Design Week South Africa Powered by the V&A Waterfront’s Watershed Celebrates the Makers, Dreamers and Design Innovators in Cape Town

After an incredible four days in Johannesburg, the Design Week Team are bringing the celebration home with city-wide programming in Cape Town, from 23-26 October 2025. Design Week South Africa celebrates local designers and creatives through workshops, tours and panel discussions, with many held within the creative space of the Watershed. Here’s everything you need to know.

About the Venue: The Watershed

No visit to the creative neighbourhood of the Waterfront is complete without exploring the Watershed, the vibrant local craft and design space bursting with fresh fashion, art, and flavour.

Over a decade ago, the V&A Waterfront reimagined how local design could be experienced, by bringing together 300 small creative businesses, uniting legacy tenants from the old Blue and Red Sheds with a new generation of contemporary makers and designers.

Today, the Watershed is a thriving hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration, where local brands share their products and stories with visitors from around the world.

Explore the best in South African art, ceramics, jewellery, clothing, and more. Whether you’re looking to add local flair to your wardrobe, find an unforgettable gift, or enjoy a bite with friends, you’ll find it all under one roof at the Watershed.

Our Favourite Design Week South Africa Events

Here’s what you can expect from Design Week South Africa, held between 23 and 26 October 2025. All events are free but require an RSVP.

Workshop/Tour | Accessible Art Walk at the V&A Waterfront – Design Week Cape Town

Dates & Time: 23–26 October at 11am daily (Depart from Watershed)

Visit the V&A Waterfront for an Accessible Art Walk, part of Design Week Cape Town. This unique experience is led by Winston Fani, a Watershed collaborator and the first blind tour guide in Africa. Step into Winston’s world as he guides you through 9 curated art installations across the neighbourhood, offering a unique, immersive experience that celebrates accessibility and art for all.

Event Details:

Explore and experience public art and design like never before in a fully accessible way with the launch of the V&A Accessible Art pilot, pioneering inclusive experiences for visitors of all abilities across the Waterfront. There will be one walk per day led by Winston Fani with a maximum 40 participants per walk. Guests are welcome to tip Winston if they’d like to show appreciation.

Rsvp here.

Workshop/Tour | Secret Snapshots Guided Photography Walk – Urban Aperture Walks x V&A Waterfront x Design Week:

The Photo Walk will take place on on Thursday, 23 October, at 4pm to 8pm (Depart from Battery Park) and Saturday, 25 October at from 6am to 9am (Depart from Makers Landing)

Enjoy a Guided Photography Walk at the V&A Waterfront, launched in collaboration with Urban Aperture Walks. This exclusive walk guides participants to hidden photo spots across the property, inviting exploration of off-the-beaten-path areas in a fun, treasure-hunt style photography experience.

Event highlights include guided photography walk led by experts from Urban Aperture Walks, explore hidden gems of the Waterfront and capture unique photo opportunities. Digital and print maps are available for a fun, interactive treasure-hunt style experience, and events are designed to inspire creativity and highlight lesser-known corners of the V&A Waterfront. Limited spots available with 100 participants per event

Come explore, snap, and share the hidden beauty of the V&A Waterfront during Design Week!
RSVP here: https://partiful.com/e/YwNUZ6EZ1dX9h6lT8ho8 & https://partiful.com/e/2SaMlBRj4jqUqFXrLpKy

Workshop | Craft & Conversation Corner

Join the Watershed placemaking team for their 8th cosy crochet session at the V&A Waterfront (Watershed). Bring your own wool and hook, but if you don’t have, the team has a small supply available.

Got extras? Sharing is caring, please bring some to share if you can Limited kits will be available for R30 if needed, please bring cash. Only 50 spots available for this interactive day of creative learning & exchange.

When: Saturday, 25 October at 12pm.
RSVP Here: https://partiful.com/e/EBGVTw8LkcL9HAYbZZoZ

Panel Discussion | The Business of Design: Building Rad Brands
Hosted by Youth Capital & Harambee

Join Youth Capital and V&A Waterfront’s Watershed at Design Week for a vibrant panel on what it really takes to build a creative brand in South Africa. Featuring Emma Strydom (theeemmashow), Claudia & Yoraya (Not Sad Food Club), Johannes Le Roux (Dope Drink), Nicole Norman (Hype Social), Lolo Ndlovu (The Sneaker Shack), Alex Grotes (innovation consultant, former IDEO) with Mbali Motsoeneng (Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator) – the session dives into the realities of turning ideas into sustainable ventures.

Expect real talk, practical insights, and inspiration to fuel your creative ideas moving.

When: Friday, 24 October at 5pm
Where: Workshop17, V&A Waterfront

Rsvp here.

Panel Discussion | Designing With Community in Mind

Hosted by Fuata Moya and the V&A Watershed, this cross-disciplinary conversation brings together five dynamic creative voices from the worlds of music, ceramics, visual arts, fashion, and social entrepreneurship. Moderated by Ashanti Kunene, the panel features Petit Noir, Zizipho Poswa, Ras Silas Motse, Robyn Agulhas, and Sindile Mavundla. Together, they explore themes of creative collaboration and collective authorship, the influence of community on creative identity, the balance between artistic independence and social responsibility, and how community engagement continues to shape and inspire creative practice.

When: Friday, 24 October at 5pm
Where: Workshop17, V&A Waterfront

Rsvp here.