designing for the future way living.

We are also delighted to announce our partnership with the IID from this month. Through this collaboration we can now offer Continued Professional Development (CPD) credits for certain of the talks, masterclasses and events on our programme.

As South African's in business, and in design, the need (and responsibility) to support local business, local products and local talent in order to sustain the foreseeable future, is ever apparent.

Last month's programme hosted people in business, and in leadership roles: From Mark Barnes, Edward Colle of Belgotex, Architects and Designers of 1 Discovery Place to Paul Ballen from Paul’s Homemade Ice Cream, Lovejoy Chirambasukwa of Craft Coffee and our sponsors ChairClub, all of whom communicate their commitment to business in the country. A bold statement in developing a culture around #ImStaying.

The Design Assemblage programme for November is geared towards this movement in culture, and the design thinking approach for how we can best plan ahead, but also change things in real time.

The “FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For,” all have one thing in common: employee experience is a priority.

Globally, the trend in workspace, is how to design for this experience. The key to winning is agility; business agility and not agile methodology. Transforming the way we do business and ensuring that the environment of business supports the talent that works within it and what matters most to those people - the culture of purpose.

By developing an innovation reputation in business, and in the context of Africa, finding solution based innovations that have the ability to transform lives, or make a positive impact, is possibly all the relevance we need in order to start.

We look forward to seeing you. www.thedesignassemblage.com