South Africa’s brightest design minds are being called to action in the 2025 Furniture Design Competition, themed “Alien Invasive Species of Wood”. The initiative invites students and professionals to transform problem woods, such as pine, gum, wattle (also known as blackwood), and poplar, into functional, proudly South African furniture pieces.
The competition is hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) in partnership with The South African Furniture Initiative (SAFI), Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Proudly South African, and other industry partners.
Turning Environmental Challenges into Design Opportunities
“By using alien invasive species of wood, we are not only encouraging sustainable practices but also demonstrating the potential of these materials to produce high-quality, innovative furniture,” says Lynn Adonis, SAFI’s Administrator and Qualifications Manager.
Designers are encouraged to draw inspiration from South Africa’s cultural and natural heritage, incorporating patterns, colour, fauna, flora, and landscapes in considered, commercially viable designs.
Categories, Prizes, and Career Opportunities
Two entry categories are open:
- Students (registered at a South African educational institution)
- Professionals (independent designers or businesses with design capability)
Student Prizes:
- One-year industry internship
- Media profiling
- Six-month Furniture Design Incubation Programme with Furntech
Professional Prizes:
- One-year Proudly South African membership
- One-year Institute of Interior Design Professions membership
- Exhibition opportunities
- National media exposure
- Technology prizes (e.g., laptops, graphic tablets)
“The exposure and opportunities that come from this competition can be career-defining,” adds Adonis.
Judging and Deadlines
Entries will be assessed on:
- Concept and functionality
- Innovation
- Ease of manufacturing
- Use of local materials
- Commercial viability
- Local and export appeal
Deadlines:
- Entries close: 30 September 2025
- Finalists announced: 30 November 2025
- Final judging: February – March 2026
- Winners announced shortly thereafter
Entry forms: www.thedtic.gov.za/furniture-design-competition
Email: FurnitureDesign@thedtic.gov.za
A Call to South Africa’s Design Talent
“Whether you’re a student or a seasoned professional, this is your opportunity to make your mark on South African design,” concludes Adonis.
Entries are free of charge, and multiple submissions are allowed (with separate entry forms). The challenge is clear: take alien wood from pest to pedestal, and create furniture that tells a South African story while tackling environmental issues head-on.
