Woolworths “making the Difference Through Design” Program

The program provides information, insights, and activities that support design education in South Africa that teachers can receive much-needed teaching tools. It also sponsors an annual design competition for schools to motivate original and innovative design ideas that develop awareness of environmental issues and social development.

This is a way to establish collaborations between the corporate, private, and educational sectors with a priority focus on developing, and growing a better South Africa for all through design education.

“The project is a unique design and educational program because of its focus on development at grades 10-12, ages 16-18,” said Suné Stassen, Design Education Specialist and Activist. “This strategy is firmly developed around the belief that design education at a young age will not only develop designers for the future but could also develop design-literate citizens and discerning consumers of good design, as well as top-quality entrepreneurs and creators of products, services, systems, processes, and environments.”

“This early development as a focus is believed to be critical and much needed to develop a future and high-quality workforce that could contribute greatly to the future developments of a country like South Africa in many areas of expertise.”