1st prize: SHOOTS by Gabrielle BirkenmeyerIn March 2012, the Eco Design Initiative hosted its highlight events, the Sustainable Design Showcase at City Hall and the Fresh Talent Challenge, a social design intervention that took place in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. (6 to 16 March)

These were the culmination of the Initiative’s second cycle of events, themed “Home is where the heart is”. The goal of the Initiative’s mission to “educate, exhibit, exchange” is to deliver tangible examples of how sustainability and design thinking and processes have the power to make life better - for people, our planet and prosperity.
the sustainable design awards

Fresh Talent 11”12 are a group of South African design youth that have been participating in the Eco Design Initiative’s program of activities as finalists in the Sustainable Design Competition, themed "Home is where the heart is".

Following months of concept and prototype development, a mentorship program and final pitches to the jury panel, 3 winners were announced during the Sustainable Design Awards, hosted at Cape Town City Hall on 16 March 2012.

Congratulations to the 11"12 Award Winners:

1st* Gabrielle Birkenmeyer
SHOOTS
“Shoots” is a full-cycle approach to sustainability that produces well-designed, good quality consumer products, while addressing unemployment in South Africa and caring for the environment.

2nd* Wayde Dyers
VERMICULTURE GROWTH SYSTEM
This compact composting and rain harvesting unit utilizes the benefits of worms - nature’s own recyclers, to convert food waste into nutrient rich, 100% organic fertilizer while harnessing the benefits of rain water to feed plants in home, vegetable and potted gardens.

3rd* Marieke Adams
IKGHUPHU SLEEVE
This series of laptop sleeves is made from wet suite factory waste and draws inspiration from the Ndebele’s patterned decorations on clay walls, translating these into a multi-dimensional textile product that provides tactile interest and additional protective cushioning for the product inside.