SIFISO NDABANGAYE

Sifiso Ndabangaye is a third-year Interior Design student from Phakamisa, King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Deeply inspired by local environments, indigenous narratives, and material storytelling, Sifiso approaches design as a tool for cultural reflection and healing. Their creative practice spans interior spaces, fashion, and object design, with a growing focus on furniture and product design that draws from biomimicry, Afrocentric forms, and the sensory qualities of natural materials. Rooted in the textures and rhythms of South African life, Sifiso’s work responds to the theme "Only Natural" by emphasizing sustainability, emotional resonance, and a return to organic, context-sensitive design. Their design process often integrates vernacular influences, historical memory, and tactile exploration, resulting in pieces that feel both grounded and future-facing. Sifiso aspires to design furniture that is not only functional but evocative objects that carry narrative, engage the senses, and reflect the values of cultural continuity and environmental consciousness while prolonging South African heritage.