The Craft and Design Institute (CDI) is proud to announce the launch of Traditions of Tomorrow, a new programme designed to help local creatives and craft producers harness their heritage as a source of design inspiration in 2025.

Funded by the City of Cape Town’s Community, Arts and Culture Development Department, this programme consists of workshops; individual consultations focused on product development, materials, and design refinement; market-access support through expert consultation and feedback; and ongoing learning through a new e-learning module developed for the CDI’s LEARN platform.

Kicking off with four workshops in July 2025 at the CDI office in Cape Town, these one-day workshops offered a uniquely intimate and personalised experience for Cape Town-based entrepreneurs looking to explore new creative directions.

“At the heart of Traditions of Tomorrow is a powerful concept: that our cultural traditions, stories, and symbols are not just relics of the past, but rich resources that can shape the future of design. Participants will engage in a journey, experimenting with colour, pattern, symbol, materials, and techniques to embed meaning and identity into their products,” says Rosemary Cooke, CDI’s Manager for Capacity Building and Training.

“This is about more than just design – it’s about reflection, storytelling, and celebrating who we are through the products we create. We want to inspire entrepreneurs to tap into the deep well of their heritage and create authentic, marketable work that is rooted in place and meaning.”

The initiative supports the broader vision of the CDI to stimulate innovation, preserve cultural knowledge, and foster economic growth in the creative sector.

Daniela Samakosky, Walk The Talk Africa, a workshop attendee, said it has made a big impact: “A BIG THANK YOU!!! The Traditions of Tomorrow workshop was very inspiring, informative, and sparked memories and imagination. Our group was particularly wonderful as we all agreed, a coming together of people from widely different backgrounds gave us all glimpses into worlds different from our own and this further enhanced the creative experience.”

“And thank you to Jane Solomon for facilitating the process with energy and sensitivity. Thank you to CDI for offering this most valued workshop and thank you to the City of Cape Town for funding this programme! It was an incredible day, leaving me fired up to explore heritage further and create something unique that will make my product offerings more unique and relevant.”

Another workshop attendee, Nuraan Samaai of Koekiecup Creative Community Hub, added: “One of the most meaningful things that came up for me was this realisation: When you look at mass-produced goods – clothes that fit here but not there, factory-made ‘décor’ with no soul – you start to remember the beauty of the handmade. That human touch. That story. For me, this workshop was a wake-up call that our mothers and grandmothers were ahead of their time. They stitched legacy into fabric. They made magic out of what they had.”